Today marks exactly 38 years, legendary Bob Marley died

Exploding out of Jamaica, Marley was soon pumping from the stereos in working-class estates across the nation as his mix of rocksteady, ska, and reggae all blended with Marley’s buttery style, made for an irresistible cocktail. When put alongside his intelligence and soft-spoken words of hope, the singer soon became a cultural icon.

By the time of his death, on this day in 1981, Marley was a phenomenon. The singer, never bowing to commercial pressure or emboldening his own ego, remains a pure figure of anti-establishment which still rings true to this day and has become a part of the singer’s legacy.

While Marley’s image and iconography are as strong today as it was when he was living, it is his songs that remain the brightest beacon of his message. With anthemic tunes like ‘Three Little Birds’, ‘No Woman, No Cry’ the influence they had knows no bounds.

Here we take a look at a small range of the artistes influenced by Marley and the fantastic covers they produced.

10 best Bob Marley covers ever

‘Redemption Song’ – Johnny Cash and Joe Strummer

When The Clash’s Joe Strummer happened to be sharing a studio with Johnny Cash they instantly agreed to cover a song together. The song they chose? The iconic ‘Redepemtion Song’ from Marley’s Uprising.

Rick Rubin, the producer of the moment, remembered: “There was one line I was wary about because it was not good English and I said, ‘Johnny do you want to change this word to say it the way you’d say it?’” Cash looked at Rubin and said: “Bob Marley wrote that. I can’t change that!” and they didn’t.

‘Johnny Was’ – Stiff Little Fingers

If there’s one cover on this list that takes Marley’s vision into a brand new sound it has to be Stiff Little Fingers’ cover of ‘Johnny Was’.

The band turns the track into a chugging juggernaut of a punk song, unrelenting and unyielding the song is an amped-up powerhouse of a cover of Marley’s Rastaman Vibration record and became a mainstay of SLF’s live sets.

‘One Love’ – Damian and Ziggy Marley

Of course, we couldn’t have a list of Bob Marley covers without a nod to his sons, Damina and Ziggy, who delivered a goosebump-inducing performance of ‘One Love’ for the thousands in attendance at Glastonbury Festival in 2007.

If you ever needed a visual representation of what Marley’s message was about, then here it is:

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‘I Shot The Sheriff’ – Screamin’ Jay Hawkins

Step back, Eric Clapton and The Jackson Five, this is the only cover of ‘I Shot The Sheriff’ which comes close to matching the original.

The iconic vocal of Screamin’ Jay Hawkins is sensational and takes the track into a brand new direction. As with any SJH does, the song instantly becomes his own with a couple of howling notes.

‘No Woman, No Cry’ – Nina Simone

Not a full track but an outtake from Nina Simone’s 1993 album Single Woman, sees the dynamic Dr. Simone add a certain golden quality to Marley’s anthemic tune.

Stripped back to its bare bones, Simone takes the song to a new level.

‘Guava Jelly’ – Barbra Streisand

What is almost certainly the most unexpected take on the list is Hollywood icon Barbara Streisand’s version of ‘Guava Jelly’.

The star naturally adds a bit of sheen to this love song that she recorded for her album Butterfly. While the extra polish may put some people off, Streisand’s Broadway power shines over every note of this cover.

‘Is This Love’ – Corinne Bailey Rae

Singer-songwriter Corinne Bailey Rae was, for some time in Britain, the only voice you would hear blasting over the speakers in your local coffee shop.

Smoother than a double espresso, Bailey Rae does some scintillating work on her cover of Marley’s Kaya hit, ‘Is This Love’.

‘No Woman, No Cry’ – Fugees

When the Fugees announced their 1994 Bootleg Versions the band were at the height of their powers and beginning to assert themselves.

The rendition allowed them the chance to cover some songs that would otherwise seem untouchable. Here, the group remixes Marley’s iconic original into something a little more modern.

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‘Three Little Birds’ – Dionne Bromfield

Taking on one of Bob’s cheerier songs is Dionne Bromfield who, apart from being Amy Winehouse’s goddaughter, also has a shining sunset of a vocal tone that feels both energising and nourishing at each note.

Recorded as part of Radio 1’s live lounge, the singer pays ample homage to Marley’s anthem.

‘I Shot The Sheriff’ – Eric Clapton

Eric Clapton may well have been known as a Guitar God but his chart success wouldn’t reflect such high esteem.

In fact, it would take Clapton’s cover of Bob Marley’s ‘I Shot The Sheriff’ to finally hit the top spot in 1974 as part of his smash record,461 Ocean Boulevard.