Five incredibly perfect Bob Marley love songs

"Could You Be Loved" (1980)

There was a 7-inch release of this song as the A-side while the next song on this list was the B-side. There was likely no greater 7" ever released than that one. "Could You Be Loved" started innocently, though, as Bob Marley and the Wailers were on a plane trip back to Jamaica and simply trying to get a guitar sound correct. The song is more complex than just a single guitar, however.

In fact, the rhythm part of the track sounds a lot like something Stevie Wonder would have done on his amazing album, Talking Book. The bass thumps and jumps but it all happens below the excellence of the melody and the vocal. That was always one of the keys to great reggae: While some see the music as simple, the fact is that it is far from the truth and, such as on "Could You Be Loved," the bit that makes the genre excel is knowing how to control all the influences of reggae and turning them into unique and great music.

"No Woman, No Cry" (1974)

Human beings have written few songs as perfect as "No Woman, No Cry," and as music, at its best, can be recorded and then augmented in greatness when played live, this track might be one of the best examples of what humans can do musically. The song winds and bends but never loses what is at the heart of its subject: A man loves a woman and wants to take care of her.

This song is so incredible that even if no lyrics were added the track would still be worthy of millions of listens. But the lyrics will remind a person of the best times of their life and while they may never revisit them, the person will know that is OK. The memories are worthy of happiness alone. To be sure, however, the version recorded live at the Lyceum in London in 1975 may be one of the top three live songs ever.

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