Bob Marley and the Wailers – Legend: Half Speed Master (Vinyl LP)

Mastered at Half-Speed by Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios in London

In November 2020, twelve Bob Marley albums will be available on premium half-speed mastered vinyl. 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. All tracks were mastered by Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios in London.

Abbey Road’s world-renowned engineers have been cutting grooves into discs since the studios first opened their doors in 1931. This record was pressed from a master cut using a precision technique known as half-speed mastering. The procedure requires the source master and the cutting lathe to run at half speed on a specially adapted Neumann VMS-80 lathe. This rare and specialized technique transforms difficult to cut highend frequencies into relatively easy to cut mid-range frequencies. The result is a cut with excellent high frequency response and very solid and stable stereo images. In short, half-speed mastering produces a master of the highest quality that enables the pressing plant to produce a superlative record.

First released in May 1984, Legend is the bestselling reggae album of all time, and one of the most successful compilations in any genre, with worldwide sales of a staggering 28 million. The 14 songs that comprise the retrospective are genre-defining landmarks, on a collection crammed with instantly recognizable gems such as “Get Up Stand Up,” “One Love/People Get Ready,” “I Shot The Sheriff,” “Three Little Birds,” “Jammin” and “Exodus.” Other anthemic hits from the album including “No Woman No Cry” and “Is This Love” feature the backing vocals of the I Threes, the female trio that comprised Marley’s wife Rita, Judy Mowatt and Marcia Griffiths.

1. Is This Love
2. No Woman No Cry
3. Could You Be Loved
4. Three Little Birds
5. Buffalo Soldier
6. Get Up Stand Up
7. Stir It Up
8. One Love / People Get Ready
9. I Shot The Sheriff
10. Waiting In Vain
11. Redemption Song
12. Satisfy My Soul
13. Exodus
14. Jammin’