Survival

SURVIVAL is such a powerful and deeply lyrical album it blows the imagination! Next to EXODUS it's probably Bob's deepest and most profound release post the break up of the original lineup that included Peter & Bunny and that's saying something. His African Oneness and Rastafarian belief's comes through loud and clear with this album. Critics and even some fans felt he had "gone soft" with the release of "Kaya" the year before this album. SURVIVAL quickly dispelled those rather ridiculous theories and is one of the most poetic and deeply profound albums ever to be released. It is chalked full of such powerful and heartfelt themes and truly takes several listens to grasp the full nature of what's being said. This album affected me much the same way EXODUS did when I first heard it, such strong and moving lyrics and music compositions that hearkened back to classic smooth R&B/Soul rhythms that Marley and The Wailers grew up listening to and being marveled by. There was much controversy over the album cover which included all the major African Nations Flags which was one of the greatest displays of African Unity any artist had every openly portrayed up to that time with the possible exception of Earth, Wind and Fire. I've heard people state that Bob Marley and The Wailers only recorded Reggae songs with no foray into other genres and this is false. There are, as previously stated, very strong R&B vibes to this album as well Jazz oriented compositions which are the perfect canvas for the lyrical masterpieces such as "Zimbabwe"; "Babylon System"; "Survival" and "Africa Unite". One of my personal favorites is "Top Rankin" which is one of the heaviest songs Marley ever recorded. I love everything about this album, is arrangements, recording and production, The Wailers, in their present incarnation, and I Threes are in top form and Bob is his usual poetic self dropping knowledge on all and forcing them to go deep within. That is truly what sets him apart from so many other songwriters and why his songs today are beloved by countless millions worldwide. This is truly a wonderful journey and I would recommend this album for anyone looking to enjoy great lyrical content and a wonderful musical journey. This was one of his absolute best and it amazing that he was able to produce such a masterpiece on the heels of what Time Magazine calls the most important album of the 20th century and I agree! His career which was about to come to an unfortunate and tragic end as his illness would in very short order take him from us. This is a true classic and one that once again affirmed the true genius of Robert Nesta Marley. May he continue to rest in the peace that he fought so strongly for both for himself and so many others.

SURVIVAL is one of several great reggae albums which I originally bought on vinyl and had to replace with CDs. Bob Marley was not just one of the greatest singers, songwriters and musicians of the 20th century, but a poet and prophet who brought reggae music and the culture of Rastafari to the world, and all of his music is well worth listening to. SURVIVAL may not be Marley’s best album, but it is his most consistently militant album. Marley’s laments about the evils of “Babylon system” (the global system of white supremacy and neo-colonialism), his calls for action to overthrow the system, and his celebration of African survival, are perfectly underscored by his alternately plaintive and rousing musical arrangements. This album inspired the freedom fighters of Zimbabwe to overthrow the colonial Rhodesian regime, and was deemed so dangerous that it was banned by the white supremacist government of apartheid South Africa. During his 1979 world tour to promote SURVIVAL, Bob Marley was interviewed on WUHY (Uhuru Radio) by radical journalist and former Black Panther Party member Mumia Abu-Jamal, who focused on Marley’s messages of black unity and the roots of the Rastafarian movement in Marcus Garvey’s back-to-Africa movement and the culture of the Maroons, escaped slaves who set up a rebel society in the hills of Jamaica. “Survival,” said Abu-Jamal, “lurks at the heart of the Rasta message… survival with the power of love.” When Zimbabwe won its independence, Bob Marley flew there at his own expense and declined to accept payment for his performance, saying he wanted all the wealth of Zimbabwe to stay there. Anyone who appreciates reggae music in general, and Bob Marley’s music in particular, should include SURVIVAL in their collection if they don’t already – especially if they think of Marley only as a countercultural apostle of peace and love. Bob Marley’s message cannot be limited to the lyrics of “One Love” any more than Martin Luther King’s message can be limited to King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Like Martin Luther King, Bob Marley longed for a world free from racism, a world of human unity in which people would no longer be judged by the color of their skin – but like Malcolm X, Nelson Mandela and Mumia Abu-Jamal, Marley realized that such a world would not be achieved without struggle by any means necessary. SURVIVAL should inspire Bob Marley’s fans to honor his memory by supporting the continuing struggle to end racism, neo-colonialism and wrongful incarceration – including the struggle to free Mumia Abu-Jamal and the millions of other innocent and nonviolent people in U.S. prisons.

Era tanto che non lo sentivo ed alla fine me lo son preso. Bellissimo, sound caldo e avvolgente, confezione perfetta.Consigliato.

Great album

若い頃偶然このアルバムを買って衝撃を受けました。ボブとレゲエとの出会いでした。

Sin duda el mejor álbum de Marley, el más desarrollado musicalmente y el más comprometido políicamente. Los temas principales, Africa Unite, So Much Trouble In The World, Zinmbawe o Öne Drop. Reggae 100% y fácil de escuchar teniendo en cuenta lo repetitivo de las bases rítmicas del reggae, este disco no aburre. Imprescindible.

Buen producto