BOB MARLEY FOR BEGINNERS (2012): Bob's business is big business

With the DVD release of the doco Marley by Kevin MacDonald, interest is again ignited in this musical, political and religious figure who is often lazily billed as "the first Third World superstar".

So maybe it's timely to offer those coming late to Marley -- who has been dead for over 30 years -- a quick guide into the music of this legendary figure, one that goes further than that best-selling Legend compilation. 

Since his death there have been a number of collections, dub and remix albums (most to be avoided), jazz versions and tributes. Those who have access to his early catalogue have been heavily into repackaging and so Bob Marley and the Wailers have been as badly served as well treated by compilations of their pre-global years . . . but a starting point would be the Soul Rebels collection of early singles of Trojan and produced by Lee Scratch Perry.

After that things become easier.

Burnin' (1973): The political discussions start here with incendiary songs like Get Up Stand Up, I Shot the Sheriff and Burning and Looting, and also the religion with Duppy Conqueror and Rastaman Chant.

Natty Dread (1974): And now the distinctive sound really takes hold with Lively Up Yourself, So Jah S'eh, Natty Dread and Bend Down Low while the socio-political agenda is nailed down with No Woman No Cry, Them Belly Full But We Hungry, Rebel Music and Revolution. The album that spoke to the poor, angry and disenfranchised everywhere.

Rastaman Vibration (1976): By this time Marley was big but not the States, however this became his breakthrough and songs like Roots Rock Reggae, Johnny Was (credited to wife Rita), Crazy Baldheads, Who the Cap Fit . . . and the mighty War showed he wasn't compromising. For more on this album go here.

Exodus (1977): Arguably his last truly great album which attempted to bridge all sides of himself, it gets in politics (the title track and One Love/People Get Ready), spirituality (Natural Mystic) and party times (Jamming). And the ever-popular Three Little Birds.

Survival (1979): If Kaya the previous year had seemed like softening (Easy Skanking, Kaya, Is This Love), then this one with the songs So Much Trouble in the World, Zimbabwe, Babylon System, Africa Unite and Ambush in the Night (about the assassination attempt on him) showed he was still militant and focused.

Of course every Marley album has much to recommend it: Uprising, his last in 1980, included Could You Be Loved and Redemption Song, both of which hinted at new musical directions and the latter pulling the past into the present tribulation.

The posthumous Confrontation has Buffalo Soldier which found him connecting the Jamaican struggle with those of black Americans.

If you can find it, the 92 four-disc box set Songs of Freedom might be a shortcut, and not as short and short-changing as Legend.

There is much more on Bob Marley at Elsewhere starting here.