FOR A SMALL CARIBBEAN ISLAND, Jamaica has had an extraordinary influence on music. Its supreme invention – reggae – emerged after the country gained independence from Britain in 1962, when bands started giving the jazz, swing, pop and rock’n’roll tunes they performed to US tourists in resort hotels a quirky local twist – notably a jerking off-beat guitar rhythm and patois-rich vocals. Electricity being a luxury in Jamaican homes, 45s were played to huge crowds on outdoor sound systems, creating fertile rivalries among the DJs who spun them. First came the loping sounds of ska artists such as Prince Buster and The Skatalites, followed, in the abnormally hot summer of 1966, by the sweet, slowed-down pop of rock steady. After that, reggae got fatter and funkier, splintering into myriad different forms and sub-genres. In March 1969, it went mainstream in the UK – where thousands of West Indian immigrants had settled in the postwar years – when Desmond Dekker & The Aces scored a Number 1 hit with the skinhead-friendly The Israelites. Four years later, Bob Marley crossed over to a rock audience to become reggae’s first international star with The Wailers’ peerless Catch A Fire LP.

Jamaica’s failing economy in the ’70s meant recycling was a part of everyday life, so it followed that, with studio time and recording tape expensive, producers like Lee Perry and King Tubby began taking old backing tracks and remixing them into sonically crackpot but undeniably brilliant ‘dubs’. Others, like U-Roy and Tapper Zukie, elected to rap over records, foreshadowing hip-hop.

With Marley popularising Rastafarianism and soul rebellion amid the island’s mid-’70s descent into political chaos, reggae took a left-turn into spirituality, ‘consciousness’ and militancy; it subsequently morphed into lovers rock, stripped-down dancehall, pop-reggae, techno dub and much more, with artists like Hollie Cook revisiting traditional styles and The Bug deconstructing the 50-year-old form to make new, exhilarating, experimental sounds.

So, here’s our list of the Top 50 reggae albums, eschewing (please note) contemporary CD compilations in favour of original, vintage vinyl releases and steering clear of multiple entries by reggae’s biggest names such as Bob Marley, Lee Perry and King Tubby. Enjoy, and do let us know your thoughts…

50. Aswad
Aswad
New Chapter
(1981)

Classy Brit reggae blending keening harmonies, doleful brass and an early ’80s inner-London edge.

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

49.
The Paragons
On the Beach
(1967)

The tide was high, they were holding on, and rock steady crested a euphoric wave.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sOOjK6g9OY

48. Beenie Man – Art And Life
Beenie Man
Art And Life
(2000)

Diverse cross-genre hook-ups from quick-lipped dancehall adventurer and early Pharrell-adopter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1-t6UjJ2p0

47. Herman Chin Loy – Aquarius Rock
Herman Chin Loy
Aquarius Rock
(2004)

OK, it breaks our general ‘no CD comps’ rule but this collects Chin Loy’s deeply funky, borderline-psychedelic late ’60s/early ’70s 45s, tough to find elsewhere.

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

46
Bunny Wailer
Blackheart Man
(1976)

An iron fist in a silk glove, the gentlest Wailer’s solo debut packs a hazily laid-back cry of Rasta protest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6z5qTXrsAM

45. Yellowman – Mister Yellowman
Yellowman
Mister Yellowman
(1982)

Sometimes ridiculous, often very rude but always mesmerising dancehall classic from albino JA star.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FK3bMBebFrM

44
Rhythm & Sound w/ Tikiman
Showcase
(1998)

A master class in juggernautical deep dub techno, at the exhilarating junction where old-school reggae and ’90s electronica clash..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lh4bbl6kW84

43
Horace Andy
Skylarking
(1972)

The best early sides from Brentford Road studio’s haunting, unsettling, honey-sweet tenor.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCHTAu4In70

42.
Garnet Silk
It’s Growing
(1992)

The first spiritually elevating and PC dancehall album – a classic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pylAr9nRINY

