Most ska and reggae fans have at least one Bob Marley CD on their shelf, but if you're a new listener, you might be stuck as to where to start. While you can't really go wrong with any Bob Marley CD, these CDs will get you started nicely.
1. Simmer Down at Studio One (1963-1966)
This album is a reissue, a collection of the Wailers' early singles. It will give you a good idea of their early ska and rocksteady sound, before reggae music even existed. Notable tracks include "Simmer Down" and "There She Goes".
2. Soul Rebels (1970)
This was the Wailer's first international release. It was produced by Lee "Scratch" Perry and features a very clean, sparse band with no horn section. Notable tracks include "Soul Rebel" and "Try Me".3. African Herbsman (1973)
This album is one of the Wailers' rootsiest, featuring intense Jamaican rhythms and stunning harmony vocals. Notable tracks include "Small Axe" and "Trenchtown Rock".4. Catch A Fire (1973)
This album was released the same year as African Herbsman, but caters to a decidedly different audience; where African Herbsman was directed towards Jamaican audiences, Catch A Fire was directed towards an international rock audience. Notable tracks include "Stop That Train" and "Kinky Reggae".5. Burnin' (1973)
Just six months after Catch a Fire, the Wailers released Burnin', the album that would pave the way for Marley's later superstardom. Notable tracks on this album include "Get Up, Stand Up" and "I Shot The Sheriff".6. Natty Dread (1974)
Natty Dread marks Marley's departure from his trio with Bunny Wailer and Peter Tosh. Marley still continued to call his band The Wailers. This album also was Marley's first hit in the United States, staying on the Billboard Top 10 Album list for 4 weeks. Notable tracks on this album include "No Woman, No Cry" and "Lively Up Yourself".7. Exodus (1977)
This album was named the Album of the Century by Time Magazine, and for good reason... it's absolutely heartstoppingly brilliant from the first note to the last. All of the tracks have become classics, among them "Jamming", "Natural Mystic" and "One Love/People Get Ready".8. Babylon By Bus (1978)
This live album features recordings from concerts throughout Europe and features several of the songs heard on Exodus. Notable tracks include "Jamming" and "Stir It Up".9. Uprising (1980)
This album is Marley's final studio album, released the year before his death. It was not a commercial success in the way that many of his other albums were, but it is a deeply religious and intense album, a peek into Bob Marley's soul. Notable tracks include "Redemption Song" and "Real Situation".10. Legend (1984)
You can never go wrong with a greatest hits album, and Legend is consistently ranked among the very best of them. All of the tracks are notable, and likely familiar to you, including "No Woman, No Cry", "Get Up, Stand Up", "One Love/People Get Ready", "I Shot The Sheriff" and "Jamming".