Most of Bob Marley's early music was recorded with Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer, who together with Marley were the most prominent members of the Wailers. In 1972, the Wailers had their first hit outside Jamaica when Johnny Nash covered their song "Stir It Up", which became a UK hit. The 1973 album Catch a Fire was released worldwide, and sold well. It was followed by Burnin', which included the song "I Shot the Sheriff". Eric Clapton's cover of the song became a hit in 1974.
Bob Marley proceeded with Bob Marley and the Wailers, which included the Wailers Band and the I Threes. In 1975, he had his first own hit outside Jamaica with "No Woman, No Cry", from the Live! album. His subsequent albums, including Rastaman Vibration, Exodus, Kaya, Survival and the last album released during his lifetime, Uprising, were big international sellers. Between 1991 and 2007 Bob Marley and the Wailers sold in excess of 21 million records. These statistics did not begin to be collected until ten years after his death.
The Roots Reggae Library has created an overview of the music released by the Wailers prior to their contract with the Island Records label. This overview lists all the Wailers' songs known to have been released during that period, filled into six ska albums and 11 rocksteady albums.
Albums Studio albums Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications(sales thresholds) AUSAustralian chart peaks prior to June 1988, except where specified: N.B. This book contains an erroneous peak for the Uprising album. Uprising at its peak: N.B. David Kent's Australian Chart Book 1970-1992 contains an erroneous peak of number 36. This scan shows the album at its correct peak (HP) of number 46. Uprising in its last week on the chart at number 72, showing its peak (HP) of number 46: Uprising showing an erroneous peak: N.B. Uprising appears in the list of albums under Dropped Out, with an erroneous peak (HP) of number 36, as appears in David Kent's Australian Chart Book 1970-1992. AUT NOR NZ SWE UK US USR&B The Wailing Wailers Released: 1965 Label: Studio One Format: — — — — — — — — — — Soul Rebels Released: December 1970 Labels: Upsetter/Trojan Format: — — — — — — — — — — Soul Revolution Part II Released: 1971 Labels: Upsetter/Trojan Format: — — — — — — — — — — The Best of the Wailers Recorded: May 1970 Released: August 1971 Label: Beverley's Format: — — — — — 41 — — — — Catch a Fire Released: 13 April 1973 Labels: Island/Tuff Gong Format: — — — — — — — — 171 51 BPI: Gold RMNZ: Gold Burnin' Released: 19 October 1973 Labels: Island/Tuff Gong Format: — — — — — — — — 151 41 BPI: Silver RIAA: Gold Natty Dread Released: 25 October 1974 Labels: Island/Tuff Gong Format: 98 — — — — 44 — 43 92 44 BPI: Gold Rastaman Vibration Released: 30 April 1976 Labels: Island/Tuff Gong Format: 68 — 32 12 14 26 45 15 8 11 BPI: Gold RIAA: Gold Exodus Released: 3 June 1977 Labels: Island/Tuff Gong Format: 88 21 46 20 12 12 14 8 20 15 BPI: 2× Platinum RIAA: Gold RMNZ: 3× Platinum Kaya Released: 23 March 1978 Labels: Island/Tuff Gong Format: 5 — — — 6 6 14 4 50 50 ARIA: Platinum BPI: Platinum RIAA: Gold Survival Released: 2 October 1979 Labels: Island/Tuff Gong Format: 32 — — — 10 14 17 20 70 32 BPI: Gold RMNZ: Gold Uprising Released: 10 June 1980 Labels: Island/Tuff Gong Format: 46 6 — — 6 1 3 6 45 41 BPI: Gold RIAA: Gold RMNZ: 2× Platinum Confrontation Released: 23 May 1983 Labels: Island/Tuff Gong Format: 11 18 — 199 12 6 16 5 55 31 BPI: Silver RIAA: Gold "—" denotes releases that did not chart.
