Reggae charts

Review: Reportedly written and recorded after hearing The Clash's cover of Junior Murvin's 'Police & Thieves', 'Punky Reggae Party' isn't one of the more celebrated releases in Bob Marley's discography. Yet there's so much to like about it, as this reissue of the original Jamaican 12" proves. For starters, it saw Marley and the Wailers reunite in the studio with legendary producer Lee 'Scratch' Perry, whose stylistic ticks and subtle touches are evident throughout. It was produced in 1977 at height of disco fever (something Perry was particularly suspicious of, believing that it was leading Rastafarian youths astray) and the A-side is a genuinely epic reggae 'disco mix' that rolls out to nine minutes and includes some fine scat freestyling from Marley. The similarly epic flip-side dub is not Perry's wildest, but undeniably dancefloor ready.

Review: Celebrating the extraordinary new biopic Bob Marley: One Love, Island/UMe releases a limited edition of Marley's timeless album Exodus. This version features the original album with an alternate cover, an exclusive 10" LP of rare bonus tracks and an essay by Jamaican music historian Herbie Miller, all encased in a gatefold design for the first time. Miller's liner notes illuminate Exodus as a profound document revealing Marley's contemplations, fears, and steadfast commitment to equity and spreading Rastafari spirituality globally. The alternate cover, designed by Marley's friend and creative director Neville Garrick, initially depicted a migrating bird symbolizing the parting of the Red Sea, with Marley and the Wailers under Haile Selassie's gaze. This original design is featured on the back of the new release. The bonus 10" LP includes dub versions of 'Exodus,' 'Jamming,' and 'Punky Reggae Party,' along with the rare track 'Roots,' making their vinyl debut after decades. These additions provide a deeper, immersive way to experience Marley's visionary artistry.

Review: The legend of Bob Marley lives on and is as strong as ever every time a new germination comes along and connects with his universal messages of peace, love and understanding. The man with a million hits of course had the eternal support of The Wailers to help him spread his good vibes and Legend is an album that shows this off best. This special edition picture disc is a real collectors edition and comes with all the standards - "Could You Be Loved", "I Shot The Sheriff", "Buffalo Soldier" and many more.

Review: Catch A Fire, Bob Marley and The Wailers' seminal first release on Island Records, universally regarded as the album that put reggae music on the global stage, is being re-issued via UMe on November 3 to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of its original release in 1973. The album features nine songs, two of which were written by Peter Tosh and the rest by Marley. 'Slave Driver', one of the most powerful tracks on the album, will be released as a single, accompanied by remarkable live performance footage recently unearthed from the legendary Edmonton show in England in 1973.

Review: First released as an unofficial bootleg LP way back in 1976 and later officially issued on CD, Bob Marley & The Wailers' 1975 concert at The Quiet Club in Chicago finally gets a 'proper' vinyl release. This time round, the hour-long recording has been stretched across two slabs of wax, pressed at 45rpm, to ensure a loud, bass-heavy cut. It's a fantastic snapshot of one of reggae music's most iconic bands at the peak of their powers, laying down fabulous versions of classic cuts including 'Trenchtown Rock', 'Natty Dread', 'Rebel Music', 'Midnight Ravers' and 'I Shot The Sheriff'. If you're a fan of Marley - and most people are to a certain extent - you need this in your life.