This isn’t reggae pretending to be soul — it’s soul pretending to be reggae, and it changed everything.
Exodus is a reggae album recorded in London in early 1977 by Bob Marley & The Wailers, following their relocation after an assassination attempt in Kingston. Its production is laid-back, featuring pulsating bass beats, piano, trumpet and guitar. It departs from cryptic storytelling in favour of clear themes: religious politics in the first half, making love and keeping faith in the second. Musically, it fuses blues, soul and British rock beneath a reggae façade — sounding unlike contemporaneous Jamaican reggae. The title and title track respond to Michael Manley’s campaign slogan ‘We Know Where We’re Going’.
Recorded in London in early 1977 by the Wailers line-up including Junior Marvin, after fleeing Kingston post-assassination attempt.
2:21
How it sounds
Laid-back production with pulsating bass, piano, trumpet and guitar — a stoned, funky, political atmosphere built on blues, soul and British rock.
3:56
What it says
Clear, direct lyrics split the album: religious politics first, then making love and keeping faith.
5:07
What it isn’t
It sounds unlike any reggae before it — because it isn’t straight reggae at all.
7:01
Why it’s called Exodus
The title and title track respond directly to Michael Manley’s campaign slogan ‘We Know Where We’re Going’.
Running order10
01
Natural Mystic - Mística Natural3:27
02
So Much Things to Say - Muchas Cosas Qué Decir3:08
03
Guiltiness - Culpabilidad3:20
04
The Heathen - Los Paganos2:32
05
Exodus - Éxodo7:35
06
Jamming - Atascando3:31
07
Waiting in Vain - Esperando En Vano4:16
08
Turn Your Lights Down Low - Baja El Brillo de Las Luces3:39
09
Three Little Birds - Tres Pequeños Pájaros3:00
10
One Love / People Get Ready - Un Amor / Gente Alístense2:51
Worth your time?
Yes. Hear the whole thing.
4.5/ 5
What works
stoned atmosphere that is simultaneously funky and political
clarity of lyrical themes
contrast between the two halves
use of piano, trumpet and liquid-y bass
What does not
cryptic storytelling
contemporaneous Jamaican reggae
straight reggae
Hear it if
listeners who want reggae reimagined through blues, soul and British rock
Skip it if
listeners expecting traditional Jamaican reggae from this era
The written brief1 min read
What the record is and where it came from
Exodus is a reggae album recorded by Bob Marley & The Wailers in London in early 1977, following their relocation after an assassination attempt in Kingston. Junior Marvin joined the line-up for these sessions.
How it sounds, and how it was made
The album sounds laid-back, with pulsating bass beats, piano, trumpet and guitar. It has a stoned atmosphere that is simultaneously funky and political. Its reggae façade sits atop blues, soul and British rock foundations. The title track includes trumpets. A liquid-y bass appears alongside funk, drumming and guitars.
What lands
The stoned, funky, political atmosphere lands. The clarity of lyrical themes lands. The contrast between the two halves — religious politics then love and faith — lands. The use of piano, trumpet and liquid-y bass lands.
What does not
It does not rely on cryptic storytelling. It does not sound like contemporaneous Jamaican reggae. It does not present reggae as a standalone genre — instead it wraps reggae around blues, soul and British rock.
The ideas inside it
The album splits into two halves: the first deals with religious politics; the second with making love and keeping faith. It moves away from cryptic storytelling toward clearer engagement with change, religious politics and sexuality.
Who should hear it, and who should not
People who want to hear reggae reimagined through blues, soul and British rock should hear it. People who expect traditional Jamaican reggae from this era should not.
Is it worth your time
Yes. It repackages reggae as something unfamiliar to Jamaican contemporaries — rooted in blues and soul, layered with British rock — and does so with clarity of theme and directness of sound.