VA - Specialized Presents One Heart, A Tribute To Bob Marley & The Wailers [2016] (4 x CDs)

REGGAE

VA - Specialized Presents One Heart, A Tribute To Bob Marley & The Wailers [2016] (4 x CDs)

Released in 2016 as part of the UK-based Specialized Project, One Heart is a sprawling 4-CD tribute to Bob Marley & The Wailers, featuring 67 tracks from over 70 artists across the global ska, reggae, and punk scenes. Like previous Specialized compilations—tributes to The Specials, The Beat, Madness, and The Clash, this one was created to raise funds for the Teenage Cancer Trust and the National Foundation for Youth Music, blending heartfelt homage with grassroots activism.

The set is anything but predictable. While some covers stick close to Marley’s original arrangements, others veer into bold reinterpretations. The Skatalites team up with Doreen Shaffer for a warm, rootsy take on “Nice Time,” while One Love Orchestra reimagines “Jamming” with orchestral flair. Rude Boy George injects “Iron Lion Zion” with ska-punk energy, and Annabella Lwin (of Bow Wow Wow) delivers a bright, pop-inflected “Cheer Up.” Even the closing track surprises: a rousing version of “Three Little Birds” by the Pelenna Valley Male Voice Choir.

The lineup is stacked with cult favorites and scene veterans, King Hammond, Black Symbol, The Silencerz, and The Spammed (featuring Neil Innes, Horace Panter, Rat Scabies, and Kevin Eldon) all contribute standout tracks. The project’s spirit is collaborative and celebratory, with artists from Jamaica, Europe, the US, and the UK lending their voices to Marley’s legacy.

With its mix of reverence and reinvention, One Heart doesn’t just honor Marley, it extends his message of unity and resistance into new sonic territory. For collectors, it’s a treasure trove; for fans, a reminder that Marley’s music still pulses through countless genres and generations. (B)

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Track lists

CD1

01 Ozskas - Rude Boy 3:39

02 King Hammond - Kinky Reggae 3:18

03 Pat Powell - One Love/People Get Ready 3:49

04 Skatalites & Doreen Shaffer - Nice Time 2:56

05 Sa Ratapignata - Satisfy My Soul 5:06

06 Spahni's Dub Dancers - Soul Shakedown Party 6:01

07 Black Symbol - Get Up Stand Up 4:32

08 One Love Orchestra - Jamming 4:33

09 Silencerz (feat. Lee Thompson) - Lively Up Yourself 3:39

10 Bim Skala Bim - Bim Skala Bim 3:37

11 Pressure Tenants - Judge Not 2:31

12 Charlie Organaire With Akasha - One Cup of Coffee 2:37

13 Steel City Rhythm (feat. The Bobby Pins) - Could You Be Loved 4:22

14 Pannonia Allstars Ska Orchestra - Small Axe 3:45

15 Annabella Lwin - Cheer Up 3:04

16 Jean McLean - Waiting in Vain 5:12

CD2

01 Rude Boy George - Iron Lion Zion 3:10

02 The Pilfers (feat.The Doped Up Dollies) - Zimbabwe 4:24

03 Joycelyn & The Dots - War 4:44

04 Greg Coulson - Love and Affection 3:01

05 The Spammed - I Shot The Sheriff 3:14

06 Glyn Willcox - Them Belly Full 4:08

07 Swagga - Buffalo Soldier 3:54

08 The Rough Kutz - Punky Reggae Party 5:32

09 Levi - Caution 3:34

10 The Funaddicts - Lively Up Yourself 4:02

11 The Almighty Uprisers - Real Situation 3:05

12 The Special Brew - Sun is Shining 3:56

13 Big Fat Panda - Cornerstone 3:11

14 The Crombies - Hooligans 2:31

15 The Hacklers - Stop The Train 4:09

16 The Riveria Rockers - Jah Love 3:43

17 Choir Vibe & The Reggaskas - No Woman No Cry 6:00

CD3

01 Button Up - Turn Your Lights Down Low 3:27

02 Ruta Traveling - Three Little Birds 2:52

03 Black Slate - Redemption Song 4:08

04 Skapones - Midnight Ravers 4:32

05 Picareas Reggae - One Drop 3:29

06 Splitters - Put it On 5:01

07 Dubclass - Rebel Music 6:57

08 Lionstar - Wake Up & Live 5:04

09 Millie Manders & The Shutup - I'm Hurting Inside 3:37

10 Urang Matang - Who The Cap Fit 3:56

11 Uplifters - Pour Down Your Sunshine 3:29

12 Steve Thompson - The Heathen 3:26

13 Bluebird Parade - Natural Mystic 5:58

14 Activators - Rat Race 4:45

15 AG Lyons - Exodus 4:17

16 Third Beat Drop - Coming in From The Cold 6:26

17 Long John Sliver - Chances Are 3:43

CD4

01 Uptown Ska Collective - Simmerdown 2:30

02 Duppy Conquerors - Ride Natty Ride 5:07

03 Calypso Joe, Lord Dango & Yeyo Montana - Stir it Up 4:55

04 Millmen - Trenchtown Rock 4:05

05 Equators - Pimpers Paradise 4:25

06 Erin Bardwell Collective - Soul Rebel 4:48

07 Donette Forte Urban Lions - Want More 5:00

08 Ten Bob Notes - Forever Loving Jah 5:30

09 Tinkerman - Is This Love 4:10

10 Wolf Bites Boy - Running Away 3:18

11 Feckin Ejits - Johnny Was 4:23

12 Skalinskis - Fussing and Fighting 3:49

13 Great Escape - Do You Feel The Same Way 3:59

14 Billy Brown & Carl Dawson - Guiltiness 5:50

15 Auburn - No More Trouble 3:18

16 Pelenna Valley Male Voice Choir - Three Little Birds (Choral Reprise) 2:38

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Music weaves itself into the fabric of our emotions, dances through the corridors of memory, and whispers to the soul of who we are. Sharing these stories deepens the connection, turning the experience into something timeless and profound.

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