In marking Jamaica’s 60th Anniversary of Independence, a panel of Jamaican music experts was called on to help compile a list of the top 100 Jamaican made records from 1962-2022. The songs can be originals or adaptations, vocal or instrument, and all genres of Jamaican music. Below is the final list.
Compiled By Clinton Lindsay, with assistance from:
SAM MITCHELL (radio host/record producer); TONY RYAN (radio host/record collector); DJ ROY (radio host/club selector); MARLON BURRELL (radio host/music researcher); FRANCINE CHIN (radio host); HOWARD CAMPBELL (journalist); TONY CARR (radio host); KARL ANTHONY (radio host); FITZROY FRANCIS (record producer/music industry consultant); LLOYD “T-Rob” ROBERTS (radio host).
TITLE ARTIST
1 ONE LOVE BOB MARLEY & THE WAILERS
PRODUCER: BOB MARLEY & THE WAILERS 1977
2 Many Rivers To Cross Jimmy Cliff
Prod: Jimmy Cliff 1972
3 Someone Loves You Honey JC Lodge
Prod: Joe Gibbs/Errol Thompson 1981
4 Wear You To The Ball U Roy & The Paragons
Prod: Arthur “Duke” Reid 1970
5 Satta Massa Gana The Abyssinians
Prod: Bernard Collins 1971
6 No Man Is An Island Dennis Brown
Prod: Clement “Coxsone” Dodd 1969
7 You Don’t Care/Queen Majesty The Techniques
Prod: Arthur “Duke” Reid 1967
8 Rivers Of Babylon The Melodians
Prod: Leslie Kong 1969
9 A Love I Can Feel John Holt
Prod: Clement “Coxsone” Dodd 1970
10 Here I Come (Love & Hate) Dennis Brown
Prod: Tad Dawkins 1984
11 Baltimore The Tamlins
Prod: Sly Dunbar/Robbie Shakespeare 1980
12 Night Nurse Gregory Isaacs
Prod: Gregory Isaacs 1982
13 Electric Boogie Marcia Griffiths
Prod: Bunny Wailer 1982
14 54-46 (That’s My Number) The Maytals
Prod: Leslie Kong 1968
15 One Step Ahead Beres Hammond
Prod: Willie Lindo 1975
16 Murder She Wrote Chaka Demus & Pliers
Prod: Sly Dunbar/Robbie Shakespeare 1992
17 One Blood Junior Reid
Prod: Junior Reid 1989
18 I’ve Got To Go Back Home Bob Andy
Prod: Clement “Coxsone” Dodd 1968
19 Bam Bam The Maytals
Prod: Byron Lee 1966
20 Land Of My Birth Eric Donaldson
Prod: Winston Wallace 1978
21 Westbound Train Dennis Brown
Prod: Winston “Niney” Holness 1973
22 Marcus Garvey Burning Spear
Prod: Lawrence “Jack Ruby” Lindo 1975
23 Now That We’ve Found Love Third World
Prod: Alex Sadkin/Third World 1978
24 Have Mercy The Mighty Diamonds
Prod: Joseph Hoo Kim 1975
25 You Don’t Love Me (No, No, No) Dawn Penn
Prod: Wycliff Johnson/Cleveland Browne 1993
26 Book Of Rules The Heptones
Prod: Harry “J” Johnson 1973
27 Police And Thieves Junior Murvin
Prod: Lee “Scratch” Perry 1976
28 No Woman No Cry Bob Marley & The Wailers
Prod: Chris Blackwell/Steve Smith 1974
29 Stealing Love On The Side Carlene Davis
Prod: Willie Lindo/Ossie Hibbert 1981
30 Everything I Own Ken Boothe
Prod: Lloyd Charmers 1974
31 Pass The Kutchie The Mighty Diamonds
Prod: Augustus “Gussie” Clarke 1982
32 My Conversation Slim Smith & The Uniques
Prod: Edward “Bunny” Lee 1970
33 Poor Mi Israelites Desmond Dekker & The Aces
Prod: Leslie Kong 1969
34 What One Dance Can Do Beres Hammond
Prod: Willie Lindo 1985
35 Telephone Love JC Lodge
