By Hugh McIntyre/Hollywood & Entertainment
Already one of the most successful albums of all time by one of the most celebrated and beloved musicians ever, Bob Marley’s Legend is having an extra special week on one of Billboard’s most important most competitive charts.
This frame, Legend, officially credited to Marley and the Wailers, hits 676 weeks on the Billboard 200, Billboard’s weekly ranking of the most-consumed full-lengths in the U.S. That sum breaks down to 13 years spent somewhere on the tally. This frame, it dips from No. 44 to No. 53, falling outside the upper quarter once again (though the fact it was still living inside that space at this point is truly amazing).
Legend is just the second album to hit 13 years on the Billboard 200, following in the footsteps of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon. That set is nearing 1,000 weeks on the chart, and it is in a very, very distant first place when looking at the releases which have racked up the most turns on the ranking.
Ever since its release back in 1984, Legend has continued to sell, and now stream, very well, as the masses can’t get enough of Marley’s music. The set serves as a best of compilation featuring 14 of the reggae pioneer’s most beloved tunes, such as “Is This Love,” “No Woman, No Cry” and “Get Up, Stand Up.” While the title peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard 200, it stands out as one of the most successful releases of all time.
Billboard instituted a rule (which has since been repealed) some time ago that for years kept albums like Legend off the Billboard 200 due to how long they had been out. Had that restriction not been in place, the number of frames on the ranking the compilation would now count would be much, much higher.
Legend will likely be joined in the feat of living on the Billboard 200 for 13 years soon, as a few projects are approaching that number. Journey’s Journey’s Greatest Hits only needs perhaps two months or so before it will likely reach the same milestone, becoming just the third effort to do so.
I am a freelance music journalist based in New York City. My byline has appeared in The Huffington Post, Billboard, Mashable, Noisey, The Hollywood Reporter, MTV, Fuse.
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