Durrant Pate/Contributor

Iconic Bob Marley & The Wailers compilation album ‘Legend‘ is back at the number one spot on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart 41 years after its original release.

Billboard’s chart ranks the top-selling reggae projects in the United States based on traditional album sales, track equivalents, and streaming data. For the week ending September 20, Marley’s ‘Legend‘ outperformed newer releases, representing a testament to its cross-generational appeal and status as the best-selling reggae album of all time.

With more than 25 million copies sold worldwide, including 18 million in the United States alone, Legend remains unmatched.

As of September 20, ‘Legend‘ has spent a total of 905 nonconsecutive weeks on the US Billboard 200 albums chart—the second-longest run in the chart’s history, peaking at number five and currently holding steady at number 126.

On February 12, 2002, the expanded 14-track edition with songs at album lengths was remastered for compact disc with a bonus disc consisting of 1984-vintage remixes for extended dance club singles and dub versions. In 2004, the ‘Legend‘ double-disc deluxe edition was reissued with the music DVD of the same name in the sound + vision deluxe edition. 

More than an album

Also, as of September 2025, it has spent 1,204 weeks in the top 100 of the UK Albums Chart—the third-longest run in that chart’s history. ‘Legend‘ is more than an album—it’s a movement. Its return to the top of the charts is living proof that Bob Marley’s heartbeat of reggae still echoes across the world.

First released on May 7, 1984, by Island Records, ‘Legend‘ has become the best-selling reggae album of all time. The album has long been the gateway for generations of Marley fans. The collection includes timeless anthems like ‘No Woman, No Cry‘, ‘Redemption Song‘, ‘Get Up, Stand Up‘, and ‘One Love/People Get Ready‘. 

Streaming has only strengthened its reach. Songs like ‘Three Little Birds‘ and ‘Could You Be Loved‘ regularly trend on TikTok and Instagram, introducing Marley to younger audiences. Spotify reports a growing share of Marley’s listeners are under 30, proof that his music continues to inspire long after its first release.

Marley, a cultural icon

Beyond sales, ‘Legend‘ endures as a cultural touchstone and a call for global unity. Marley’s lyrics have powered movements for equality, justice, and peace—from anti-apartheid protests to today’s climate marches. The album is a carefully curated track list, compiled posthumously three years after Marley’s death, that highlights the singer’s universal themes of love, unity, and resistance, making reggae accessible to listeners far beyond Jamaica’s shores. 

Marley also ranks as one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with estimated sales of more than 75 million records worldwide.

His estate continues to nurture his legacy with remastered vinyls, limited-edition box sets, and immersive virtual experiences. The Bob Marley Museum in Kingston is reporting record attendance in 2025, while the Marley brand expands into fashion, cannabis, and wellness ventures.