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.

2. “Get Up, Stand Up” (1973)

Written alongside Wailer Peter Tosh, “Get Up, Stand Up” is Bob Marley’s definitive protest song, a rallying cry in support of human rights. Inspired by a voyage to Haiti by Marley, the song urges the poor and the downtrodden to unite as one, to stand up for basic human dignity. Delivered with grit and urgency by the Wailers, “Get Up, Stand Up” is a universal anthem that retains its power in the hands of other performers, whether it’s a local band, Public Enemy, or Bruce Springsteen.