"Soul Rebels" is the second studio album by the Wailers and their first release outside Jamaica. The band approached producer Lee "Scratch" Perry in August 1970 to record the album, with sessions taking place at Randy's recording studio in Kingston until November. It was first issued in the UK by Trojan Records in December 1970 and has been re-released multiple times by various labels. Perry's production is characterized by a sparse and haunting sound, featuring only guitar, bass, drums, electronic organs, and vocals, without horns or other embellishments.
The opening track, "Soul Rebel," marked the first collaboration between Perry and Marley. Marley came up with the concept for the song, while Perry arranged and co-wrote the music based on Marley's lyrics.
According to Colin Grant's book I & I: The Natural Mystics: Marley, Tosh and Wailer, the band was unhappy with the "soft porn" look of the album cover, feeling it clashed with their sensibilities and lamenting that they were not consulted on its design.
