Bob Marley : Legend
Genre: Reggae	Dates: Early '70s to early '80s

For most young Americans, Marley is synonymous with reggae. Though most of these records were made in America, to say he has significantly influenced the course of American music would be stretching it. For one…well, name an American reggae band. For another, name more than five musicians or bands that have adopted his universalist viewpoint. OK, I'm done waiting. That said, the man made great music that has remained popular with young kids during the twenty-plus years since he died, and this captures some of it. "No Woman No Cry," "Get Up Stand Up," and "I Shot the Sheriff" are among the most inspirational pop songs written in the last half century, but if, like me, you think they overwhelm the rest of this collection, which is not bad at all—move on to Catch A Fire and Burnin', the first two domestic Wailers releases, which feature Peter Tosh and Bunny Livingstone, who pushed Marley to unmatched songwriting heights with their own considerable skills. Then move deeper into the Jamaican-only Wailers material on the Trojan label, produced by Rasta space alien Lee "Scratch" Perry.

Playlist:

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. Jamming