200 Greatest Reggae Songs
Criteria: This top 200 songs list contains the classic Ska, Rocksteady, Reggae, Dancehall and Dub songs from Jamaica along with newer songs from Reggae artists in the U.K., U.S. and Africa. Rankings are based on initial and lasting popularity as well as influence and impact in Reggae music. (Note: These are Reggae songs by Reggae artists. Not the occasional reggae song recorded by non-reggae artists.)
Background: Reggae - Around 1960, in the slums of Kingston Jamaica, where the local bands were playing a musical mixture of American R&B, Caribbean, and pan-African sounds, drummers began to emphasize the afterbeat, the 2nd and 4th beats (4/4 time) in unison with the piano and guitar while the bass played walking quarter notes. The musicians called the sound "Upside-down R&B". It soon became known as "Ska". As time passed Ska slowed the beat, lost it's brass sound and morphed into "Rocksteady", performed with fewer musicians and using more harmony vocals. Around 1968 the influences of Rastafari and Africanism along with political and social unrest in Jamaica gave birth to "Reggae", with a slower, stripped-down, less "Pop-like" sound often with accents added on the 3rd beat. Today the term "Reggae" applies broadly to all the Jamaican born music that contains the original afterbeat rhythm.
Background: Reggae - Around 1960, in the slums of Kingston Jamaica, where the local bands were playing a musical mixture of American R&B, Caribbean, and pan-African sounds, drummers began to emphasize the afterbeat, the 2nd and 4th beats (4/4 time) in unison with the piano and guitar while the bass played walking quarter notes. The musicians called the sound "Upside-down R&B". It soon became known as "Ska". As time passed Ska slowed the beat, lost it's brass sound and morphed into "Rocksteady", performed with fewer musicians and using more harmony vocals. Around 1968 the influences of Rastafari and Africanism along with political and social unrest in Jamaica gave birth to "Reggae", with a slower, stripped-down, less "Pop-like" sound often with accents added on the 3rd beat. Today the term "Reggae" applies broadly to all the Jamaican born music that contains the original afterbeat rhythm.
Greatest Reggae Songs
1. No Woman, No Cry
Bob Marley & the Wailers
2. Israelites
Desmond Dekker & the Aces
3. Stir It Up
Bob Marley & the Wailers
4. Pressure Drop
Toots & the Maytals
5. The Harder They Come
Jimmy Cliff
Bob Marley & the Wailers
2. Israelites
Desmond Dekker & the Aces
3. Stir It Up
Bob Marley & the Wailers
4. Pressure Drop
Toots & the Maytals
5. The Harder They Come
Jimmy Cliff
6. One Love
Bob Marley & the Wailers
7. 54-46 That's My Number
Toots & the Maytals
8. Satta Massagana
The Abyssinians
9. Funky Kingston
Toots & the Maytals
10. Montego Bay