Prod: Augustus “Gussie” Clarke 1988
36 Three Little Birds Bob Marley & The Wailers
Prod: Bob Marley & The Wailers 1977
37 I Shot The Sheriff Bob Marley & The Wailers
Prod: Chris Blackwell & The Wailers 1973
38 I’m Not A King Delroy Wilson
Prod: Clement “Coxcone” Dodd 1968
39 Puppet On A String Ken Boothe
Prod: Clement “Coxsone” Dodd 1967
40 007 (Shanty Town) Desmond Dekker & The Aces
Prod: Leslie King 1966
41 Cherry Oh Baby Eric Donaldson
Prod: Tommy Cowan/Byron Lee 1971
42 Ba Ba Boom The Jamaicans
Prod: Arthur “Duke” Reid 1967
43 Play De Music Tinga Stewart
Prod: Ernie Smith 1974
44 I Need A Roof The Mighty Diamonds
Prod: Joseph Hoo Kim 1975
45 Nice Time/Thank You Lord The Wailers
Prod Clement ‘Coxsone” Dodd 1967
46 Two Sevens Clash Culture
Prod: Joe Gibbs/Errol Thompson 1977
47 Loving Pauper Dobby Dobson
Prod: Arthur “Duke” Reid 1968
48 Trench Town Rock (Kingston 12) The Wailers
Prod: Lee “Scratch” Perry 1971
49 My Boy Lollipop Millie Small
Prod: Chris Blackwell 1964
50 Untold Stories Buju Banton
Prod: Donovan Germain 1995
51 She’s Royal Tarrus Riley
Prod: Dean Fraser 2007
52 Waiting In Vain/Jammin’ Bob Marley & The Wailers
Prod: Bob Marley & The Wailers 1977
53 Sitting And Watching Dennis Brown
Prod: Sly Dunbar & Robbie Shakespeare 1980
54 Nanny Goat Larry Marshall
Prod: Clement “Coxcone” Dodd 1968
55 The Tide Is High The Paragons
Prod: Arthur “Duke” Reid 1967
56 Don’t Stay Away Phyllis Dillon
Prod: Arthur “Duke” Reid 1967
57 Duppy Gunman Ernie Smith
Prod: Ernie Smith 1974
58 Ram Goat Liver Pluto Shervington
Prod: Paul Khouri 1974
59 Johnny Too Bad The Slickers
Prod: Byron Lee 1972
60 Take It Easy Hopeton Lewis
Prod: Sam Mitchell/Keith Scott 1967
61 It Hurts To Be Alone The Wailers
Prod: Clement ‘Coxsone” Dodd 1964
62 Simmer Down The Wailers
Prod: Clement “Coxsone” Dodd 1963
63 Tenement Yard Jacob Miller
Prod: Ian & Roger Lewis 1975
64 Skylarking Horace Andy
Prod: Clement “Coxsone” Dodd 1971
65 Redemption Song Bob Marley & The Wailers
Prod: Bob Marley & The Wailers 1980
66 Diseases Michigan & Smiley
Prod: Harry “Jungo” Lawes 1981
67 Tempted To Touch Beres Hammond
Prod: Donovan Germain 1990
68 Twice My Age Shabba Ranks & Krystal
Prod: Augustus “Gussie” Clarke 1989
69 The Harder They Come Jimmy Cliff
Prod: Jimmy Cliff 1972
70 Ring The Alarm Tenor Saw
Prod: Winston Riley 1985
71 Pretty Looks Isn’t All/Party Time The Heptones
Prod: Clement “Coxsone” Dodd 1968
72 Fade Away Junior Byles
Prod: Joseph Hoo Kim 1976
73 Dreamland Marcia Griffiths
Prod: Sonia Pottinger 1976
74 Cottage In Negril Tyrone Taylor
Prod: Tyrone Taylor 1981
75 Breakfast In Bed Lorna Bennett
Prod: Harry “J” Johnson 1972
76 Money In My Pocket Dennis Brown
Prod: Joe Gibbs 1972
77 Baby Why/What Kind Of World The Cables
Prod: Clement “Coxsone” Dodd 1968
78 Sea Of Love The Heptones
Prod: Clement “Coxsone” Dodd 1967
79 Girlie Girlie Sophia George
Prod: Ronald “Piggy” Chung 1985
80 Curly Locks Junior Byles
Prod: Lee Scratch Perry 1974
81 Natty Dread/War Bob Marley & The Wailers
Prod: Bob Marley & The Wailers 1974
