“The Best of Johnny Nash” Re-Enters Billboard Reggae Albums Chart as Marley, Shaggy, and Sean Paul Hold Strong

Legendary soul-reggae crooner Johnny Nash has made a triumphant return to the Billboard Reggae Albums chart this week, as The Best of Johnny Nash re-enters the Top 10 at No. 10. The collection, featuring timeless classics like “I Can See Clearly Now” and “Stir It Up,” reached a previous peak position of No. 5 and now returns for its third week on the tally.

Johnny Nash, who passed away at age 80, began his music career as a teen singing on local radio and achieved his first national hit at 17 with “A Very Special Love” in 1957. Initially known for soft pop ballads, he collaborated with teen idols like Paul Anka but saw his popularity fade during the Motown and British Invasion eras. Adapting to the changing industry, Nash co-founded JoDa Records and moved to Jamaica in the mid-1960s, where he worked closely with local artists and explored the island’s affordable recording scene.

Though Nash’s move helped connect American and Jamaican music, widespread success for Jamaican artists on U.S. charts came later. While non-Jamaican acts like Eric Clapton, Blondie, and UB40 scored reggae-inspired hits, true chart-topping recognition for Jamaican musicians only arrived in the 1990s with artists such as Maxi Priest and Ini Kamoze, paving the way for global stars like Shaggy and Sean Paul in the 2000s.

THE TOP OF THE CHARTS: MARLEY, SHAGGY, AND SEAN PAUL REMAIN UNSTOPPABLE

Holding steady at No. 1 for yet another week is Legend: The Best of Bob Marley and The Wailers, the definitive reggae anthology that has spent an incredible 305 weeks on the chart.

At No. 2, Best of Shaggy: The Boombastic Collection maintains its strong position after 335 weeks, while Sean Paul’s classic Dutty Rock continues to dominate at No. 3 with 288 weeks logged.

STICK FIGURE’S DOMINANCE CONTINUES

Modern reggae powerhouse Stick Figure continues its remarkable streak, occupying three spots in the Top 10.

• World on Fire sits at No. 4 (peak: 1; 323 weeks),
• Wisdom holds No. 6 (peak: 1; 164 weeks), and
• Set in Stone remains at No. 7 (peak: 1; 382 weeks).

The California band’s long-term chart success highlights the ongoing strength of the U.S. reggae scene and its loyal grassroots fanbase.

UB40, MARLEY, AND DAMIAN ‘JR. GONG’ MARLEY HOLD THE MIDDLE GROUND

British reggae veterans UB40 remain a fixture with Greatest Hits at No. 5, where it has spent an impressive 364 weeks.

Further down, Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley’s Grammy-winning Welcome to Jamrock stays steady at No. 8, notching 180 weeks on the chart, while Bob Marley & The Wailers’ Exodus continues its classic run at No. 9, celebrating 110 weeks in total.