Marley still climbs the charts

BY KEVIN JACKSON Observer Writer

Friday, February 03, 2012

THIRTY-ONE years after his death, Bob Marley continues to outsell contemporary reggae and dancehall stars.

On the latest Billboard Digital Reggae singles chart, Marley registers 14 songs including One Love, Buffalo Soldier, Is This Love and No Woman Nuh Cry. However, it's the single Three Little Birds, at number three, that has registered the biggest download sales to date. Some 1,358,184 downloads have been sold in the United States.

Marley's most recent album, the live Bob Marley & the Wailers: Live Forever-the Stanley Theatre 1980, debuted and peaked at number 14 on the Billboard 200 Album chart last year. It currently holds the number five spot on the Billboard Reggae Album chart, selling 72,212 copies according to sales tracker Nielsen Soundscan.

The 1984 compilation, Legend, is the biggest selling reggae album of all time, with 14 million copies sold in the US.

Legend's worldwide sales now stand at over 25 million copies. It has spent 992 consecutive weeks on Billboard's Pop Catalogue Album chart.

Legend is currently number one on the iTunes Reggae Album charts in 14 European countries as well as Canada and New Zealand.

On the current iTunes Top 100 Reggae Singles chart, Marley has 12 songs with Three Little Birds ranked at number two.

Marley has charted 22 titles on the Billboard 200 Album chart. His 1976 album, Rastaman Vibration, was the highest charter in his lifetime in the US, peaking at number eight in 1976. He was the first reggae artiste to score a top 10 album in America.

On Billboard's R&B album chart, Marley registered 21 titles. Rastaman Vibration was his best showing, stalling at number eleven.

The box set, Songs of Freedom, which soared to number one in 1992, is his sole chart-topper on Billboard's Top World Music Album chart.

Eight Marley titles have made Billboard's R&B Singles chart. In 1976, Roots Rock Reggae moved to number 37. His biggest success on that chart came with Exodus in 1977 which stopped at number 19.

On Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart, Marley only earned one entry. Roots Rock Reggae peaked at number 51.

Apart from Could You Be Loved stalling at number 49 in 1980, Marley's biggest success on Billboard's Dance Music Club Play chart came via remixes. In 1999, Sun is Shining soared to number one, while one year later Rainbow Country made number seven.

Marley fared better on the UK pop charts. In 1975, he hit number 22 with No Woman Nuh Cry. Up until 2000, 15 Marley songs charted in that country, with Sun is Shining the best performer at number three.