41.
John Holt
1,000 Volts Of Holt
(1973)

Ex-Paragons singer crafts pop reggae for the masses, led by perennial smoothie Help Me Make It Through the Night

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

40. Scientist – Scientist Meets The Space Invaders
Scientists
Scientist Meets The Space Invaders
(1981)

King Tubby’s engineer borrows the boss’s echo box to make humid, super-heavy dub.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ua8BkT4O0aQ

39.
Steel Pulse
Handsworth Revolution
(1978)

38.
Ken Boothe
Mr Rocksteady
(1968)

37.
The Maytals
Never Grow Old
(1964)

Exuberant harmonies with a gospel/barbershop tinge twist on super-early ska LP from future funky-reggae titans.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0o6HdaPIFM

36.
Barrington Levy
Shaolin Temple
(1979)

A 16-year-old Levy unleashes fruity dancehall cornerstone, with dub-happy wizard Scientist manning the desk.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5juGftpF06M

35.
Roland Alphonso
King Of Sax
(1975)

The Skatalites’ tenor sax magus blows sublimely jazzy notes over classic Studio One backing tracks.

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

34.
The Mighty Diamonds
Right Time
(1976)

The Mighty Diamonds – Right Time

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOnW5a4sRak

33.
Augustus Pablo
East Of The River Nile
(1977)

Spectral ‘Far East’-sounding instrumentals blown through Pablo’s baleful melodica; takes up where the more dubby ‘King Tubby’s…’ left off.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Q9eYuY6U7E

32.
Eek-a-Mouse
Wa-Do-Dem
(1981)

Alias Ripton Hilton brings eccentric, squeaky singjay style to the dancehall and invents a brilliantly nonsensical subgenre of one.

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

31.
Hollie Cook
Twice
(2014)

Pinballing bings and bongs, steel pans, Bollywood strings, Prince Fatty at the desk – this year’s classy UK pop reggae update is truly up there with the best of ’em.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDPaz_dbJ-8

30.
Luciano
Messenger
(1995)

Luciano turned his back on smutty ‘slackness’ for an album of elevated soul-reggae balminess.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gy0oFBfN8s8

29.
Sizzle
Bobo Ashanti
(2000)

Return-to-form from singjay dancehall star of steely conviction and old-school Rasta fire-power.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-EwAEA6P1Y

28.
Black Uhuru
Anthem
(1983)

Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare’s polished ’80s production, all zingy syndrums and big pop tunes, creates massive seller.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pg9SYIkwzNg

27.
The Heptones
Cool Rasta
(1976)

Achingly soulful three-part harmonies on LP that jettisoned their previous romantic preoccupations in favour of mean ghetto vibrations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fB8Ryir0Ik8

26.
DILLINGER
CB200
(1976)

Named for his Honda ’bike, this was home to the funky, hypnotic deejay apotheosis that’s Cokane In My Brain.

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

25.
Marcia Griffiths
Naturally
(1978)

Fresh from Marley’s I-Threes, Marcia makes polished fem-reggae updating her old Bob Andy-penned Studio One jewels Feel Like Jumping and Tell Me Now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-XfuOob0Pc

24.
Various
Club Ska
(1967)

Essential early collection of classic ska 45s compiled for UK audience by legendary Scene Club DJ and Island A&R man Guy Stevens.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jy5MD8ZjvOo

23.
Mikey Dread
World War III
(1980)

After working on The Clash’s Sandinista!, Dread returned to JA to create his second and best LP of deep-dub and distinctive biddly-biddlly toasts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAH1-LrQ1FI

22.
Gregory Isaacs
Night Nurse
(1982)

The Cool Ruler glides effortlessly from seductive lovers rock towards sculptured dancehall mastery.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FE7lgCGQ48I

21.
The Upsetters
Return Of Django
(1969)

Instrumental set from Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry’s sessioneers, heavy on funky chops and Spaghetti Western swagger.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cE8z5OReGbA

