Bob Marley

We love the Wailers' roots work, but these early Studio One sessions capture the band at its most playful: pre-politics, pre-boatloads of ganja, finding their feet while giving ska makeovers to "Teenager In Love," "Cry Baby" and "Rolling Stone," among others. Songs like "I Am Going Home" exude the kind of joy that could get you arrested these days. And no overdubbing!

Back in the days when people bought singles for the singer and the song, a few labels
maintained a standard of quality and epitomized a particular musical approach so
consistently, just about anything they put out was worth buying. Sun and Chess in the
Fifties and Stax and Motown in the Sixties come readily to mind. At least one more record
label from the same period certainly deserves to be included on this A list: the St... More >

1963-66 Studio One ska/rocksteady--gems you'll play again amid curiosities you'll be glad you heard once ("Who Feels It Knows It," "Bend Down Low," "Hooligan," "Let Him Go") (Grade - ***)