First there was Blues & Soul, later there was Black Echoes, between the two came Black Music and with it some of the finest and consistent Reggae journalism of the early 1970's courtesy of one man, Carl Gayle.

From its first issue in December 1973 the monthly Black Music, though dominated by coverage of Soul music in all it's forms, became the first UK magazine to take more than a token interest in Reggae Music. Here we present, in all their glory, the front covers of the magazine that featured Reggae artists between December 1973 and the end of 1976, plus a few from '79 and the early 80's.

December 1973. Not a Reggae artist on the cover but the very first issue.

February 1974. Reggae Special with Dandy Livinstone on the cover.

July 1974. Bob Marley on the cover.

September 1975. A Wailers special and Bob Marley again.

February 1976. "In The Land Of Reggae" and a dodgy collage.

June 1976. More Bob Marley...

September 1976. Peter Tosh.

October 1976. Bunny Wailer.

January 1979. Third World.

June 1979. Wailing Souls.

September 1979. Don Letts.

October 1979. The Rass-es.

April 1980. Linton Kwesi Johnson.

June 1980. The Rass-es.

May 1983. Bob Marley.