Absolute Radio: Discover real music

The title of this album says it all. This is such a great collection of songs I don't know where to start. If you're new to Marley then you can't do better than this album, and if you're already a fan then this a great collection of his stuff in one place. Worth it for 'No woman no cry' alone! Brilliant summer music, or any time of the year it's that good!

Rating: 5 out of 5

Bob had it right. Black, white, yellow (no disrespect to the french intended) dont matter....lets all get along. I read some other review saying you see this album in nearly every house you visit, think about it? that is so true. Bob was and is a legend. 5 stars for this album is an insult. Lets have a special 10 star slot for da massiv rasta mon. (im old and white BTW) grew up with loads of annoyingly loud jamaican and barbadian types always BANGGING on about Bob bloody marley and reggae. It grows on you tho cos its so raw. None of that 'bling bling' rubbish you get in the states. All them blokes that grew up in philly or whatever but they have a crap put on jamaican accent??? what the hell is that all about. I heard some of Bob's tunes next door once when i was like 5 or something....that was like 33yrs ago....you never forget a legend! (oh...and he is soooo right about that 'no woman no cry' thing)

Rating: 5 out of 5

There are a handful of albums that I see in just about every house that I visit. Bob Marley-Legend is one of them. Everyone seems to love his songs and I think the main reason is their simplicity. Marley seems to be able to strip music to it's simplest form and deliver messages so relevant but without the pretentiousness that most artist impose. Think of Reggae and Bob Marley immediately comes to mind. He has put this genre on the map and made it his own. He has mastered the genre to make the most wonderful and chilled out songs ever recorded. Played from beginning to end, this collection will take away all your worries and chill your soul. A great summer's day album to play whilst relaxing in your yard and equally good music to play in the background of a nice social gathering. One time I was in a chillout bar and they had the whole album on in the background and not one tune seemed out of place, in fact it helped tremendously with the atmosphere.Music doesn't get more honest than this. Simplicity and beauty with a strong thread of genius interwoven throughout. this collection of songs shows clearly why Bob Marley is heralded in such high regard by millions of people worldwide. He touches everyone who hears his music, which is just about the full population of the planet. One of the greatest collections of an artist's work and rightfully titled. Bob Marley was, and still is, a legend.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Jamaicas' most gifted musical artist was undoubtedly the legendary Bob Marley. Bob Marley and his dynamic backing group, The Wailers, became the sound of Jamaica. Marley also deservedly became the undisputed and unparalled king of reggae music, defining new styles that set standards in todays musical culture. His untimely death left a big void in music. Legend (1984) is just a mere skimming of their greatest work together but for casual fans this perharps is the definitive collection of Bob Marley and the Wailers. This compilation was issued by Island Records that featured many other renowned reggae artists. The vast majority of songs captured on this one disc were written and produced by Marley. He indeed proved to be something of a musical genius with his reflective outlook on life. Marley explored various themes through his music with some being profound love songs whilst others containing more of a political theme, exploring relevant social issues of the time. Is This Love kicks off this unforgetable collection. Is This Love pretty much sets the tone for the duration of the album. The warm, jamming reggae arrangements contains Marleys' distinctive vocal style where he puts in a subtle yet powerful performance. His remarkably unique vocal style is put too full accelerated effect on an electric and stunning live performance of that divine classic, No Woman, No Cry. This legendary classic is perharps one of Marleys definitive landmarks. Much of Marleys music makes for fantastic late-night listening with its mellow, atmospheric tone and also makes great house-party music, creating the right ambience thats relaxed yet literally makes you have to get up and dance! The jamming Could You Be Loved is a pure example of this. Could You Be Loved is one of those great numbers to groove too and is infectious within its complex, multi-layered reggae arrangements to Marleys raw, earthy delivery. Marley proved to be a highly versatile vocalist and surprisingly made a great ballads singer which is perfectly demonstrated on the exotic, and sensual Three Little Birds. This timeless classic is a masterpiece! Three minutes of pure perfection! The fabulous Buffalo Soldier is another number that makes you just want to get up and groove the whole night through. Marley seamlessly surfboards along the startling musical arrangements, carrying this classic off with a lot of verve and style. Bob Marley and the Wailers music never once really escaped its urban feel and welcomingly so as their music remains a refreshing alternative as what they always remarkably were was origanal. The urban mode and almost stark effect on the compelling Get Up, Stand Up is just contagious. Though you could argue some of their recordings become slightly formulaic they never once get boring and were just magical from beginning to end with Marley always being an upmost genius for creativity. There are far mellower and laid back numbers included such as their early 1970's classic, Stir It Up which becomes almost hypnotic as the musical arrangements career along at an easy, relaxed pace. They go in for that more traditional Jamaican sound on the sensational One Love/People get ready which is given startling recognition from the shimmering backing vocals courtesy of the Wailers to Marleys vibrant, up-beat, feel-good performance. More grittily earthy was another bombastic classic, I Shot The Sheriff, which, like most of the other tracks on here, enjoyed phenomenal chart success across both sides of the Atlantic. Marley shows off his seemingly effortless flair again on the magical ballad Waiting In Vain. His musical vocal style still has that uplifting quality but yet conveys a more sensitive, yearning sound thats both exciting and soothing. Theres a more spiritual and poignant edge on the atmospheric classic, Redemption. The minimal orchestrations are fully ignited by forceful, aggressive vocals from Marley. Redemption commendably conveys Marleys diversity and unchallenged artistic integrity. Equally as mellow as Redemption is the exotic-flavoured, Satisfy My Soul which is complimented by another effectively laid back performance from Marley amidst the flowing, theraputic arrangements. However more exciting musically was one of his biggest, all-time best classics - Exodus. From that compelling opening through to the funk-driven rhythms and marleys impeccable delivery. Exodus is pure dynamite and emerges as one of the biggest highlights on this all-rounded excellent compilation. Legend (1984) then winds down with another of his all-time greatest and most infectious creations, Jamming. My point about Marleys music making great house party music and simply making you want to just get up and dance, will give you an understanding of what I mean when listening to this divinely funky number that ends the album on a high. Bob Marley and the Wailers enjoyed staggering chart success in Jamaica and amazingly their music became a world wide phenomenon. They enjoyed deserved mammoth chart success throughout the 1970s with their string of albums that were rightly perceived as pieces of musical art by critics as well as many of their singles occupying the higher reaches of the charts. Marley remains one of the key influential singers of our era and as far as reggae music is concerned, he has never been bettered and casting my own rather biased opinions aside, doubtfully ever will! Long live the king of reggae!

Rating: 5 out of 5

I first heard of Bob Marley from one of my friends, they said that he was excellent. So he let me listen to " One Love " and i was speechless. It was amazing and lovely. I wanted to hear some more songs from Marley, so i listened to " Is This Love " and " Easy Skanking " and both masterpieces. I wasnt really into reggae, not a massive fan. But after listening to Marley, i love reggae. I love every single track on this CD. " No Woman No Cry " is brilliant, especially as its live. My favourites are " Is This Love ", " Could You Be Loved ", " Three Little Birds ", " Stir It UP ", " Easy Skanking ", " One Love ", and " I Shot The Sherrif ". By this CD, especially for people who are new to Bob Marley. And 10 quid, come on, for a legend, thats an amazing price!

Rating: 5 out of 5