The best Bob Marley song

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I am inquiring into the opinions of the general public and found this to be the most effective way. I would like your views and opinions on what the best Bob Marley song was. Every ones view is important so please let yourvoice be heard!

― Harold Q, Wednesday, 28 September 2005 04:45 (twenty years ago)

Redemption Song.

Who'd say anything else?

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 04:49 (twenty years ago)

"can't you see" by the wailing wailers.

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 04:54 (twenty years ago)

the one where he sings about unity and love!

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 05:06 (twenty years ago)

soul rebel

― maracas (maracas), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 09:50 (twenty years ago)

Natural Mystic is far and away my favourite.

― Japanese Giraffe (Japanese Giraffe), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 10:38 (twenty years ago)

The original "Lively Up Yourself," off African Herbsman.

― Jazzbo (jmcgaw), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 10:41 (twenty years ago)

"Three Little Birds (Dub)" has really been stuck in my head for what seems like ages now, the chorus bit (don't worry 'bout a thing) and the way he starts off the verse with such a grebt infectious melody (rise up this morning/smile with the rising sun/three little birds...)

The dub version is especially nice cos it slows it down to a bit more of a skank and makes good use of multitracked vocals, while still retaining the melody and pep of the original

― rentboy (rentboy), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 11:44 (twenty years ago)

I'm partial to "Could You Be Loved." I've always thought that Burnin' is the best of the albums ... though the very early Wailers output is also astonishing.

― Chris O., Wednesday, 28 September 2005 13:10 (twenty years ago)

While I understand your curosity into the general public's opinion on the best Bob Marley song, I fear you will not find it here on the board of the psuedo-intellectuals. No matter how important you feel these opinions might be.

As for the general public, they are totally decided to say a not inconsiderable amount of rubbish like "DOPE! GANJA! HEMP! MARIJUANA!" and other such fecal matter.

― Ron Dennis, Wednesday, 28 September 2005 13:20 (twenty years ago)

"Mister Brown."

― mike a, Wednesday, 28 September 2005 13:21 (twenty years ago)

(though "Redemption Song" would have to be tied.)

― mike a, Wednesday, 28 September 2005 13:22 (twenty years ago)

"Duppy Conqueror"

― Burr (Burr), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 13:39 (twenty years ago)

Put it on - an early version

― Jesus Christ III, Wednesday, 28 September 2005 13:55 (twenty years ago)

I've, uh, "burned out" on the Marley staples some time ago, and now pretty much only listen to his Ska/Rocksteady stuff -- "Wages of Love" being my current fave -- but yeah, Redemption Song probably is his best, scientifically speaking.

― PappaWheelie B.C., Wednesday, 28 September 2005 14:00 (twenty years ago)

"Mister Brown."

Seconded! Pure mayhem!

― Confounded (Confounded), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 14:07 (twenty years ago)

I made a post on ILM a few years ago that Reggae fans have to be the most insufferable, intolerably elitist snobs in the music world.

I have come around to Legend after, like many of you, the cognitive dissonance of high school/college associations. It's a fantastic album (sound, songwriting, performance).

"Could You Be Loved" is fantastic. "Waiting In Vain", "Punky Reggae Party".

― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 14:07 (twenty years ago)

"I shot the sheriff"

― antonio, Wednesday, 28 September 2005 14:10 (twenty years ago)

I have come around to Legend after, like many of you, the cognitive dissonance of high school/college associations. It's a fantastic album

Well, being his greatest hits collection is what makes that such a solid listen. BTW, there're two different versions of Legend. It got revamped along the way. I think after Eddy Grant acquired Marley's catalog.

― PappaWheelie B.C., Wednesday, 28 September 2005 14:53 (twenty years ago)

"Duppy Conqueror"

-- Burr (dburr...), September 28th, 2005.

OTM

Though lately I've been really liking "Sun is Shining". It sounds a little like reggae Gang of Four to me.

― Hurting (Hurting), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 14:55 (twenty years ago)

"Looting and Burning" or "Concrete Jungle" or "Mr. Brown", I guess. Picking just one is tough tough.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 14:57 (twenty years ago)

I always thought that the acousic medley from the box set was strong.