Live albums Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications(sales thresholds) AUS NZ SWE SWI UK US US World USR&B US Reggae Live! Released: 5 December 1975 Labels: Island/Tuff Gong Format: 51 — 29 — 38 90 — 47 — BPI: Silver RIAA: Gold Babylon by Bus Released: 10 November 1978 Labels: Island/Tuff Gong Format: 34 21 44 — 40 102 — 58 — BPI: Gold Talkin' Blues Released: 4 February 1991 Labels: Island/Tuff Gong Format: — 30 31 40 — 103 2 — — Live at the Roxy Released: 24 June 2003 Labels: Island/Tuff Gong Format: — — — — — — — — 5 Live Forever: September 23, 1980 • Stanley Theatre • Pittsburgh, PA Released: 2011 Labels: Island/Tuff Gong Format: — — — 74 — 14 — 4 1 Easy Skanking in Boston '78 Released: 2015 Labels: Island/Tuff Gong Format: — — — — — — — — 1 Live at the Rainbow, 1st June 1977 Released: 12 June 2020 Labels: Tuff Gong Format: Download/Streaming — — — — — — — — — Live at the Rainbow, 2nd June 1977 Released: 12 June 2020 Labels: Tuff Gong Format: Download/Streaming — — — — — — — — — Live at the Rainbow, 3rd June 1977 Released: 12 June 2020 Labels: Tuff Gong Format: Download/Streaming — — — — — — — — — Live at the Rainbow, 4th June 1977 (Remastered 2020) Released: 12 June 2020 Labels: UMC (Universal Music Catalogue) Format: Download/Streaming — — — — — — — — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart.
Compilation albums Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications(sales thresholds) AUS FIN NLD NOR NZ SWE SWI UK US US Reggae African Herbsman Released: July 1973 Label: Trojan Format: — — — — — — — — — — Rasta Revolution Released: 1974 Label: Trojan Format: — — — — — — — — — — Chances Are Released: October 1981 Label: Cotillion Format: Cassette, LP — — — — 27 — — — — — Legend Released: 8 May 1984 Labels: Island/Tuff Gong Formats: Cassette, CD, LP, digital download, Blu-ray 2 11 1 8 1 10 20 1 5 1RIAA: 18× Platinum (Diamond) ARIA: 6× Platinum BPI: 15× Platinum BVMI: Platinum FIMI: 2× Platinum IFPI AUT: 2× Platinum IFPI SWI: 3× Platinum MC: 2× Platinum RMNZ: 20× Platinum Rebel Music Released: 1986 Labels: Island/Tuff Gong Format: — — — — 3 — — 54 140 — Natural Mystic: The Legend Lives On Released: 23 May 1995 Labels: Island/Tuff Gong Format: 39 — 24 34 3 14 10 5 67 1 BPI: Gold RIAA: Gold One Love: The Very Best of Bob Marley & The Wailers Released: 22 May 2001 Labels: Island/Tuff Gong Format: 16 12 3 2 2 2 8 5 60 1 ARIA: Platinum BPI: Gold Gold Released: 11 January 2005 Labels: Island/Tuff Gong Format: — — — — — — — — — 1 Africa Unite: The Singles Collection Released: 8 November 2005 Labels: Island/Tuff Gong Format: — — 66 — — 9 93 26 101 3 BPI: Gold "—" denotes releases that did not chart.
Remix albums Island/Tuff Gong releases Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications(sales thresholds) AUT NZ SWI US USR&B US Reggae The Never Ending Wailers Released: 1993 Labels: RAS, Tuff Gong Formats: CD, LP — — — — — — Dreams of Freedom: Ambient Translations in Dub Released: 23 September 1997 Label: Axiom Format: — — — — — 1 Chant Down Babylon Released: 16 November 1999 Label: Island Formats: CS, CD, LP 49 6 23 60 21 1 BPI: Silver GLF: Gold RIAA: Gold Roots, Rock, Remixed Released: 2007 Label: Tuff Gong Format: CD — — — — — 11 B Is for Bob Released: 23 June 2009 Label: Tuff Gong Format: CD — — — 77 — 1 In Dub, Vol. 1 Released: 2012 Label: Tuff Gong Format: CD — — — — — 1 Legend: Remixed Released: 2013 Label: Tuff Gong Format: CD — — — 89 — 1 "—" denotes releases that did not chart.
