The lost Bob Marley song ‘Selassie is the Chapel’ has been released on all major streaming platforms.
The 1968 tune by the late reggae icon and The Wailers was penned by his friend and teacher, Mortimer Planno, and is about his meeting with Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie during a visit to Jamaica in 1966.
It’s being released on Marley’s former label JAD Records, which was founded by late country music legend Johnny Cash.
As well as being able to stream on all major platforms, a limited batch of just 2,000 vinyl copies has been made available.
Just in time for biopic
The previously unreleased song’s arrival comes a few months ahead of the biopic ‘Bob Marley: One Love’, which is due to be released in cinemas on February 14, 2024.
Kingsley Ben-Adir portrays the legendary singer in the movie, which is helmed by ‘King Richard’ director Reinaldo Marcus Green and produced by Bob’s widow Rita Marley and her and Bob’s eldest son Ziggy Marley and daughter Cedella Marley.
Ben-Adir also recently got the stamp of approval from the legend’s oldest son, Ziggy. He said during the audition process, Kingsley was the one who kept his attention and gave an authentic portrayal of Bob Marley, without trying to mimic him.
“Kingsley do a great job in an artful way … Not trying to mimic my father, but being true to who Bob was, how he speaks, acts, and how he sees the world,” he said.
Ziggy Marley also gave props to the 37-year-old British actor for humanizing his father, who is considered one of the greatest musicians of all time.
Read: ‘Bob Marley: One Love’ biopic lead actor gets Ziggy Marley’s stamp of approval
The film also stars James Norton, 38, Lashana Lynch, 36, and Tosin Cole, 31.
A description reads: “Bob Marley: One Love celebrates the life and music of an icon who inspired generations through his message of love and unity. On the big screen for the first time, discover Bob’s powerful story of overcoming adversity and the journey behind his revolutionary music.”
Bob tragically died of cancer in 1981 at the age of 36. He has sold more than 75 million records worldwide.
