Time Magazine’s Album Of The Century “Exodus” by Bob Marley & The Wailers is the most-streamed reggae album on Spotify for 2023, according to data exclusively provided to WMV by the Stockholm, Sweden company on Monday, December 18. Diverging from the cryptic storytelling found in Marley’s previous ‘battle cry for victory’ albums according to Chuck D, Exodus, Marley’s ninth studio album(10th overall) , is notably divided into two distinct halves: the first delves into religious politics, while the latter focuses on the intertwined themes of love and faith.
Bob Marley made the “Exodus” album in the aftermath of assassination attempts on his life on December 3, 1976. Subsequently, Marley sought refuge in London with label head Chris Blackwell, where the transformative album was recorded.
“London supplied all that he needed, spiritually and creatively. The city had become a more fertile and welcoming place for Jamaican music,” Blackwell recalled in his memoir ‘The Islander.’ We had two albums’ worth of new material. I separated this material into two sets, with the loose idea that one set represented the revolutionary Bob, and the other the romantic Bob. Both batches of songs convey the worldwide range of emotions he had experienced after being forced out of his homeland,” Blackwell added about the process of making both the Exodus and Kaya albums, the latter being the No. 3 most-streamed reggae album on Spotify.
Exodus includes tracks like “Natural Mystic”, “So Much Things To Say,” “Guiltiness,” and “The Heathen” which are songs revolved around themes of oppression and the resistance against injustice. The title track, “Exodus,” is a funky anthem that captures the essence of the movement of Jah people. It incorporates Jamaica’s prime minister Michael Manley’s political campaign slogan, “We know where we’re going,” depicting the promised land and the departure from Babylon (the system built upon slavery and global free markets/globalization).
The B-side of the LP opens with the uplifting and uptempo “Jamming.” “Waiting In Vain” follows as a beautiful love song with a captivating atmosphere and rhythm. The love song “Turn Your Lights Down Low” precedes the optimistic and cheerful “Three Little Birds”:
The closing track, “One Love / People Get Ready,” was initially recorded in 1965 by The Wailers and re-recorded for inclusion on Exodus. To avoid potential copyright issues, Curtis Mayfield is credited as a co-writer on international releases, as the song is a partial interpretation of The Impressions’ “People Get Ready.” Released as a single for the first time on April 9th, 1984, as part of the compilation album “Legend,” the song became one of Bob Marley’s greatest hits. The music video directed by Don Letts features a young Naomi Campbell.
“Exodus” reached top 20 in the UK and is certified Gold in the US, UK, and Canada. For its 40th anniversary in 2017, the album was remastered and re-released. The album has the highest number of tracks on Marley’s Billboard chart-topping greatest hits compilation, “Legend,” which has spent more than 800 weeks on the Billboard 200 albums chart and 205 weeks on the Billboard Reggae albums chart.
Bob Marley & The Wailers scored seven albums in total on Spotify’s most streamed reggae albums since January 1 adding “Uprising,” “Confrontation,” “Rastaman Vibration,” “Survival,” and “Burnin'” at No. 2, 5, 6, 8, and 9 respectively to the tally.
“Blazzin’ Fire” (2010) by Inner Circle, which features re-releases of “Bad Boys” and “La La la La Long,” was the 4th most streamed album on Spotify for 2023.
“Welcome to Jamrock” by Damian Marley lands at No. 7. That album has over 500 million streams over its lifetime.
Big Mountain’s compilation album “The Best of Big Mountain” is the tenth most streamed reggae album on Spotify this year. The album made the chart driven by their rendition of Peter Frampton’s “Baby, I Love Your Way,” which is the seventh most-streamed reggae song on Spotify this year. That song soared to No. 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and claimed the top spot on the Mainstream Top 40. It also peaked at No. 2 on the UK Official singles chart.
“Could You Be Loved” by Bob Marley & The Wailers is the most-streamed reggae song on Spotify for 2023, up from No. 4 last year and replacing “Pass The Dutchie” by Musical Youth which was 2022s top reggae song on Spotify.
“Three Little Birds” is at No. 3 (down from 2) “Is This Love,” “Jamming,” “One Love / People Get Ready – Medley” by Bob Marley & The Wailers, “Buffalo Soldier,” and “Redemption Song” take the Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 10th positions. “Sweat (A La La La La Long)” by Inner Circle is at No. 7(up from No. 9 last year) and “Welcome To Jamrock” by Damian Marley is at No. 9.