Freddie Notes & The Rudies
11. Many Rivers To Cross
Jimmy Cliff
12. Marcus Garvey
Burning Spear
13. Legalize It
Peter Tosh
14. Redemption Song
Bob Marley & the Wailers
15. Here I Come
Dennis Brown
16. Get Up, Stand Up
Bob Marley & the Wailers
17. Rudy Got Soul
Desmond Dekker & The Aces
18. The Tide Is High
The Paragons
19. Three Little Birds
Bob Marley & the Wailers
20. Everything I Own
Ken Boothe
21. Night Nurse
Gregory Isaacs
22. You Don't Care
The Techniques
23. Vietnam
Jimmy Cliff
24. Rivers Of Babylon
The Melodians
25. Police & Thieves
Junior Murvin
26. Buffalo Soldier
Bob Marley & the Wailers
27. Red Red Wine
UB40
28. Cherry Oh Baby
Eric Donaldson
29. (I Am) The Upsetter
Lee "Scratch" Perry
30. Sitting & Watching
Dennis Brown
31. Jammin'
Bob Marley & the Wailers
32. Wear You To The Ball
U-Roy & The Paragons
33. Two Sevens Clash
Culture
34. I Shot The Sheriff
Bob Marley & the Wailers
35. Armagideon Time
Willie Williams
36. 007 Shanty Town
Desmond Dekker & The Aces
37. A Love I Can Feel
John Holt
38. Revolution
Dennis Brown
39. Queen Majesty
The Techniques
40. Natty Rebel
U-Roy
41. Loving Pauper
Dobby Dobson
42. Natural Mystic
Bob Marley
43. Equal Rights
Peter Tosh
44. Rocksteady
Alton Ellis & The Flames
45. Do The Reggay
Toots & the Maytals
46. Don't Stay Away
Phyllis Dillon
47. Baby Why
The Cables
48. One Blood
Junior Reid
49. Iron Lion Zion
Bob Marley & the Wailers
50. Book Of The Rules
The Heptones
51. Telephone Love
JC Lodge
52. Blackheart Man
Bunny Wailer
53. Nanny Goat
Larry & Alvin Marshall
54. Unchained
Bob Andy
55. Tenement Yard
Jacob Miller
56. Ba Ba Boom
The Jamaicans
57. I'm Still In Love With You
Alton Ellis
58. Pass The Kutchie
The Mighty Diamonds
59. Wonderful World, Beautiful People
Jimmy Cliff
60. Mama Africa
Peter Tosh
61. Fade Away
Jr. Byles
62. How Could I Leave
Dennis Brown
63. Soon Forward
Gregory Isaacs
64. Trenchtown Rock
Bob Marley & the Wailers
65. I Can See Clearly Now
Johnny Nash
66. You Can Get It If You Really Want
Jimmy Cliff
67. Westbound Train
Dennis Brown
68. Cool Rasta
The Heptones
69. My Conversation
Slim Smith & The Uniques
70. Talk About Love
Pat Kelly
71. Now That We Found Love
Third World
72. 1865 (96 Degrees In The Shade)
Third World
73. I Need A Roof
The Mighty Diamonds
74. War Inna Babylon
Max Romeo
75. Declaration of Rights
The Abyssinians
76. Waiting In Vain
Bob Marley & the Wailers
77. Big Ship
Freddie McGregor
78. Guess Who's Comming To Dinner
Black Uhuru
79. What One Dance Can Do
Beres Hammond
80. Crying Over You
Ken Boothe
81. Someone Loves You
JC Lodge
82. Sonny's Lettah
Linton Kwesi Johnson
83. What Kind Of World
The Cables
84. Rain From The Sky
Delroy Wilson
85. Everything Crash
The Ethiopians
86. Love Me Forever
Carlton & The Shoes
87. My Boy Lollipop
Millie Small
88. Love Is My Religion
Ziggy Marley
89. Monkey Man
