Reggae Fam—
Alright, listen up, reggae heads—Rolling Stone just dropped their 75 Best Albums of 1975, and guess what? Five reggae albums made the cut. Yeah, five. Not tucked away at the bottom either—some of these names are way up there. For a list that’s usually stacked wall-to-wall with rock and soul heavyweights, this is a big deal.
Let’s start with the one that made me do a double take:
Toots and the Maytals at number 6
🎧 Funky Kingston on Spotify
You heard me. Number six. And rightfully so. That album is pure energy—Toots Hibbert basically invented the reggae-soul hybrid before anyone else could even name it. It’s one of those records that hits just as hard now as it did 50 years ago.
Then we got Bob Marley and the Wailers landing at number 18
🎥 No Woman, No Cry (Live at the Lyceum) – watch it here:
That version of the song? That whole live set? Iconic. It’s the moment Marley turned into the global voice of reggae. That crowd at the Lyceum knew they were witnessing something serious, and now Rolling Stone’s showing respect.
Burning Spear’s Marcus Garvey at number 21
🎧 Listen on Spotify
This record isn’t just music—it’s a statement. Heavy, spiritual, unapologetically Rasta. When Winston Rodney chants “no one remember old Marcus Garvey,” it’s like a wake-up call across generations.
Lee “Scratch” Perry at number 50 with Kung Fu Meets the Dragon
🎧 Listen on Spotify
This one’s a dub journey, pure Upsetter madness, and total genius. Lee Perry wasn’t just ahead of his time—he was living in his own dimension. For Rolling Stone to even try and wrap their heads around this album says a lot.
And rounding it out: yes, five reggae albums total. That fifth one? Still under wraps ‘til the full digital issue drops, but it’s in there. (My money’s still on The Mighty Diamonds.)
The point is: reggae didn’t just survive the 70s—it defined it. And in 1975, it wasn’t in the shadows—it was right there, standing strong alongside Springsteen, Fleetwood Mac, and Bowie.
So to all my reggae lovers out there—this is a win. Not just for nostalgia, but for legacy. For culture. For the music that’s always had something to say and a riddim to move to.
Pull up your favorite track from Marcus Garvey or let Funky Kingston ride out in the background—this list just gave us a reason to celebrate the year reggae officially earned its spot in the global canon.
One love.
