Heartbeat 2005

This two-disc set compiles early sides that Marley cut at Clement “Coxsone” Dodd’s fabled Studio One in Kingston, Jamaica. The Wailers, here including Bunny Wailer and Peter Tosh, were just kids at the time, and much of this music reflects what they were listening to before they became reggae stars. A good portion of the CD is devoted to ska, reggae’s direct predecessor; “Mr. Talkative,” “Habits” and “Simmer Down” show why the effusive, horn-driven music, although no longer big in Jamaica, remains popular with many American party bands.

The Wailers were into singing about God before they started calling him Jah and a straight gospel take on “This Train” is included along with a ska version of “Amen.” The inclusion of these numbers, along with covers like Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers’ “Teenager in Love,” makes it fairly easy to track the development of the group’s sound to the reggae familiar to millions; “Somewhere to Lay My Head” finds the band infusing ska with the reggae rhythm and developing the template for their signature sound.

Soul music was also a major influence on Marley’s vocal style and a R&B take on the Beatles’ “And I Love Her” is just a warm-up for the smoky Motown workout of “I’m Still Waiting” and the funky “Ska Jerk,” which borrows heavily from Junior Walker and the Allstars’ “Shotgun.” This collection is not geared to fans who only want to hear “I Shot the Sheriff,” but there is a wealth of amazing material here for those whose tastes are a little wider.

—Kevin Wierzbicki