Toots & the Maytals
90. War
Bob Marley & the Wailers
91. Can I Change My Mind
Alton Ellis
92. Duppy Gunman
Ernie Smith
93. Johnny Too Bad
The Slickers
94. Black Cinderella
Errol Dunkley
95. Have Mercy
The Mighty Diamonds
96. Tumblin Down
Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers
97. Zungguzungguguzungguzeng
Yellowman
98. Hold Me Tight
Johnny Nash
99. Angel
Shaggy & Rayvon
100. Dreadlocks In Moonlight
Lee "Scratch" Perry
Bob Marley & the Wailers
7. 54-46 That's My Number
Toots & the Maytals
8. Satta Massagana
The Abyssinians
9. Funky Kingston
Toots & the Maytals
10. Montego Bay
Freddie Notes & The Rudies
11. Many Rivers To Cross
Jimmy Cliff
12. Marcus Garvey
Burning Spear
13. Legalize It
Peter Tosh
14. Redemption Song
Bob Marley & the Wailers
15. Here I Come
Dennis Brown
16. Get Up, Stand Up
Bob Marley & the Wailers
17. Rudy Got Soul
Desmond Dekker & The Aces
18. The Tide Is High
The Paragons
19. Three Little Birds
Bob Marley & the Wailers
20. Everything I Own
Ken Boothe
21. Night Nurse
Gregory Isaacs
22. You Don't Care
The Techniques
23. Vietnam
Jimmy Cliff
24. Rivers Of Babylon
The Melodians
25. Police & Thieves
Junior Murvin
26. Buffalo Soldier
Bob Marley & the Wailers
27. Red Red Wine
UB40
28. Cherry Oh Baby
Eric Donaldson
29. (I Am) The Upsetter
Lee "Scratch" Perry
30. Sitting & Watching
Dennis Brown
31. Jammin'
Bob Marley & the Wailers
32. Wear You To The Ball
U-Roy & The Paragons
33. Two Sevens Clash
Culture
34. I Shot The Sheriff
Bob Marley & the Wailers
35. Armagideon Time
Willie Williams
36. 007 Shanty Town
Desmond Dekker & The Aces
37. A Love I Can Feel
John Holt
38. Revolution
Dennis Brown
39. Queen Majesty
The Techniques
40. Natty Rebel
U-Roy
41. Loving Pauper
Dobby Dobson
42. Natural Mystic
Bob Marley
43. Equal Rights
Peter Tosh
44. Rocksteady
Alton Ellis & The Flames
45. Do The Reggay
Toots & the Maytals
46. Don't Stay Away
Phyllis Dillon
47. Baby Why
The Cables
48. One Blood
Junior Reid
49. Iron Lion Zion
Bob Marley & the Wailers
50. Book Of The Rules
The Heptones
51. Telephone Love
JC Lodge
52. Blackheart Man
Bunny Wailer
53. Nanny Goat
Larry & Alvin Marshall
54. Unchained
Bob Andy
55. Tenement Yard
Jacob Miller
56. Ba Ba Boom
The Jamaicans
57. I'm Still In Love With You
Alton Ellis
58. Pass The Kutchie
The Mighty Diamonds
59. Wonderful World, Beautiful People
Jimmy Cliff
60. Mama Africa
Peter Tosh
61. Fade Away
Jr. Byles
62. How Could I Leave
Dennis Brown
63. Soon Forward
Gregory Isaacs
64. Trenchtown Rock
Bob Marley & the Wailers
65. I Can See Clearly Now
Johnny Nash
66. You Can Get It If You Really Want
Jimmy Cliff
67. Westbound Train
Dennis Brown
68. Cool Rasta
The Heptones
69. My Conversation
Slim Smith & The Uniques
70. Talk About Love
Pat Kelly
71. Now That We Found Love
Third World
72. 1865 (96 Degrees In The Shade)
