Reggae: Top 25 Albums

Genre: The Top 100 Albums

Reggae music emerged in Jamaica in the late 1960s. It integrated ska and rocksteady and is notable for its counterpoint between the bass and drum downbeat and offbeat rhythm section. Lyrically, the songs often focus on political and social issues. This list was created by aggregating 17 best-of-reggae lists. Those albums appearing on 3 or more lists were then ranked according to their overall status on Dave’s Music Database. Check out other best-of-genre/category lists here. 1. Bob Marley & the Wailers Legend (compilation: 1973-83, released 1984) 2. Bob Marley & the Wailers Exodus (1977) 3. Various Artists (Jimmy Cliff et al) The Harder They Come (soundtrack, 1972) 4. Bob Marley & the Wailers Catch a Fire (1973) 5. Bob Marley & the Wailers Natty Dread (1974) 6. Bob Marley & the Wailers Live! (At the Lyceum) (live, recorded 7/18/75, released 12/19/75) 7. Bob Marley & the Wailers Burnin’ (1973) 8. The Congos The Heart of the Congos (1977) 9. Burning Spear Marcus Garvey (1975) 10. Augustus Pablo King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown (1976) 11. Bob Marley & the Wailers Uprising (1980) 12. Bob Marley & the Wailers Rastaman Vibration (1976) 13. Toots & the Maytals Funky Kingston (1973) 14. Bob Marley & the Wailers Kaya (1978) 15. Buju Banton Til Shiloh (1995) 16. Peter Tosh Legalize It (1976) 17. UB40 Labour of Love (1983) 18. Bunny Wailer Blackheart Man (1976) 19. Culture Two Sevens Clash (1977) 20. Mighty Diamonds Right Time (1975) 21. Steel Pulse Handsworth Revolution (1978) 22. Lee “Scratch” Perry & the Upsetters Super Ape (1976) 23. Andy Horace Skylarking (1972) 24. Gregory Isaacs Night Nurse (1982) 25. Max Romeo & the Upsetters War ina Babylon (1976) Resources and Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: other best-of-genre lists First posted 8/27/2024.

 

Bob Marley & the Wailers released Catch a Fire

Catch a Fire Bob Marley & the Wailers

Released: April 13, 1973 Peak: 171 US, 51 RB Sales (in millions): -- US, 0.1 UK, 1.5 world (includes US and UK) Genre: reggae

Tracks: Song Title (date of single release, chart peaks) Click for codes to singles charts. Concrete Jungle (6/73, --) Slave Driver 400 Years Stop the Train (1971, --) Baby We’ve Got a Date (1/73, --) Stir It Up (10/68, --) Kinky Reggae No More Trouble Midnight Ravers Total Running Time: 37:51 The Players: Bob Marley (vocals, guitar) Peter Tosh (organ, guitar, piano, vocals) Bunny Wailer (bongos, conga, vocals) Aston “Family Man” Barrett (bass) Carlton “Carlie” Barrett (drums) Rita Marley (backing vocals) Marcia Griffiths (backing vocals)

Rating: 4.098 out of 5.00 (average of 23 ratings) Quotable: “One of the finest reggae albums ever” – Vik Iyengar, All Music Guide Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Album: “Catch a Fire was the major label debut for Bob Marley and the Wailers, and it was an international success upon its release in 1973. Although Bob Marley may have been the main voice, every member of the Wailers made valuable contributions and they were never more united in their vision and sound. All the songs were originals, and the instrumentation was minimalistic in order to bring out the passionate, often politically charged lyrics.” AMG “Much of the appeal of the album lies in its sincerity and sense of purpose — these are streetwise yet disarmingly idealistic young men who look around themselves and believe they might help change the world through music. Marley sings about the current state of urban poverty (Concrete Jungle) and connects the present to past injustices (Slave Driver), but he is a not a one-trick pony. He is a versatile songwriter who also excels at singing love songs such as his classic Stir It Up. Peter Tosh sings the lead vocal on two of his own compositions — his powerful presence and immense talent hint that he would eventually leave for his own successful solo career. More than anything else, however, this marks the emergence of Bob Marley and the international debut of reggae music. Marley would continue to achieve great critical and commercial success during the 1970s, but Catch a Fire is one of the finest reggae albums ever. This album is essential for any music collection.” AMG Notes: “400 Years” previously appeared on Soul Rebels and African Herbsman. The 2001 remastered version adds bonus tracks "High Tide or Low Tide" and "All Day All Night." There’s also the two-disc deluxe edition which adds an album’s worth of dubs. A Deluxe Edition of the album adds a second disc which consists of the original Jamaican version of the album before it was remixed with extra guitar and keyboard parts.

Resources and Related Links: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Bob Marley AMG All Music Guide review by Vik Iyengar First posted 3/26/2008; last updated 5/10/2021.