Why Bob Marley's Exodus is such an important album
Bob Marley's album Exodus has just turned 40 years old and 1Xtra's Rodigan is celebrating this iconic record on his Sunday night show.
Exodus was the album that brought Bob Marley worldwide acclaim and success and left a lasting impact on the music scene and the people working in it - including the stars of 1Xtra.
We asked some of our presenters for their memories of Exodus and why they believe the album is still so relevant today, four decades later.
Ace
“Exodus is an album that loads of artists from loads of different genres have always referenced as being one of the most influential albums for them.
The Exodus album has gone 40 years and none of it sounds old or datedDJ Ace
"You have albums that have been really key and iconic. You think of Stevie Wonder – Songs in the Key Of Life, Michael Jackson’s Thriller. Even if you listen to those albums now, they’ve kind of aged a little bit even though you understand that they’re great and you know how iconic they are, you can tell they’re from a different time.
"The Exodus album has gone 40 years and none of it sounds old or dated. And it’s gone through generations of your family.
"So you would’ve listened to it, your older brother would have listened to it, your uncles, your mum, your gran. You know what I’m saying, it’s something for everybody in the family and it sounds super fresh even today.
The messages are very relevant to a lot of the things we’re going through todayDJ Ace
"The reason why it still has an impact on modern music today is because the messages are very relevant to a lot of the things we’re going through today. There’s a lot of social commentary that was relevant 40 years that is still relevant now and people can relate to.
"And there are a lot of artists who have used Bob Marley’s messages and music as a source of inspiration for their own music.
"Whether that is today or yesterday, from the 80s, the 90s, the noughties to now. The music is still extremely relevant.”
Seani B celebrates 40 years of Exodus
Exodus Listening Party with Ziggy Marley
To celebrate 40 years of Exodus, Seani hits play on a exclusive version with Ziggy Marley
Charlie Sloth
"Growing up as a child, the Exodus album was forever present in my household. Both my parents were massive fans of Bob Marley and reggae music. And it’s an album that still to this day, gets heavy rotation at both home and in my car.
This really is, a timeless masterpieceCharlie Sloth
"The fact that I can still play records from this album to my audience, whether it be at a club or a festival, and get the reaction I do every time I play them, shows the significance of this body of work.
"This really is, a timeless masterpiece, that forever has me Jammin."
Listen to Bob Marley's 1973 John Peel session
Bob Marley session for John Peel - 1973
Highlight clips of Slave Driver, Concrete Jungle and Rasta Man.
DJ Target
"My first memories of listening to Exodus, or just Bob Marley in general, was on a Sunday when my mum would be doing cleaning and hoovering. I'd wake up and I'd always smell breakfast being made but i'd also hear reggae music.
"Exodus, the title track from the album is one of those tracks that always reminds me of those early Sundays when some cleaning up was getting done."
Ziggy Marley talks about the importance of Exodus
'I'm like his big brother now'
Bob Marley's album Exodus is reworked by his son Ziggy 40 years after its original release