Third World
73. I Need A Roof
The Mighty Diamonds
74. War Inna Babylon
Max Romeo
75. Declaration of Rights
The Abyssinians
76. Waiting In Vain
Bob Marley & the Wailers
77. Big Ship
Freddie McGregor
78. Guess Who's Comming To Dinner
Black Uhuru
79. What One Dance Can Do
Beres Hammond
80. Crying Over You
Ken Boothe
81. Someone Loves You
JC Lodge
82. Sonny's Lettah
Linton Kwesi Johnson
83. What Kind Of World
The Cables
84. Rain From The Sky
Delroy Wilson
85. Everything Crash
The Ethiopians
86. Love Me Forever
Carlton & The Shoes
87. My Boy Lollipop
Millie Small
88. Love Is My Religion
Ziggy Marley
89. Monkey Man
Toots & the Maytals
90. War
Bob Marley & the Wailers
91. Can I Change My Mind
Alton Ellis
92. Duppy Gunman
Ernie Smith
93. Johnny Too Bad
The Slickers
94. Black Cinderella
Errol Dunkley
95. Have Mercy
The Mighty Diamonds
96. Tumblin Down
Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers
97. Zungguzungguguzungguzeng
Yellowman
98. Hold Me Tight
Johnny Nash
99. Angel
Shaggy & Rayvon
100. Dreadlocks In Moonlight
Lee "Scratch" Perry
101. Freedom Street
Ken Boothe
102. Give A Little Love
Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers
103. You Don't Love Me (No No No)
Dawn Penn
104. Welcome To Jamrock
Damian Marley
105. 400 Years
Peter Tosh & the Wailers
106. Perfidia
Phyllis Dillon
107. Feel Like Jumping
Marcia Griffiths
108. African Herbsman
Bob Marley & the Wailers
109. Greetings
Half Pint
110. Better Must Come
Delroy Wilson
111. Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt
Yellowman
112. Rumours
Gregory Isaacs
113. Electric Boogie
Marcia Griffiths
114. Maga Dog
Peter Tosh
115. What Is Life?
Black Uhuru
116. I've Got To Go Back Home
Bob Andy
117. Pretty Looks Isn't All
The Heptones
118. Breaking Up
Alton Ellis
119. The Gorgon
Cornell Campbell
120. Ram Goat Liver
Pluto Shervington
121. All Wi Doin Is Defendin
Linton Kwesi Johnson
122. People Are You Ready
Johnny Osbourne
123. Take It Easy
Hopeton Lewis
124. Moving Away
Ken Boothe
125. Rock & Groove
Bunny Wailer
126. Tomorrow People
Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers
127. Herbman Hustling
Sugar Minott
128. Buddy Bye
Johnny Osbourne
129. Murderer
Barrington Levy
130. Oh Carolina
Shaggy
131. Sweet Sensation
The Melodians
132. Calling Rastafari
Culture
133. Sweet Talking
The Heptones
134. Reggae Ambassador
Third World
135. Baltimore
The Tamlins
136. Forward Jah Jah Children
Jacob Miller
137. Things You Say You Love
The Jamaicans
138. Look Who's Dancin'
Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers
139. Black Man Time
I-Roy
140. Ok Fred
Errol Dunkley
141. This Is Reggae Music
Zap Pow
142. Always Together
Bob Andy & Marcia Griffiths
143. Members Only
Tyrone Taylor
144. Love Forever
Cynthia Schloss
145. Ball Room Floor
Bunny Wailer
146. Fire Burning
Bob Andy
147. Sinsemilla
Black Uhuru
148. Betcha By Golly Wow
Errol Dunkley
149. Can't Hide From Jah
Yellowman
150. Youthman
Jr. Reid
151. Shark Attack
Wailing Souls
152. Boombastic
Shaggy
153. Under Me Sleng Teng
Wayne Smith
154. Dance of the Vampires
Scientist
155. Who Can Make The Dance Ram
Yellowman
156. Give It All You've Got
Beres Hammond
157. Arlene
General Echo
158. Rockaway
Beres Hammond
159. Play de Music
Ernie Smith
160. No Vacancy
Sugar Minott
161. Rhythm Of Life
Third World
162. Queen of The Minstrels
Cornell Campbell
163. Natty With A Cause
Willie Williams
164. Guava Jelly
Johnny Nash
165. Rude Boy Gone A Jail
The Clarendonians
166. Stop Lovin You
Freddie McGregor
167. Birds Of A Feather
Johnny Nash
168. Mr. DC
Sugar Minott
169. Night And Day
Dawn Penn
170. Tune In
Cocoa Tea
171. All The Way In
Cynthia Schloss
172. Carry Go Bring Come
Justin Hinds & The Dominoes
173. Ten Commandments
Prince Buster
174. Sidewalk Killer
I-Roy
