Bob Marley’s 25 greatest songs, ranked

Bob Marley’s life finally hits the big screen this week in the form of Bob Marley: One Love. In his 36 years, Marley lived a life so rich and tumultuous, not all of it can be distilled into a biopic. Similarly, he produced more great music than could be contained on Legend, the posthumous 1984 compilation that helped cement his image as a Rastafarian mystic and reggae outlaw.

One of the best greatest hits albums ever assembled, Legend painted a vivid, colorful portrait but it wasn’t complete: it deliberately favored his lighter later material, leaving the tougher work of the Wailers to languish on LPs and CDs. Those early records, when the Wailers featured Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer, are crucial to understanding the impact and legacy of Marley. They’re featured here, along with selections from Legend, on a list of 25 essentials that tell Bob Marley’s story as thoroughly as One Love itself.

25. “Small Axe” (1971)

Simultaneously a statement of solidarity for the oppressed and a critique of the insular Jamaican music industry, “Small Axe” helped establish Bob Marley & the Wailers’ status as outsiders: no matter the interpretation of the song, they stood as Davids poised to slay a Goliath. Originally released as one of the many, many singles Bob Marley & the Wailers issued in 1971—a good chunk of those were produced by the legendary Lee “Scratch” Perry—“Small Axe” was given a slower revision on Burnin’, which showcased the sinewy swagger of the Wailers.