I'll throw in "Mellow Mood" into the mix since "Mr. Brown" has already been mentioned.

― Suzy Creemcheese (SuzyCreemcheese), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 14:59 (twenty years ago)

Redemption Song.

I think a 'general public' vote would go to 'No Woman No Cry'.

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 15:08 (twenty years ago)

Or "Get Up Stand Up" or "I Shot The Sherrif". Obv those are the best known songs.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 16:01 (twenty years ago)

"Small Axe/ Battle Axe"

― Jams Murphy (ystrickler), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 16:02 (twenty years ago)

As of this week I'm going to go with "Stand Alone".

― oops (Oops), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 23:27 (twenty years ago)

Redemption Song. Because it isn't, y'know, reggae.

― joseph cotten (joseph cotten), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 23:32 (twenty years ago)

"Waiting in Vain"

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 23:40 (twenty years ago)

Well it ain't his version of White Christmas, though I'm glad I got to hear it once, so I'll go with Get Up Stand Up, maybe Buffalo Soldier.

― jim wentworth (wench), Thursday, 29 September 2005 00:42 (twenty years ago)

"African Herbsman"

― tremendoid (tremendoid), Thursday, 29 September 2005 00:53 (twenty years ago)

Concrete Jungle
Or soul shakedown party.

― Bn1 (Bn1), Thursday, 29 September 2005 00:57 (twenty years ago)

That 9:18 version of Punky Reggae Party off the Exodus bonus disc.

― gygax! (gygax!), Thursday, 29 September 2005 03:13 (twenty years ago)

when i was a pothead in love my song was "waiting in vain"

but she broke my heart, and i quit smoking weed. fuck bob marley.

― JD from CDepot, Thursday, 29 September 2005 03:47 (twenty years ago)

two years pass...

"Is This Love?" remains my favorite.

― youcangoyourownway, Monday, 24 March 2008 00:26 (eighteen years ago)

i love the second half of "natty dread" so much, my favorite on it is "talkin blues" which is up there with my favorite marley jams. also "one drop" needs to be mentioned here. its too hard to pick just one, he had so few bad songs.

― pipecock, Monday, 24 March 2008 03:23 (eighteen years ago)

I'll take Small Axe over Duppy Conquerer, songwise, but fuck songs, I like Jammin'

― gabbneb, Monday, 24 March 2008 03:32 (eighteen years ago)

I like Bend Down Low a lot

― gabbneb, Monday, 24 March 2008 03:35 (eighteen years ago)

Is this love is my favorite solo song, African Herbsman or Stand Alone my favorite Wailers

― tremendoid, Monday, 24 March 2008 04:20 (eighteen years ago)

nah nothing is fucking with African Herbsman

― tremendoid, Monday, 24 March 2008 05:28 (eighteen years ago)

Soul Rebel is a very good song from the more obscure end of his discography. There are two versions, a slower rootsy one and a skanking horn-drenched faster version. I prefer the latter.

― chap, Tuesday, 25 March 2008 02:52 (eighteen years ago)

Mister Brown maybe. Johnny Was? Hammer? I give up.

― Billy Pilgrim, Tuesday, 25 March 2008 02:56 (eighteen years ago)

Small Axe is the one I've enjoyed most the last few years.

― Mark Rich@rdson, Tuesday, 25 March 2008 03:13 (eighteen years ago)

baby we've got a date

― caek, Tuesday, 25 March 2008 03:29 (eighteen years ago)

I hope you like "Jammin" too, btw

― gabbneb, Tuesday, 25 March 2008 03:31 (eighteen years ago)

African Herbsman is high up there

― gabbneb, Tuesday, 25 March 2008 03:32 (eighteen years ago)

one year passes...

"Guiltiness" is on the short list, good God what a song.

― a full circle lol (J0hn D.), Thursday, 17 December 2009 16:07 (sixteen years ago)

"Do it Twice"
Soooo sexy ....

