...but it was not easy. Bob was sick. Although his brain tumour was not diagnosed until later in the year, when they were on tour, take a look at the picture on the album sleeve (Bob crouching with the band). That look like an unwell Bob and a very tired looking band. Almost ironic then that the front cover design by Neville Garrick should show a powerful Bob stretching forth. 'Uprising' as we all know was the last album released before Bob died.

All of this just goes to making the music contained on it that much more poignant - non more so than 'Redemption Song' which for me is one of the best anthem's of life ever written, and a song most people see as Bob's memorial. So, the album is sentimental, but does it live up to the album cover and name - is it powerful and does it feel like an uprising of spirit and purpose? Absolutely.

I can best explain how powerful Bob and his lyrics are by going back to the social scene in Jamaica for a minute. In the island in 1980 politics was warfare - literally. An election was constitutionaly due by year end. Socialist and Cuba leaning Peoples National Party (PNP) were in power and being challenged by capitalist, Reagan suported Jamaica Labour Party (JLP). Each party's supporters on the streets found positions worth fighting for and blood was freely shed by gunmen on both sides of the political fence. People - caught up in the roadblocks, curfews, shoot-outs and police & army raids - refer to 1980 simply as 'the war'. Bob's peace efforts - getting the two party leaders to hold hands at the 'One Love' concert in 1978 was a thing of the past. In all of this, the one thing the party's could agree on was that Bob's music was a powerful force. Both claimed songs from 'Uprising' as their election anthems. The PNP used the line from 'Bad card' "/you a go tired fe see me face/" to stake their claim for victory at the polls, wheras the JLP - out of power since 1972 - claimed they were 'Coming in From the Cold'. Meantime, ordinary citizens, when the chance arose to enjoy ourselves, simply danced to 'Zion Train' 'Forever Loving Jah' 'Real Situation' and pondered 'Pimpers Paradise' 'We and Them' and 'Redemption Song'.

From start to finish an album of lyrically potent tracks and thankfully, without the polemics - simply great music.

"Redemption song" and "Comin in from the cold" alone are worth the price. I would view this CD as being in the same league as say, the Beatles' "Pepper" or the Stones' "Sticky fingers" or "Exile". This CD is that essential. Would you like to be stranded on a desert island without it?

It would be too easy to become sentimental in terms of "Survival," seeing as it was Bob's final recording. Do noot get like that, but listen to the tracks. the lyrics are among Bob's most heartfelt and powerful- it is obvious Bob was very into these recordings.

I will not spend any more time talking about the lp, as workds can not express well how it effects me. Just get it and listen to it, and marvel in Bob's finest achievement since "Catch a Fire."

I think what's most amazing to me about this album is that no one knows about it and only argue that Exodus is his best album. I disagree. I almost never heard this album because alot of books i read about him had many quotes by people saying that Bob marley wasn't as good after Natty Dread. They couldn't be more wrong. His last album released before his death is also his best. Lyrically intelligent and musically overcoming, the the waves of the ocean, this is his most sirious album. IT IS NOT A SUMMER PARTY ALBUM! His other album's are good for that, but this one is not. THe album is also worth a listen over and over again, because after each listen something new is discovered. Be the one to share Bob marley around, and intrigue them with this Masterpiece

Don't waste your time on the later compilations of Bob Marley. The essential music is on the albums, and Uprising is one of the best of a great lot.

From "Coming in From the Cold" to "Redemption Song", Uprising is full of religious and political themes. There isn't a bad song on this album that flows with great music and lyrics. "Redemption Song" the last song on the disc, is a fitting one, Marley died within 18 months of making Uprising. Great music.