Today Jamaica and the world celebrate the 77th birthday of reggae music legend, Robert Nesta Marley.

Marley, who has left a world of meaningful and timeless music behind, is Jamaica’s most popular and successful artiste. He is considered the pioneer of reggae and is especially known for his distinctive vocal and songwriting style.

He and the Wailers (Bob Marley and The Wailers), which originally included Bunny Wailer, Peter Tosh, Junior Braithwaite, Beverley Kelso, and Cherry Smith, travelled the world where they played at several different concerts, spreading the words of their conscious, calming and thought-provoking music.

As we celebrate another earth strong for the gone but definitely not forgotten music legend, let us take a look at the Top 8 songs more than worthy of being added to your playlist, whether you are a fan of reggae or not.

8. Blackman Redemption (1980)

Released from the song legend’s final album before his death, Uprising, this track sums up his life and what he stands for and spreads through his music – freedom and redemption. Produced by Errol Brown and Bob Marley and The Wailers, the song drew from the words of civil rights activist and Jamaican National Hero, Marcus Mosiah Garvey.

“We are going to emancipate ourselves from mental slavery because whilst others might free the body, none but ourselves can free the mind.”

7. Coming In From The Cold (1980)

Released in 1980 as part of the Uprising album, Coming In From The Cold speaks to the fact that humans are in a constant state of improvement.

As a people, we have truly advanced when we compare now to then – ‘coming in from the cold’.

6. Stir It Up (1973)

Stir It Up, released in 1973, is a song composed by Bob in 1967, for his wife Rita. The track was released on the singer’s Catch A Fire album. It was produced by Jack Nuber and Chris Blackwell.

It has been speculated that this love song may not be about Rita, but instead, about marijuana, which Bob was known to smoke religiously.

5. Rebel Music Remix (1999)

Rebel Music Remix, from the Chant Down Babylon album, was released in 1999 and features American rapper, Krayzie Bone.

Produced by the Marley Boyz, consisting of Damion Marley and Stephen Marley, the original song was first released in 1974 on the Natty Dread album.

This is not the only case where one of Bob’s songs was remixed after his death. Turn Your Light’s Down Low was first released in 1977, but a hit remix was later released in 1999 featuring Lauryn Hill.

4. Bad Card (1980)

Bad Card, from the Uprising album and released in 1980, features Marley speaking about a fallout he had with manager Don Taylor. According to author David Moskowitz’s The Words and Music of Bob Marley, Taylor had been taking money from profits earned from Bob’s concerts.

Taylor also threatened the singer, suggesting that he would ruin his image. This defiant track, however, makes it clear that despite the machinations of those he considered allies, his music would endure, as it has and then some.

3. Trench Town Rock (1973)

Trench Town Rock was originally produced by Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry and released as a single in 1971. Later, the track was featured on the 1973 compilation album, African Herbsman.

The lyrics of Trench Town Rock are an ode to the singer’s hometown, and the rich music and culture that was produced from the area in the ’60s.

We can also hear Bob noting how music really makes him feel and it calls for peace amid the tumultuous environment of Kingston in the early ’70s. 

2. Crazy Baldheads

A track from the RastaMan Vibration album, Crazy Baldhead was produced by Bob Marley and The Wailers.

Crazy Baldhead actually refers to white supremacists, including members of the KKK and other racist organisations that control the western society, including Skinheads.

1. Give Thanks and Praise

Give Thanks and Praises, a mellow and feel good track, speaks of giving thanks to God, whoever one identifies him to be. In Bob’s case, that would be Haile Selassie I. In the song, Bob belts out that in his hour of need, or in times of pain, God is always there to help.

The fifth track from the group’s Confrontation album, Give Thanks and Praises was produced by both the group and Errol Brown.

The I-Threes (Rita Marley, Marcia Griffiths and Judy Mowatt), as they usually do, provide melodic background vocals.