Top 18 Reggae Compilation Albums of All Time

The best reggae compilations serve as both introductions and definitive retrospectives. From Legend to The Harder They Come soundtrack to The Trojan Story, vote for the compilation that best represents Jamaican music.

1. 1
   Arkology

   Island's 1997 three-disc collection of Lee Scratch Perry's Black Ark productions, gathering classics by the Upsetters, Max Romeo, the Heptones and Junior Murvin.
   1000pts
2. 2
   Aquarius Rock

   Pressure Sounds' 2004 anthology of Herman Chin Loy's Aquarius label, collecting early-1970s tracks with Augustus Pablo and Dennis Brown, listed in MOJO's greatest reggae albums.
   954pts
3. 3
   Tougher Than Tough: The Story of Jamaican Music

   Island's 1993 four-disc box tracing Jamaican music from late-1950s ska to early-1990s ragga, widely recommended as the best single introduction to the island's sound.
   890pts
4. 4
   The Trojan Story

   The first major anthology from Britain's most important reggae label, showcasing decades of essential ska, rocksteady, and reggae singles.
   848pts
5. 5
   This Is Reggae Music

   Island Records' mid-1970s anthology that first presented reggae as a coherent genre to international audiences across four volumes.
   848pts
6. 6
   Original Rockers

   Augustus Pablo's 1979 Greensleeves collection of his early Rockers label singles and dubs, prized as a showcase of his melodica sound and dreamy production.
   818pts
7. 7
   Legend

   The world's best-selling reggae album, collecting Bob Marley's greatest hits into the definitive single-volume introduction to reggae music.
   734pts
8. 8
   Dub Gone Crazy

   Blood and Fire's 1994 collection of King Tubby's mixes from 1975 to 1979, a celebrated reissue that helped spark the worldwide revival of interest in vintage dub.
   734pts
9. 9
   Club Ska '67

   Island Records' 1967 UK compilation of Jamaican ska classics such as Guns of Navarone and Phoenix City, ranked among MOJO's 50 greatest reggae albums.
   636pts
10. 10
    Studio One Story

    A curated 2003 retrospective of Coxsone Dodd's legendary Kingston studio, covering the foundational years of Jamaican popular music.
    636pts
11. 11
    Tighten Up Volume 1

    Trojan Records' 1969 budget compilation of early reggae and rocksteady hits that sold strongly in Britain and launched the label's long-running Tighten Up series.
    520pts
12. 12
    100% Dynamite

    Soul Jazz Records' 1998 compilation of ska, soul, rocksteady and funk from Jamaica, the release that launched the label's acclaimed Dynamite reissue series.
    382pts
13. 13
    The Best of Don Drummond

    Studio One's 1969 collection of the Skatalites trombonist's moody instrumentals, a key document of ska ranked 13th in MOJO's 50 greatest reggae albums.
    382pts
14. 14
    Songs of Freedom

    The 1992 four-disc Bob Marley box set spanning his 1962 debut single Judge Not to a final live recording, packed with rarities and alternate versions.
    382pts
15. 15
    The Harder They Come

    The revolutionary 1972 film soundtrack featuring Jimmy Cliff and peers that first exported reggae music to international audiences worldwide.
    0pts
16. 16
    Club Reggae

    Trojan Records' influential compilation series capturing the authentic sounds of the reggae soundsystem era for UK audiences.
    0pts
17. 17
    Fabulous Greatest Hits

    Prince Buster's 1968 hits collection on the Fab label, gathering ska and rocksteady classics like Judge Dread, ranked ninth in MOJO's 50 greatest reggae albums.
    0pts
18. 18
    If Deejay Was Your Trade

    Blood and Fire's 1994 anthology of Bunny Lee-produced deejay cuts toasted over King Tubby's mixes from 1974 to 1977, a cornerstone of the reissue label's catalogue.
    0pts

Comments