175. Natty Dread In A Greenwich Farm
Cornell Campbell
176. Mission
Admiral Tibbett
177. Jamming In The Street
Sugar Minott
178. Train To Skaville
Derrick Morgan
179. Hard To Confess
The Tamlins
180. Nice Up The Dance
Michigan & Smiley
181. Black People
The Slickers
182. Solomon
Derrick Harriott
183. Caan Dun
Shabba Ranks
184. One Draw
Rita Marley
185. Ganga Smuggling
Eek-a-Mouse
186. Positive Vibrations
Ras Michael & The Sons Of Negus
187. The Same Song
Israel Vibration
188. On The Beach
The Paragons
189. One Love, One Heart
Righteous Flames
190. Under Mi Sensi
Barrington Levy
191. I Love Marijuana
Linval Thompson
192. A Hundred Pounds Of Collie
Cornell Campbell
193. Champion
Buju Banton
194. Tired Fe Lick Weed In A Bush
Jacob Miller
195. Smoke Two Joints
The Toyes
196. Pirates Anthem
Shabba Ranks
197. Police In Helicopter
John Holt
198. Look
Bounty Killer
199. Your Honour
Pluto Shervington
200. Fatty Fatty
Clancy Eccles
Ken Boothe
102. Give A Little Love
Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers
103. You Don't Love Me (No No No)
Dawn Penn
104. Welcome To Jamrock
Damian Marley
105. 400 Years
Peter Tosh & the Wailers
106. Perfidia
Phyllis Dillon
107. Feel Like Jumping
Marcia Griffiths
108. African Herbsman
Bob Marley & the Wailers
109. Greetings
Half Pint
110. Better Must Come
Delroy Wilson
111. Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt
Yellowman
112. Rumours
Gregory Isaacs
113. Electric Boogie
Marcia Griffiths
114. Maga Dog
Peter Tosh
115. What Is Life?
Black Uhuru
116. I've Got To Go Back Home
Bob Andy
117. Pretty Looks Isn't All
The Heptones
118. Breaking Up
Alton Ellis
119. The Gorgon
Cornell Campbell
120. Ram Goat Liver
Pluto Shervington
121. All Wi Doin Is Defendin
Linton Kwesi Johnson
122. People Are You Ready
Johnny Osbourne
123. Take It Easy
Hopeton Lewis
124. Moving Away
Ken Boothe
125. Rock & Groove
Bunny Wailer
126. Tomorrow People
Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers
127. Herbman Hustling
Sugar Minott
128. Buddy Bye
Johnny Osbourne
129. Murderer
Barrington Levy
130. Oh Carolina
Shaggy
131. Sweet Sensation
The Melodians
132. Calling Rastafari
Culture
133. Sweet Talking
The Heptones
134. Reggae Ambassador
Third World
135. Baltimore
The Tamlins
136. Forward Jah Jah Children
Jacob Miller
137. Things You Say You Love
The Jamaicans
138. Look Who's Dancin'
Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers
139. Black Man Time
I-Roy
140. Ok Fred
Errol Dunkley
141. This Is Reggae Music
Zap Pow
142. Always Together
Bob Andy & Marcia Griffiths
143. Members Only
Tyrone Taylor
144. Love Forever
Cynthia Schloss
145. Ball Room Floor
Bunny Wailer
146. Fire Burning
Bob Andy
147. Sinsemilla
Black Uhuru
148. Betcha By Golly Wow
Errol Dunkley
149. Can't Hide From Jah
Yellowman
150. Youthman
Jr. Reid
151. Shark Attack
Wailing Souls
152. Boombastic
Shaggy
153. Under Me Sleng Teng
Wayne Smith
154. Dance of the Vampires
Scientist
155. Who Can Make The Dance Ram
Yellowman
156. Give It All You've Got
Beres Hammond
157. Arlene
General Echo
158. Rockaway
Beres Hammond
159. Play de Music
Ernie Smith
160. No Vacancy
Sugar Minott
161. Rhythm Of Life
Third World
162. Queen of The Minstrels
Cornell Campbell
163. Natty With A Cause
Willie Williams
164. Guava Jelly
Johnny Nash
165. Rude Boy Gone A Jail
The Clarendonians
166. Stop Lovin You
Freddie McGregor
167. Birds Of A Feather
Johnny Nash
168. Mr. DC
Sugar Minott
169. Night And Day
Dawn Penn
170. Tune In
Cocoa Tea
171. All The Way In
Cynthia Schloss
172. Carry Go Bring Come
Justin Hinds & The Dominoes
173. Ten Commandments
Prince Buster
174. Sidewalk Killer
I-Roy
175. Natty Dread In A Greenwich Farm
Cornell Campbell
176. Mission
Admiral Tibbett
177. Jamming In The Street
Sugar Minott
178. Train To Skaville
