By 1978, Bob Marley was by far the best-known reggae musician in the world and a major star in the U.K. and Europe as well as his native Jamaica. However, he was still little more than a cult figure in the United States, and by many accounts Marley was eager to attract a larger audience in America, seeing it as a new challenge. Released in 1978, Kaya wasn't necessarily made with American tastes in mind, but it was an album that presented a more accessible version of Bob Marley. Lyrically, the songs avoided the political commentary or Rastafarian philosophizing that was at the forefront of Natty Dread and Rastaman Vibration, and instead emphasized tunes about love and ganga, such as "Easy Skanking" and the title cut. And the palpable musical tension that simmered beneath the surface on the Wailers' earlier material gave way to a more laid-back riddim that was more comfortable but a bit less demanding.

TRACKLIST

1 Easy Skanking 2:58
2 Kaya 3:15
3 Is This Love 3:51
4 Sun Is Shining 4:58
5 Satisfy My Soul 4:30
6 She's Gone 2:25
7 Misty Morning 3:33
8 Crisis 3:54
9 Running Away 4:15
10 Time Will Tell 3:30