The Highly Disputable List of the Top 20 Reggae Albums of All Time

All such lists are subjective.

Having said that, this list of the Top 20 Reggae LPs of All Time is fairly conclusive, accurate, enjoyable, entertaining and informative, even if you don't like or don't get or can't stand reggae music (poor you).  

Enjoy (and pay attention; there will be a test).

Presented in copyrighted David Letterman Top Ten Reverse Order:

20)  The Abyssinians - Satta Massagana
          Reggae gospel music.
19)  Bunny Wailer - Blackheart Man
            Deep, dark Rasta groove.
18)  Ken Boothe - Mr. Rock Steady
          Early ska/rock steady classic.
17)  Mikey Dread - World War III
          Primal post-Clash dub.
16)  Bob Marley & The Wailers - Rastaman Vibration
          Bubblin' on the Top 100
15)  Burning Spear - Marcus Garvey
          Back to Africa?  Back to the hills!
14)  Gregory Isaacs - Night Nurse
          Reggae's Smokey Robinson?
13)  Upsetters - 14 Dub Blackboard Jungle
          Lee Scratch Perry masterpiece.  
          If you've never heard it, you've never heard anything else like it.
12)  Bob Marley & The Wailers - Live!
          Hit me with music!
11)  Joe Gibbs - African Dub Almighty, Chapter 3
          Heavy dub with everything including the kitchen sink.
10)  Horace Andy - Skylarking
          Nearly unknown outside of Jamaica and England.
          Influenced thousands of reggae singers and musicians.
 9)  Augustus Pablo - King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown
          Dub Rosetta Stone.
 8)  Mighty Diamonds - Deeper Roots
          Most like their Right Time LP over this.  Not me.
 7)  The Wailers - Catch a Fire
          The LP that sprung Bob Marley, Bunny Wailer and Peter Tosh into the spotlight.
 6)  The Heptones - Night Food
          Sweet vocal harmonies, killer tunes.
 5)  Culture - Two Sevens Clash
          Politically charged LP that put the dread in dreadlock.
 4)  Augustus Pablo - East of the River Nile
          The master of dub and melodica, this contains his most accessible work.
 3)  Original Soundtrack - The Harder They Come
          Not a less-than-stellar track in the mix.
 2)  Toots & The Maytals - Funky Kingston
          Reggae's Otis Redding?
 1)  The Wailers - Burnin'
          Masterful playing, chilling harmonies, classic songs.

Landing just outside of the 20 mark:

Barrington Levy - Shaolin Temple
Yellowman - Mister Yellowman
Dr. Alimantado - Best Dressed Chicken in Town
Bob Marley & The Wailers - Exodus

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