Hall of Fame: A Tribute to Bob Marley's 50th Anniversary

by Bret Love Although nowhere near as essential as the original recordings, this impressive two-CD set finds the last living member of reggae's great songwriting triumvirate (the other being Peter Tosh) paying tribute to longtime bandmate Bob Marley with 52 roots reggae classics written by the former Wailers frontman. Almost all of his finest tunes are reverently covered here, including classics like "Roots Rock Reggae," "Zion Train," "One Love," and "Simmer Down." Performed by an outstanding cast of musicians, including reggae legends like Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare, the music stays remarkably true to the originals, leaving Bunny Wailer to the task of paying homage to his late, great friend. Fortunately, he proves up to the challenge, making this a great set for reggae collectors.