Bob Marley & The Wailers: Legend (30th anniversary, 2LP, red, yellow and green vinyl) [ISLAND]

Why you'll love it

Legend is the best-selling reggae album ever, with an estimated 27 million copies sold, and only Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon has spent longer on the Billboard 200. This 30th anniversary edition spreads it over two LPs in red, yellow and green.

This edition

• 30th anniversary edition
• 2LP set on red, yellow and green vinyl
• 16 tracks
• Island pressing

About the album

Legend has been criticized for omitting the more rabble-rousing and political contents of the Bob Marley catalogue in favour of radio-friendly fare designed to appeal to middle-of-the-road audiences, but it's pretty tough to deny the late singer's way with a tune. The hits collected on Legend were hits for a reason. From "No Woman, No Cry" and "Buffalo Soldier" to "Exodus" and "Jamming," these Marley staples have left a permanent mark on the radio airwaves and popular culture in general. And if there's lots more to the Bob Marley canon than the digestible tidbits gathered together here, it's still a pretty good place to start. Consider it a gateway.

And a popular gateway, at that: Legend is the biggest-selling reggae album of all time, with an estimated 27 million copies sold worldwide since it first came out in 1984, and the only record that's ever spent more time on the Billboard album chart is Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon. Clearly the audience for Marley's best-known songs keeps refreshing itself.

Also at Kops: more Bob Marley on vinyl · browse World

Tracklist

Listen

On Island, a 30th anniversary edition of the 1984 compilation.