The Most Popular Reggae Songs of All Time
Contents
Wondering what the most popular reggae songs of all time are? Check out our list of the top 10 hits, including classics from Bob Marley and Sean Paul.
Introduction
There are plenty of great songs that could be considered the most popular of all time, but there are only a few that can truly be considered classics. Here is a list of ten of the most popular reggae songs of all time, based on their popularity, critical acclaim, and overall impact on the genre.
Bob Marley – “No Woman, No Cry”
Bob Marley’s “No Woman, No Cry” is one of the most popular reggae songs of all time. The song was released in 1974 and became an international hit. It has been covered by many artists, including Michael Jackson, Sting, and the Fugees.
Peter Tosh – “Equal Rights”
“Equal Rights” is a song by Jamaican reggae musician Peter Tosh. It was released in 1977 on his album of the same name. The song is Tosh’s response to the Jamaican government’s declaration of a state of emergency in 1976, which resulted in widespread human rights abuses. “Equal Rights” is considered one of Tosh’s most powerful and influential songs, and has been covered by numerous artists.
Jimmy Cliff – “The Harder They Come”
“The Harder They Come” is a reggae song by the Jamaican singer Jimmy Cliff. It was first recorded for the soundtrack of the 1972 movie of the same name, in which it also made an appearance. The song was a surprise hit in many countries when it was released, reaching number one in Norway and becoming a top ten hit in several other countries. In Cliff’s native Jamaica, it was only a modest hit, but has since gone on to become one of the most popular reggae songs of all time.
Toots & The Maytals – “Pressure Drop”
“Pressure Drop” is a song recorded by the Jamaican group Toots & the Maytals. Written by Frederick “Toots” Hibbert, the song was included on their 1970 album Funky Kingston. In 2005, Rolling Stone ranked “Pressure Drop” No. 459 on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
The song’s lyrics describe the singer’s relief at seeing his enemies “falling like a pressure drop”. The Maytals were one of the first groups to use the word “reggae”, which is a Jamaican Patois word meaning “rags”, in their songs. The word had previously been used in songs such as Ernest Ranglin’s “Surfin'” and Harry Belafonte’s 1955 calypso hit “Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)”.
musically, “Pressure Drop” is influenced by American rhythm and blues, particularly Robert Parker’s 1966 hit “Barefootin'”. The song features horns and female backing vocals provided by Dennis Alcapone and Doris Troy, respectively. The Maytals are accompanied by members of Sly & the Family Stone’s rhythm section, which includes bassist Larry Graham and drummer Greg Errico.
The song was popularized in the 1974 film The Harder They Come, which starred Jimmy Cliff as an aspiring reggae singer who turns to a life of crime after being unable to break into the music business. The film featured several other songs by the Maytals, including “Sweet and Dandy” and “54-46 That’s My Number”.
“Pressure Drop” has been covered by numerous artists, including Cliff himself, who released a version as a single in 1974. Other notable covers include those by Led Zeppelin (on their 1976 album Presence), UB40 (on their 1980 album Signing Off), Elvis Costello (on his 1981 album Trust), Sublime (on their 1992 self-titled debut album), No Doubt (on their 2001 album Rock Steady) and The Specials (on their 2002 album Ghost Town).
The Wailers – “Stir It Up”
Written by Bob Marley and released in 1967, “Stir It Up” is a classic reggae song that has been covered by many artists over the years. The original version by The Wailers is the most well-known and is often considered to be one of the greatest reggae songs of all time. “Stir It Up” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998.
Inner Circle – “Bad Boys”
“Bad Boys” is a song by Jamaican reggae band Inner Circle that was released in 1987. The song was included on the soundtrack to the film Caddyshack II and became a number-one hit in the United States, peaking at number-one on the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks in August 1988.
UB40 – “Red, Red Wine”
Released in 1983, “Red, Red Wine” is a cover of Neil Diamond’s 1968 hit of the same name. The song was recorded by English reggae band UB40 and became a huge international hit, reaching number one in the Netherlands, New Zealand, and Australia. The song has since been covered by many artists, includingcountry music singer Alan Jackson and pop singer Beyoncé.
Maxi Priest – “Close to You”
Maxi Priest’s “Close to You” is one of the most popular reggae songs of all time. It was released in 1988 as a single from his album, Express. The song peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart and number one on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Shaggy – “Oh Carolina”
“Oh Carolina” is a 1993 song recorded by Jamaican-American recording artist Shaggy. The track was written and produced by Clive Cavalli and Anthony Martin. It was the lead single from Shaggy’s debut album Pure Pleasure, and became an international hit, reaching number one in New Zealand and the top ten in Australia, Canada, Ireland, Sweden and the United Kingdom. In the United States, the song peaked at number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number three on the Hot Rap Songs chart.
