Bob Marley The Bob Marley Songbook on 2LP

Bob Marley is one of those artists for whom it is impossible to divorce their cultural impact from their musical achievement. Marley became the first music superstar from outside the UK or US, his success reached nations that other rock stars didn’t, he was truly international, as big in Lagos or Harare as he was in London or New York.

As the 1970s dawned The Wailers were finding their way in the musical world and at least part of their work was formed from one of the essential collaborations in Jamaican music. These recordings saw The Wailers working with Lee Perry and the music that they created forms the basis of our unique compilation that made hits and music as vital as anything that would follow.

Looking at the history of the music industry in the last 40 years, stardom has internationalised. No longer will an artist’s success be restricted to the United States, Europe and Australasia. Beyonce, Kanye West et al are known wherever there is an internet connection. Yet superstars still largely come from the U.S., and Bob Marley stands out as the only musical star of his magnitude to have emerged from Jamaica, a country whose per capita musical output dwarfs almost anywhere else in the world. He was a unique talent whose music continues to reverberate.