82 Sleng Teng Wayne Smith
Prod: Lloyd “Jammy” James 1985
83 Welcome To Jamrock Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley
Prod: Stephen Marley 2001
84 Big Ship Freddie McGregor
Prod: Linval Thompson 1982
85 Picture On The Wall Freddy McKay
Prod: Clement “Coxsone” Dodd 1970
86 Black Cinderella Errol Dunkley
Prod: Ivan “Jimmy” Radway 1972
87 Armageddon Time Willie Williams
Prod: Clement “Coxsone” Dodd 1977
88 Breaking Up Alton Ellis
Prod: Arthur “Duke” Reid 1967
89 Solomon Derrick Harriott
Prod: Derrick Harriott 1967
90 Young Gifted And Black Bob Andy & Marcia Griffiths
Prod: Harry “J” Johnson 1970
91 Humanity The Royal Rasses
Prod: Edward “Bunny” Lee/Lincoln Thompson 1976
92 Undying Love Ernest Wilson
Prod: Clement “Coxcone” Dodd 1968
93 Unmetered Taxi Sly & Robbie
Prod: Sly Dunbar & Robbie Shakespeare 1982
94 Eastern Standard Time Don Drummond
Prod: Arthur “Duke” Reid 1964
95 Love Me Forever Carlton & The Shoes
Prod: Clement “Coxsone” Dodd 1968
96 Wash Wash Prince Buster
Prod: Prince Buster 1965
97 Black Star Liner Fred Locks
Prod: Hugh “Jah Shoes” Boothe 1975
98 Watch This Sound Slim Smith & The Uniques
Prod: Lloyd Charmers 1968
99 Oh Mr. D.C. Sugar Minott
Prod: Clement “Coxsone” Dodd 1979
100 Sweet Sensation The Melodians
Prod: Leslie Kong 1970
HONORABLE MENTIONS
1 Too Experienced Bob Andy
Prod: Clement Dodd 1968
2 Get Up, Stand Up The Wailers
Prod: Chris Blackwell/The Wailers 1973
3 Grooving Out On Life Hopeton Lewis
Prod: Winston “Merritone” Blake 1971
4 Equal Rights The Heptones
Prod: Clement “Coxsone” Dodd 1968
5 Dance Crasher Alton Ellis & The Flames
Prod: Arthur “Duke” Reid 1965
6 Silhouettes Dennis Brown
Prod: Derrick Harriott 1972
7 Man In The Street Don Drummond & The Skatalites
Prod: Clement ‘Coxsone” Dodd 1965
8 Better Must Come Delroy Wilson
Prod: Edward “Bunny” Lee 1971
9 Moving Away Ken Boothe
Prod: Clement “Coxsone” Dodd 1967
10 I’m Just A Guy Alton Ellis
Prod: Clement “Coxsone” Dodd 1968
11 One Draw Rita Marley
Prod: Ricky Walters/Ashley “Grub” Cooper 1981
12 How Long Pat Kelly
Prod: Edward “Bunny” Lee 1969
13 How Could I Leave Dennis Brown
Prod: Joe Gibbs/Errol Thompson 1978
14 I’m Still In Love With You/Let Him Try Alton Ellis
Prod: Clement “Coxsone” Dodd 1967
15 Love Forever Cynthia Schloss
Prod: Winston ‘Merritone” Blake 1975
16 Satisfaction/Get Together Carl Dawkins
Prod: Karl “J.J” Johnson 1970
17 Carry Go, Bring Come Justin Hinds & The Dominoes
Prod: Arthur “Duke” Reid 1963
18 Unchained/Let Them Say Bob Andy
Prod: Clement “Coxsone” Dodd 1968
19 Housewives Choice Derrick Morgan & Patsy Todd
Prod: Leslie Kong 1962
20 Equal Rights Peter Tosh
Prod: Peter Tosh 1977
21 Sarah Frankie Paul
Prod: Lloyd “Jammy” James 1987
22 Joy In The Morning The Gaylads
Prod: B.B. Seaton 1968
23 Perfidia Phyllis Dillon
Prod: Arthur “Duke” Reid 1968
24 Is This Love Bob Marley & The Wailers
Prod: Bob Marley & The Wailers 1978
25 The Liquidator The Hippy Boys (Harry J All Stars)
Prod: Harry “J” Johnson 1969
All Rights Reserved by Clinton Lindsay 2022
You must log in to post a comment.