Kaya (Deluxe Edition)

The deluxe edition of Kaya offers up a generous extra 14 tracks on top of the initial 10 on Bob Marley & The Wailers’ 1978 album. Though it was recorded during the same sessions that yielded the songs for their preceding LP, Exodus, Kaya is a noticeably softer-sounding record. Along with the mildly bouncing title track, the slightly dubby “Sun Is Shining” first appeared on the group's 1973 Lee Perry–produced album African Herbsman. But here it’s the opening song, “Easy Skanking,” that sets a mellow mood with slow-burning roots reggae and some soulful backing vocals sung by The I Threes. Throughout Kaya, themes of love, optimism, and spirituality abound. “Is This Love” is easily the most amorous (and catchiest) song; it climbed to No. 9 in the U.K. shortly after its release. Marley had a knack for giving sad songs a silver lining. “She’s Gone” balances breakup lyrics with buoyant melodies, and in “Time Will Tell” he sings “Think you’re in heaven/But you’re living in hell” with a palpable smile in his voice.