Just wondering who's a fan of what and why. I had (and lost) Legend and liked it a lot, but if I'm going the album route I'm curious where to start

EDIT: Forgot to add "other" option (modhlpplzthx?), but if you want to suggest something else, just post it.

I'm in the exact same boat as you. Although I've heard Exodus and it's pretty excellent. Just from the little I know abou it, I would start there. Take this uninformed opinion for what it's worth.

what about Kaya? some of my fav tunes are on there (Misty Morning, Time Will Tell, Is This Love). really emotional album.

I'm an "Uprising" fan myself

any album with "Stir it up" on it will automatically take the number one spot. Just a damn good album. However, you can't really go wrong with any Marley album. They're all great.

My favorite Bob Marley always changes over time. And, I really don't listen to him much at all these days...too much other reggae I haven't herard enough of that I tend to not get too excted about hearing a guy who I've heard so damn much over the years. But, really, all his albums are great.

Right now, when I do pull out a Bob Marley album, it's usually Soul Rebel, which would start you near enough the beginning and would give you maybe one song you would recognize with a bunch of new to you stuff. It's really bass heavy and has a different sound than what followed.

Exodus is a good starting point coming from the Greatest Hits stuff as you'll recognize about half the album or more. It will instantly appeal to anyone who was a big fan of Legend. Then again, I kinda figure with an artist like Bob Marley, you're gonna need to get all his major releases anyway, so starting with either Soul Rebel or Catch a Fire, depending on if you consider Soul Rebel a major release or not, and moving forward makes good sense.

i think i have about four marley albums but i probably would have been fine with one

motherfucker has shittier grammar than me

From the ones you've listed, I went with Catch a Fire. I'm a big Marley fan, and the older I get, I tend to enjoy the more raw, early sound as opposed to the slicker sound of Exodus (although it is still a great album) and especially the last three albums he released.

If I had to pick one overall (not looking at your list), I'd go with Soul Rebels, then Catch a Fire, then Burnin'. The stuff with the original Wailers is just superior to his later stuff.

It's hard to go wrong with any of his proper albums, really, but I would buy the last three of his last.

Oh yeah...and Soul Rebels was produced by Lee Perry, so it gives you a taste of his production style as well.

Rastaman Vibration

Other option has been added. Thanks, mods.

And thanks for the feedback, everyone. Keep it coming.

I'd be pretty happy to never hear his music again. And if that sounds sacrilegous consider that here in Hawaii, people play his music constantly to the extent that I've found that I can't enjoy his stuff anymore.

Sad but true.

Your welcome. I managed to not ruin your thread in the process.

Same here.
Heard it way too much.

After you're burned out on Marley is the perfect time to start branching out in the reggae world. I'd get pretty sick of rock and roll if all I was able to listen to was Elvis...even though I 'm a huge fan.

I mean, it's just a classic case of overexposure.


I got nothin' against the man.

See, this is the correct answer.


I need to buy some Yellowman and Peter Tosh albums.

I'd never heard anything other than Legend, Live, and some of the box set until last year.

I caught that VH1 special about "Catch a Fire" and bought it immediately. Amazing album. The one that really put him on the map internationally.


If you're only familiar with Legend, do yourself a favor and pick it up. The "filler" tracks are every bit as good as the hits.


When he put that out he hadn't quite developed his Rastafari shaman persona fully and was really just trying to crossover into a wider audience and move beyond the reggae circuit. His ideals were already in place and he really achieved the balance of socially aware messages with pop melodies here.

Also, Babylon By Bus should be mentioned as well. Great live album from 1978.

I like as much if not more than "Live".

... and Burning Spear and The Congos and...

absolutely my choice. i know it's not his best, but easily my personal favorite.

though this is the only marley i actually have on cd (and probably all one would need):

songs of freedom box set

Me too. "Coming In From The Cold" and "Redemption Song" make it one of my faves.

Exactly my point.

That's my second favorite to "Survival" They are all good though.