Bob Marley - Catch a Fire

Hands down the must-have in any collection, much less a reggae one. With the first four politically charged tracks (“Concrete Jungle,” “Slave Driver,” “400 Years” and “Stop That Train”), not to mention the now famous “Stir It Up,” this album tops every list, no matter the critic.

Toots & the Maytals - Funky Kingston

Despite the criticism for “cashing in on a world" now into reggae thanks to Jimmy Cliff's "The Harder They Come" film, this album was one of the first to heavily lean on soul, a trademark characteristic of front man Toots Hibberts. Standout tracks include “Pressure Drop” and “Got To Be There."

Bunny Wailer - Blackheart Man

While Bob was off trying to unite Africa and Peter was attending fancy London dinners, it was Bunny who borrowed the rest of the band to put this amazing set together. As said by many before, one listen to this changes the way you listen to any other “Wailers” recording again.

Jimmy Cliff & Various - The Harder They Come (Soundtrack)

Before Tarantino was Jimmy Cliff, a.k.a. Ivan, claiming “Dem a loot, dem a loot, dem a wail in a shanty town,” who brought the dancehall culture to the big screen. Featuring all of the classics by Cliff, not to mention help from The Maytals & Desmond Dekker, it will only take one listen and you’ll be shouting “stop that train, I want to get off!”

Upstepper in Beijing

If you’re in Beijing, you’re in luck—Dan Stephenson and Damon Perry hold Upstepper Sound parties the first Saturday of every month at Zub, and monthly at Yugong Yishan. Upstepper is Beijing’s first Jamaican-style collective of DJs and the only Chinese group to have performed in Jamaica. Check out Ross Goulding's nightlife column on pg. E20 for more information on reggae in the capital.