Derrick Morgan
179. Hard To Confess
The Tamlins
180. Nice Up The Dance
Michigan & Smiley
181. Black People
The Slickers
182. Solomon
Derrick Harriott
183. Caan Dun
Shabba Ranks
184. One Draw
Rita Marley
185. Ganga Smuggling
Eek-a-Mouse
186. Positive Vibrations
Ras Michael & The Sons Of Negus
187. The Same Song
Israel Vibration
188. On The Beach
The Paragons
189. One Love, One Heart
Righteous Flames
190. Under Mi Sensi
Barrington Levy
191. I Love Marijuana
Linval Thompson
192. A Hundred Pounds Of Collie
Cornell Campbell
193. Champion
Buju Banton
194. Tired Fe Lick Weed In A Bush
Jacob Miller
195. Smoke Two Joints
The Toyes
196. Pirates Anthem
Shabba Ranks
197. Police In Helicopter
John Holt
198. Look
Bounty Killer
199. Your Honour
Pluto Shervington
200. Fatty Fatty
Clancy Eccles
Reggae Covers of Popular Non-Reggae Songs
Ain't No Sunshine
Ken Boothe
Baby I Love Your Way
Big Mountain
Blueberry Hill
Ferdinand
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Jimmy London
Can't Help Falling In Love
UB40
Don't Let Me Down
Marcia Griffiths
Don't Think Twice, It's Alright
JC Lodge
Family Affair
Shabba Ranks
Fly Like An Eagle
Sugar Black
Hard To Handle
Toots Hibbert
Hey Jude
Toots & The Maytals
Hit The Road Jack
Big Youth
Hotel California
Edi Fitzroy
(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
The Heptones
I Got You Babe
UB40 featuring Chrissie Hynde
I Shall Be Released
Jacob Miller
If You Don't Know Me By Now
Zap Pow
Johnny B. Goode
Peter Tosh
King Of Pain
Inner Circle
Knockin' On Heavens Door
Luciano
Maggie May
Wayne Armond
Margaritaville
Reggae Machine
Money
Easy Star All Stars
Mother And Child Reunion
Horace Andy
Mr. Tambourine Man
Ken Boothe
Roxanne
Aswad
Sexual Healing
Jimmy Riley
(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay
Dennis Brown
Take Me Home Country Roads
Toots & The Maytals
The Girl Is Mine
Yellowman & Peter Metro
This Magic Moment
Leroy Gibbons
To Sir With Love
Dawn Penn
United We Stand
Bob Andy
Whiter Shade Of Pale
Pat Kelly
Wild World
Maxi Priest
You Can't Always Get What You Want
Steel Pulse
Ken Boothe
Baby I Love Your Way
Big Mountain
Blueberry Hill
Ferdinand
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Jimmy London
Can't Help Falling In Love
UB40
Don't Let Me Down
Marcia Griffiths
Don't Think Twice, It's Alright
JC Lodge
Family Affair
Shabba Ranks
Fly Like An Eagle
Sugar Black
Hard To Handle
Toots Hibbert
Hey Jude
Toots & The Maytals
Hit The Road Jack
Big Youth
Hotel California
Edi Fitzroy
(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
The Heptones
I Got You Babe
UB40 featuring Chrissie Hynde
I Shall Be Released
Jacob Miller
If You Don't Know Me By Now
Zap Pow
Johnny B. Goode
Peter Tosh
King Of Pain
Inner Circle
Knockin' On Heavens Door
Luciano
Maggie May
Wayne Armond
Margaritaville
Reggae Machine
Money
Easy Star All Stars
Mother And Child Reunion
Horace Andy
Mr. Tambourine Man
Ken Boothe
Roxanne
Aswad
Sexual Healing
Jimmy Riley
(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay
Dennis Brown
Take Me Home Country Roads
Toots & The Maytals
The Girl Is Mine
Yellowman & Peter Metro
This Magic Moment
Leroy Gibbons
To Sir With Love
Dawn Penn
United We Stand
Bob Andy
Whiter Shade Of Pale
Pat Kelly
Wild World
Maxi Priest
You Can't Always Get What You Want
Steel Pulse
Top Five Songs That Influenced The Birth Of Ska, Rocksteady and Reggae.
1. Be My Guest
Fats Domino
2. No More Doggin'
Rosco Gordon
3. Billy's Heartache
Billy Stewart
4. Sick & Tired
Chris Kenner
5. The Monkey
Dave Bartholomew
Fats Domino
2. No More Doggin'
Rosco Gordon
3. Billy's Heartache
Billy Stewart
4. Sick & Tired
Chris Kenner
5. The Monkey
Dave Bartholomew
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Bob Marley - No Women No Cry
Edited By: Lew
Last Updated: 2008-02-15