Despite never making
the UK charts, "Redemption Song" remains one of BOB MARLEY's defining songs.
The closing track on
his final studio album, 1980's 'Uprising', it's the sound of the reggae star
signing off with special poignancy. It was written and rehearsed by Marley and
the WAILERS in the closing months of
1979, during the band's live shows for the 'Survival' album, but kept in the
can. When Marley presented Island Records' CHRIS
BLACKWELL with the tapes for 'Uprising', the following year, Blackwell
nodded with pursed lips.
Good as it was, he
thought it lacked something. Marley took his point and the following day he
returned with the outstanding "Redemption Song" which duly completed
the album's running order.
The
song was recorded by Marley at his own TUFF
GONG in Jamaica, with the singer
accompanying himself on acoustic guitar. It was this stark solo take, more akin
to BOB DYLAN 's early protest work than the hard-nosed reggae with which he had
made his name, that made it on to 'Uprising'.
A full band version
later appeared as a B-side and a bonus track on the 2001 pressing of the album.
It
was the final Marley single, the last song he performed in concert, in
Pittsburgh in September 1980, and was brought to the wider listening public when
it was included on the ifrst mainstream Marley compilation, 'Legend', issued
posthumously in 1984
By Robert Webb