Best Reggae Songs of All Time

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   No Woman, No Cry

   Bob Marley and the Wailers · from Natty Dread (1974)

   The tender live staple of reggae's biggest star.

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   Three Little Birds

   Bob Marley and the Wailers · from Exodus (1977)

   Pure, reassuring sunshine.

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   TA
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   Pressure Drop

   Toots and the Maytals · from Funky Kingston (1973)

   Joyful, gospel-charged rocksteady.

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   JC
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   The Harder They Come

   Jimmy Cliff · from The Harder They Come (1972)

   A defiant anthem that introduced the world to reggae.

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   Legalize It

   Peter Tosh · from Legalize It (1976)

   An uncompromising roots statement.

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   Marcus Garvey

   Burning Spear · from Marcus Garvey (1975)

   Hypnotic, deeply spiritual roots.

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   GI
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   Night Nurse

   Gregory Isaacs · from Night Nurse (1982)

   The coolest of lovers-rock.

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   Police and Thieves

   Junior Murvin · from Police and Thieves (1977)

   Sweet falsetto over a Lee Perry groove.

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   CU
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   Two Sevens Clash

   Culture · from Two Sevens Clash (1977)

   Prophetic, hooky roots reggae.

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    MR
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    War ina Babylon

    Max Romeo and the Upsetters · from War ina Babylon (1976)

    Militant and melodic at once.

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    Welcome to Jamrock

    Damian Marley · from Welcome to Jamrock (2005)

    A hard-hitting modern dancehall landmark.

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    Get Busy

    Sean Paul · from Dutty Rock (2002)

    A bouncy dancehall crossover smash.

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    Many Rivers to Cross

    Jimmy Cliff · from The Harder They Come (1972)

    The gospel of perseverance set to reggae — genuinely timeless.

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    TA
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    Pressure Drop

    Toots and the Maytals · from Funky Kingston (1973)

    The Specials covered it; The Clash covered it; everyone's right to.

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    BS
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    Marcus Garvey

    Burning Spear · from Marcus Garvey (1975)

    Roots reggae as political statement — the Garvey myth rebuilt in music.

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    SP
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    Ku Klux Klan

    Steel Pulse · from Handsworth Revolution (1978)

    British reggae at its most righteously angry.

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    GI
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    Night Nurse

    Gregory Isaacs · from Night Nurse (1982)

    The lovers rock standard — smooth, aching, and perfectly produced.

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    Zungguzungguguzungguzeng

    Yellowman · from Mister Yellowman (1982)

    The deejay style at its most physically impossible and joyful.

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    CU
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    Two Sevens Clash

    Culture · from Two Sevens Clash (1977)

    The Rastafarian prophecy, the dread bass, and the apocalyptic mood.

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