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It’s been 27 years since Bob Marley died. I’m not sure if you would be astounded to know that, but for me that number seems almost like a lie. I’m pretty sure near everyone has one of Bob’s albums, probably the ‘Legend’ one – which I’ll come back to later- so I thought I’d mark the day he died with some thoughts.

My introduction to Bob Marley’s music was an early one. We had a sort-of-hippy living next door when I was young, a pretty cool guy actually, and since I was friends with his son I used to end up going on many adventures with them, trecking through woods and biking around the countryside and the like. That’s partly another story, but it was during the summer months when school was out that he used to play Bob Marley’s music, literally ‘blasting from his urdy gurdy’ as my mother aptly put it.

I didn’t realise at the time who it was or what the music was about, I just remember it now as groovy music. It’s perhaps this memory that influences my enjoyment of the songs today. I’ve spent a number of summers constantly playing Bob while the sun shines, and you have to admit it is fit for purpose.

Now ‘Legend’ is a fine collection in itself, but if there are any of you out there that just have this album, I would encourage you just to go out to the store and grab one of the studio releases. You can’t beat just listening to some of the stuff as it was collected together in an album. There’s also a certain ambience that you get listening this way, and that is generally lost on ‘best-ofs’.

Sometimes Marely Lyrics are put to ingenious use against the music, none more so than the words of Hallie Salassie to the United Nations immortalised in the song ‘War’. That one song didn’t feature on Legend. Though ‘Get up, Stand Up’ appears on Legend we might forget, lost in amongst other songs of distinction, of its political nature; A rousing chant for human rights, used by Amnesty International as its Anthem.

I couldn’t imagine living without this music, and even though I listen to a lot of different stuff, Marley is a constant companion. Whenever you feel wiped emotionally, there is always some solace to be found, or a song to lift your spirits back up high again.

So then, this post wouldn’t be complete without my Top Ten. So here it is (links to youtube). You’ll probably know a few of these, and I haven’t gone for the esoteric ones that I like, so I present this as is, just a great selection for you to listen to today -May 11th- the day Marley died. Or anytime you happen to come across this post.

1. Forever Lovin’ Jah

2. Three Little Birds

3. Concrete Jungle

4. Natural Mystic

5. Soul Shakedown Party

6. Small Axe