Box sets Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications(sales thresholds) AUS UK US USR&B US Reggae Songs of Freedom Released: 21 September 1992 Labels: Island/Tuff Gong Format: 87 10 86 24 2 BPI: Silver RIAA: 2× Platinum The Great Bob Marley Released: 1993 Label: Goldies Format: CD — — — — — ARIA: Gold The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers 1967–1972 Released: 1997 Label: JAD Format: — — — — 4 Exodus 40: The Movement Continues Released: 2017 Label: Format: Cassette — — — — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart.
Island/Tuff Gong releases The Box Set (1982) Songs of Freedom (1992) Grooving Kingston 12 (2004) Fy-ah, Fy-ah (2004) Man to Man (2005)
Other albums Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications NZ UK US USR&B US Reggae Interviews Released: 1982 Labels: Island/Tuff Gong Format: — — — — — Marley OST Released: 2012 Labels: Island/Tuff Gong Format: — 81 120 19 1 Bob Marley: One Love OST Released: February 9, 2024 Labels: Island/Tuff Gong Format: CD, LP, digital download, streaming 6 — — — — RMNZ: Gold "—" denotes releases that did not chart.
Singles 1960s Year Title Album 1962 "Judge Not" / "Do You Still Love Me" (as Robert Marley & Beverley's All-Stars) Non-album singles "One Cup of Coffee" / "Snow Boy" (as Bobby Martell) / (Don Drummond & The Skatalites) 1964 "Simmer Down" / "I Don't Need Your Love" The Wailing Wailers "Mr. Talkative" / "It Hurts to Be Alone" "I Am Going Home" / "Destiny" Non-album singles "Climb Up the Ladder" / "Straight and Narrow" "Donna" / "Don't Ever Leave Me" "Tell Them Lord" / "Christmas Is Here" "Do You Remember" / "Hoot Nanny Hoot" "There She Goes" / "Lonesome Feelings" The Wailing Wailers 1965 "Hooligans" / "Maga Dog" Non-album singles "Hooligan Ska" / "Jerico Skank" "Habits" / "Amen" "Jumbie Jamboree" / "I Should Have Known Better" "I Made a Mistake" / "The Vow" "Diamond Baby" / "Where's the Girl for Me" "Playboy" / "Your Love" "Love and Affection" / "Teenager in Love" The Wailing Wailers "And I Love Her" / "Do It Right" Non-album single "One Love" / "Do You Feel the Same Way Too" The Wailing Wailers "Shame & Scandal" / "Sca Balena" Non-album single "What's New Pussycat" / "Where Will I Find" The Wailing Wailers "I'm Still Waiting" / "Ska Jerk" "White Christmas" / "Let the Lord Be Seen in You" Non-album singles "Another Dance" / "Somewhere to Lay My Head" "Rude Boy" / "Ringo's Theme" The Wailing Wailers 1966 "I Left My Sins" / "Just in Time" Non-album single "(I'm Gonna) Put It On" / "Love Won't Be Mine This Way" The Wailing Wailers "Good Good Rudie" / Ocean Eleven Non-album singles "Cry to Me" / "Wages of Love" "Lonesome Track" / "Sinner Man" "Let Him Go" / "Sinner Man" "Rasta Shook Them Up" / "Ringo's Ska" "Sunday Morning" / "He Who Feels It Knows It" "Rock Sweet Rock" / "Jerking Time" "Dancing Shoes" / "Don't Look Back" 1967 "Bend Down Low" / "Freedom Time" "Hypocrite" / "Nice Time" "Mellow Mood" / "Thank You Lord" "Stir It Up" / "This Train" "Bus Dem Shut" / "Lyrical Satirical I" 1968 "Funeral" / "Pound Get a Blow" "Stepping Razor" / "I'm Hurting Inside" "Play Play Play" / "Don't Rock My Boat" "Mus' Get a Beatin'" / "Fire Fire" "Chances Are" / "The Lord Will Make a Way" 1969 "Tread-O" "Black Progress" "Trouble on the Road Again" / "Comma Comma" "Feel Alright" / "Rhythm"
1970s