UMe and Tuff Gong have announced three new and exclusive limited-edition collector series of the legendary reggae icon Bob Marley.
On Dec. 11, 12 limited-edition Bob Marley vinyl LP’s, each numbered and pressed exclusively at the legendary Tuff Gong International headquarters in Kingston, Jamaica, will be available, according to MENAFN, Caribbean News Global.
It said LP series features nine original studio albums and two original live albums, “plus the world’s best-selling reggae album, ‘Legend’, all including a highly-desirable Tuff Gong stamp,” MENAFN said.
Additionally, it said “Catch A Fire,” originally recorded by The Wailers in Jamaica, and eventually released with overdubs and a mix overseen by Island founder Chris Blackwell, at the label’s London headquarters, will be available in its original Jamaica-recorded version.
The remixed “Catch A Fire” will have two extra tracks and some tracks with longer fades, MENAFN said.
“Produced entirely by Bob Marley & the Wailers and mixed by longtime Marley associate Errol Brown, this Jamaican version will be on vinyl for the first time,” it said.
The limited-edition albums were pressed at Tuff Gong’s newly refurbished vinyl pressing plant, which re-opened in summer 2020 and will have an annual capacity of 250,000 units, MENAFN said.
It said each album was mastered by Dave Cooley at Elysian Masters in Los Angeles.
On Nov. 20, 12 titles will also be available on premium half-speed mastered vinyl, MENAFN said.
“This specialist artisan process results in a more detailed representation of the original sound source cuts, with a far superior high-frequency (treble) response, and richer and fuller low to middle frequencies,” it said.
All tracks were mastered by Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios in London, MENAFN said.
It said that, on Dec. 4, the long-awaited CD version of the iconic Complete Island Recordings LP box, which includes all nine Bob Marley & The Wailers studio albums recorded for Island Records, plus two live albums, “Live!” and “Babylon By Bus”, will be released.
MENAFN said the Complete Island Recordings CD boxset will include the 11 albums packaged in CD wallets, housed in a brushed silver clamshell box that simulates the larger hinged lighter from the LP set.
Released on Oct. 13, in continued celebration of the late musical and cultural icon’s 75th birthday, Rizzoli published “Bob Marley: Portrait of the Legend”, a celebration of the life and influence of the forefather of reggae, and the first book authorized by the Bob Marley Foundation, MENAFN said.
Drawing exclusively on images from the Marley family archives, it said “’Bob Marley: Portrait of the Legend’ showcases over 150 photographs in celebration of the life of one of the greatest musical and socio-political icons of 20th century pop culture.
“Making the most of its oversize pages, the book is designed as a monument to Marley’s influence, mixing the iconic and the intimate, bringing together striking images of his on-stage performances, along with glimpses into his creative process in and out of the studio, and family life in Jamaica,” MENAFN added.
Ziggy Marley, Bob Marley’s son, said about the release: “I am blessed to present to you this very special collection of photographs from our archives.
“There is a cliché term, ‘a picture is worth a thousand words,’” MENAFN quoted him as saying. “From my experience of looking through hundreds and hundreds of photos for this book, I will say, yes, it is true.”
