Rock critic Williams commemorates the 30th anniversary of Bob Marley's recording of the album Exodus, which was named by Time magazine the best album of the 20th century. While not everyone will agree with that assessment, Exodus is definitely one of Marley's best albums and one that introduced many casual fans to reggae music. Unlike some commemorative or coffee-table books, this one includes exceptionally fine writing. The contributors range from Lloyd Bradley (This Is Reggae Music) to music critic Robert Christgau to the famous dub poet Linton Kwesi Johnson. The different narratives cover the events of the remarkable last few years of Marley's life-e.g., the assassination attempt on Marley, his exile in England, details of the recording of Exodus, and a description of the artist's legendary One Love Peace concert, during which he clasped together the hands of warring Jamaican politicians. The photographs and layout are excellent throughout, and the book includes the complete Exodus compact disc for those few reggae fans who may not yet own it. A fine book to add to any reggae collection; highly recommended.