― Jazzbo, Thursday, 17 December 2009 16:10 (sixteen years ago)

"Small Axe"

― Sonny Uplands (Tom D.), Thursday, 17 December 2009 16:10 (sixteen years ago)

oh man yeah small axe, queueing that one up now

― a full circle lol (J0hn D.), Thursday, 17 December 2009 16:12 (sixteen years ago)

man "Mister Brown" is so dope

― you want a war on christmas i'll give you a fuckin war on christmas (will), Thursday, 17 December 2009 16:20 (sixteen years ago)

the keyboard heralding mr. brown's arrival in his rolling coffin is one of the most awesome sounds ever

― a full circle lol (J0hn D.), Thursday, 17 December 2009 16:26 (sixteen years ago)

The contrast between these guitar tones is nuts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzlrhOPqxlU

― bendy, Thursday, 17 December 2009 16:30 (sixteen years ago)

Haven't actively listened to Marley for over a decade, but "Sun Is Shining" makes its way into my head pretty regularly.

― kingkongvsgodzilla, Thursday, 17 December 2009 16:38 (sixteen years ago)

Exodus, movement of jah people!

― Dr X O'Skeleton, Thursday, 17 December 2009 21:26 (sixteen years ago)

one year passes...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4w1bYqxXZ8

― citation needed (Steve Shasta), Tuesday, 15 November 2011 03:15 (fourteen years ago)

one year passes...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FY5_Q9azOm0

chorus is soooo good

― flopson, Friday, 28 June 2013 05:08 (thirteen years ago)

when i was a pothead in love my song was "waiting in vain"
but she broke my heart, and i quit smoking weed. fuck bob marley.
JD from CDepot wrote this at 2005-09-29 03:47:08.000

Was this guy actually from CDepot?

― how's life, Friday, 28 June 2013 10:31 (thirteen years ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqRJ6WenGM4

― dylannn, Friday, 28 June 2013 10:34 (thirteen years ago)

I love the less famous version of Soul Rebel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70VJWpzrYJI

― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Saturday, 29 June 2013 17:20 (thirteen years ago)

always loved "put it on"

― the late great, Saturday, 29 June 2013 17:24 (thirteen years ago)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYIFRWTm6eI

― the late great, Saturday, 29 June 2013 17:32 (thirteen years ago)

One Drop is also up there for me.

― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Saturday, 29 June 2013 17:36 (thirteen years ago)

four months pass...

Fussing and Fighting

― Drugs A. Money, Sunday, 17 November 2013 12:19 (twelve years ago)

Bob Marley sang songs?? Thought he was just a wit and raconteur.

― glumdalclitch, Sunday, 17 November 2013 12:28 (twelve years ago)

Too many great songs to pick just one. However, "Running Away" is one of his best, though not one that tends to get much notice. The way he sings, "You must have done somethin' you don't want nobody to know about" just kills me.

"Jah Lives" is another fantastic number. Yes, I picked two, oh well.

― Doctor Flange, Monday, 18 November 2013 16:57 (twelve years ago)

eleven years pass...

Could you be loved?

― calstars, Saturday, 18 January 2025 21:27 (one year ago)

This version of Soul Rebel -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5RxZCHy9vI

― chap, Monday, 20 January 2025 00:07 (one year ago)

Oh let's not forget WAR

― chap, Monday, 20 January 2025 00:10 (one year ago)

The little regular break on War is one of my favourite bits in reggae

― the wedding preset (dog latin), Monday, 20 January 2025 00:35 (one year ago)

All about when the bass foreshadows the rising trumpet riff after the first verse.

― chap, Monday, 20 January 2025 22:54 (one year ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mInB5bwJMI4

― calstars, Monday, 20 January 2025 23:15 (one year ago)

WAR/No More Trouble

― Mrs. Ippei (Steve Shasta), Tuesday, 21 January 2025 06:14 (one year ago)

Not the best bob Marley song but i have this sneaking suspicion that bob sinclair’s “world hold on” is inspired by “so much trouble In the world” (mixed with Frankie knuckles the whistle song)

― ok (D-40), Tuesday, 21 January 2025 15:59 (one year ago)

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