“Selassie is the Chapel,” a rare track by reggae legend Bob Marley, recently found its way to streaming services. The song, recorded in 1968 with the backing of The Wailers for JAD Records, will also get a limited edition seven-inch vinyl re-release.
The lyrics for the song were penned by Marley’s friend and Rastafari elder Mortimer Planno. It is considered the first Rastafarian song that Marley ever recorded. JAD Records released the track as a single, but only several hundred vinyl copies were pressed, and the track was largely forgotten.
“Selassie is the Chapel” was unearthed in 1997 as part of the compilation series Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers 1967 to 1972 and was reissued on vinyl in 2002.
According to a press release made by JAD Records, a total of 2,000 copies of “Selassie is the Chapel” 7-inch vinyl edition will be made available to the fans.
“Selassie is the Chapel is a rare, spiritual and emotive recording, one that was incredibly dear to Marley and delivers a personal statement from him about his beliefs,” said JAD Records in a press release. “This beautiful song is being presented as a message of peace to the world, at a time of global turbulence.”
