Maps of Music

Soul Revolution Part II (1971)

Where the lyrics of Soul Revolution Part II take you, and where it was really made.

The cover says Soul Revolution Part II but the record label says Soul Revolution, so the album's proper name is disputed.

Place unknown

Do you know where this album was recorded, or where its cover was shot? Tell us and we will add it to the map.

Soul Revolution, also known as Soul Revolution Part II: third album by Bob Marley and the Wailers
Produced by Lee "Scratch" Perry
First issued in 1971
Cover name is Soul Revolution Part II; record label name is Soul Revolution
Record collecting convention honors the label name, so the proper name is considered Soul Revolution
Dub companion Soul Revolution Part II Dub has the vocals removed
Both versions were released as one set in 1988
Repackaged with additional material as African Herbsman in 1973

Recorded with Lee Perry after the band's frustrating sessions with Leslie Kong
Perry remodelled the Wailers, reducing falsetto and lowering the backing vocals
Aston and Carlton Barrett of the Upsetters rhythm section joined the band
Aston and Carlton Barrett had just returned from a successful European tour with the Upsetters
Marley was impressed that Jamaican musicians could succeed outside the island
Follows the 1970 album Soul Rebels
The band had agreed to split profits equally with Perry
After release, the band complained it received less than agreed
Perry released dub versions without paying the band
The dispute nearly ended in physical violence, and the band never worked with Perry again

Produced by Lee Perry
Errol Thompson engineered the album
Bob Marley, Peter Tosh (vocals, melodica) and Bunny Livingston sing
Alva Lewis on guitar, Glen Adams on keyboards, Aston Barrett on bass, Carlton Barrett on drums
Riding High and Brain Washing have lead vocals by Bunny Wailer
Side one and side two each hold six tracks
Don't Rock My Boat appeared on Kaya (1978) as Satisfy My Soul
Duppy Conqueror was a song written by Marley and Perry

All original releases carry the cover name Soul Revolution Part II
The album is credited to Bob Marley & The Wailers, and the cover shows photos of the three members
The original vocal LP cover had a turquoise background with dark blue text
That cover featured a hexagonal picture in the middle, surrounded by six square photos

Formed in 1963 in Jamaica around Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer and Bob Marley, initially as the Teenagers before becoming the Wailers.
The band had a ska and rocksteady origin and their 1964 hit "Simmer Down" recorded at Studio One shifted Jamaican music toward its own voice.

Founding members were Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer; Tosh and Wailer left in 1974.
Marley continued with a new lineup including Aston and Carlton Barrett and the female backing trio the I-Threes.

Signed to Island Records in 1972; albums Catch a Fire and Burnin' followed in 1973.
Released Exodus (1977) and Uprising (1980), and Marley died of cancer in 1981, after which the group disbanded.
Legend (1984) became the biggest-selling reggae album ever.

Discogs lists it as the second and last Bob Marley & The Wailers album produced by Lee Perry
Discogs lists the first issue year as 1971
Discogs describes the Part II title as a homage to a James Brown release
An instrumental/dub album titled Rhythm was also released

Reissued by various labels, sometimes with different titles and artwork
Most of the tracks were included on a 1973 compilation and numerous budget releases
Repackaged as African Herbsman in 1973 with additional material
In 1988, Trojan Records issued a double-LP reissue of both albums as Soul Revolution I & II, catalogue number TRLD 406
The 1988 Trojan set added four extra tracks compared with the two original LPs

Duppy Conqueror was released as a single before this album came out.
A dub version with the vocals removed was released as Soul Revolution Part II Dub, and both versions were released as one set in 1988.
The dub companion was originally released only in Jamaica, and a 2004 CD of the instrumental album was titled Upsetter Revolution Rhythm.
A release of the album was pressed with the labels on the wrong sides.
After the reunion with Perry nearly became violent, the band never worked with him again.
Some CD editions add alternative versions of Kaya and Duppy Conqueror.