20.
The Bug
London Zoo
(2008)

A confusion of dancehall, noise, hip hop and grime confirms reggae can shift-shape into sonic nourishment for modern times.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mE7hbZ4aS0E

19.
Peter Tosh
Legalize It
(1976)

After quitting The Wailers, Tosh returned with sonically dense, admirably lazy-paced solo jewel promoting maximum spliffage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6QkVTx2d88

18.
U-Roy
Version Galore
(1970)

Revolutionary deejay’s benchmark debut album, popularising the idea of rapping over someone else’s backing track until it ends. Hip-hop ahoy!

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

17.
Dr. Alimantado
Best Dressed Chicken In Town
(1978)

Toasting reaches dizzying heights with this punk-loved clutch of the Doctor’s early singles.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhlAi2FfPhw

16.
Culture
Two Sevens Clash
(1977)

An epochal title track, and an extraordinary LP as the vocal trio combine with massive orchestration to create a mood of portentous dread.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3Nn6kcJOj4

15.
Burning Spear
Marcus Garvey
(1975)

Uncompromising lyrics allied to potent rhythms equals militant greatness.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGN3R49-CAE

14.
Big Youth
Screaming Target
(1972)

Intense rhythms coupled with Youth’s deep, drawling delivery make for killer early deejay disc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9X9RVfCULe4

13.
Don Drummond
The Best Of
(1969)

Minor-key retort to ska’s in-built jolliness from The Skatalites’ deeply troubled composer, trombonist and melodist.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yENv58B02w

12.
Lee Scratch Perry And The Upsetters
Super Ape
(1976)

Perry’s 1976 productions for others are submerged in a gloriously eccentric murk of re-mixed vocal clips, horns, flute, melodica and, yes, dubby echo.

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

11.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
Exodus
(1977)

Marley survives political shooting in JA, arrives in punk-crazed London, records squelchy, funky-reggae triumph.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43cfPgZ8cU8

10.
Max Romeo & The Upsetters
War Ina Babylon
(1976)

Marley-endorsed landmark in socially conscious, political roots reggae crafted at Lee Perry’s Black Ark.

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

9.
Prince Buster
FABulous Greatest Hits
(1968)

Legendary ska cut Al Capone aside, this collects Buster’s delightfully cheeky rock steady sides, ever full of humorous skits.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLsqiyNk6fE

8.
Joe Gibbs
African Dub All-Mighty Chapter 3
(1977)

A weighty sub-bass dub excursion pushing the envelope with chirpy keys and bizarro sound effects including door bells and thunderclaps.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUgw9KX1EZ4

7.
Upsetters
14 Dub Blackboard Jungle
(1973)

Lee Perry and King Tubby collaborate on pioneering dub album with extraordinary split-stereo mixes that collides to make a brand new sound. A masterpiece.

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

6.
Toots & The Maytals
Funky Kingston
(1973)

The rough, rustic and churchy Maytals of the ska era are updated into a raucous rock stew that’s impossible not to move to.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U79o7qwul48

5.
The Congos
Heart Of The Congos
(1977)

4.
Skatalites
Ska Boo-Da-Ba
(1965)

3.
Various
The Harder They Come
(1972)

The soundtrack to the film that took reggae to the world, top’n’tailed by singer/actor Jimmy Cliff’s tropical-pop title-track and hymnal Many Rivers To Cross.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRm7j2UL3YY

2.
Augustus Pablo
King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown
(1976)

Electronics wizard King Tubby chops up Augustus Pablo’s mournful productions on a DIY console built to terrify loudspeaker manufacturers. An eerie, mind-melting dub monster.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbCrYBWh62Y

1.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
Catch A Fire
(1973)

The album that made Bob Marley – and reggae – global superstars. Peerless songs, breathtaking musicianship and, 40 years on, still box fresh.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLc7VY1jZwk