Yesterday’s album, Bob Marley’s 13th, wraps up my deep dive into the catalog of one of popular music’s most inspirational talents. Marley defined an entire musical genre, crafted songs recognized all over the world, and spread a message of love, peace and social justice during a career that spanned little more than a decade.
It’s hard to imagine what the Bob Marley legacy would look like if he wasn’t taken away at just 36 years old. Consider the wealth of material he would have created over the last 40 years, and the impact he would have had on the world, culturally and politically.
My biggest discovery through this deep dive was the consistent greatness of Marley’s output. I’ll post my rankings of his 13 albums below, but literally every single one of them is a delightful listen. From his early, unpolished work with Pete Tosh and Bunny Waller to the finely honed masterworks of his final years, everything sparkles with joy, wit, and deep feeling.
Marley covered matters of the heart, the soul, the brain and the fist. He was a laid-back lover and a steely-eyed fighter. No matter the topic, his songs celebrate the glorious gift of life.
He certainly got the most out of his short time in this world, and we’re blessed to have witnessed it.
My personal ranking of the Bob Marley catalog:
#13 – Confrontation
#12 – The Wailing Wailers (1965)
#11 – Rastaman Vibration (1976)
#10 – Soul Revolution Part II (1971)
#9 – The Best of the Wailers (1971)
#8 – Catch a Fire (1973)
#7 – Natty Dread (1974)
#6 – Soul Rebels (1970)
#5 – Burnin’ (1973)
#4 – Survival (1979)
#3 – Kaya (1978)
#2 – Uprising (1980)
#1 – Exodus (1977)
There’s a natural mystic blowing through the air
If you listen carefully now you will hear
[Verse 1]
This could be the first trumpet, might as well be the last
Many more will have to suffer
Many more will have to die
Don’t ask me why
Things are not the way they used to be
I won’t tell no lie
[Verse 2]
One and all got to face reality now
Though I’ve tried to find the answer to all the questions they ask
Though I know it’s impossible to go living through the past
Don’t tell no lie
[Chorus]
There’s a natural mystic blowing through the air
Can’t keep them down
If you listen carefully now you will hear
[Bridge]
Such a natural mystic, blowing through the air
[Verse 3]
This could be the first trumpet, might as well be the last
Many more will have to suffer
Many more will have to die – don’t ask me why
[Chorus]
There’s a natural mystic blowing through the air
I won’t tell no lie
If you listen carefully now you will hear
There’s a natural mystic blowing through the air
[Outro]
Such a natural mystic blowing through the air
There’s a natural mystic blowing through the air
Such a natural mystic blowing through the air
Such a natural mystic blowing through the air
Such a natural mystic blowing through the air
Meet Me In Montauk 
Thank you for another great deep dive. Marley was clearly at the top of his game in the last few years of his life, and one does wonder how much great music the world was deprived of with his untimely death.
What a fun dive this has been! I notice you omitted the Wailers Live! album from 1975. I understand why, as the album repeats songs from prior albums that you’ve already featured. This relatively brief (37:19!) album, however, was significant in that it “lit up” college campuses across America and was for many people the introduction to the Wailers sound. The arrangements also differed from the album versions. Robert Christgau said this about it: “…the material is also choice, unlike most live albums it’s graced by distinct sound and economical arrangements, and the tempos force both singer and the band into moments of wild, unexpected intensity. I used to think Natty Dread’s ‘No Woman, No Cry’ was definitive.” I would be interested to know where it fits into your rankings!