Bob Marley & The Wailers’ “Is This Love” certified 2X platinum in UK

Bob Marley & The Wailers’ classic track “Is This Love” has officially been certified 2X Platinum in the United Kingdom, the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) announced on Friday, August 30.

This prestigious certification signifies that the 1978 hit has sold over 1.2 million units, as tracked by The Official Charts Company.

Originally featured on the group’s Kaya album, “Is This Love” later became the opening track on the legendary compilation Legend: The Best of Bob Marley & The Wailers. The song has remained a fan favorite for decades, celebrated for its infectious melody and romantic lyrics.

Reflecting on the track, Island Records founder Chris Blackwell shared his thoughts in the liner notes for Africa Unite: The Singles Collection. “Is This Love is a great song, and I was always very happy with Kaya, the album it came from,” Blackwell noted. “It had a very summery, carefree feel. When the album came out, several reviewers said he’d gone soft. But Bob was feeling great at that time, and those songs reflected how he was feeling.”

The song’s initial release saw it spend nine weeks on the UK Singles Chart in 1978, where it peaked at No. 9. The music video, filmed at the Keskidee Centre in London, featured a young Naomi Campbell, who later recalled her nerves at meeting Marley. “I remember being really nervous, being brought to this room to meet Bob Marley and I was like ‘I don’t want to meet him, he’s got worms in his hair.’ He was so handsome, he had this presence very much like a lion,” Campbell shared.

Over the years, “Is This Love” has been covered and reinterpreted by numerous artists. Notably, English singer Corinne Bailey Rae’s 2011 rendition won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance. The song’s iconic lyrics have also been sampled in tracks by artists like OutKast, James Blunt, and Toosii.

“Is This Love” has left a lasting impact not only in music but also in film, featuring on the soundtracks of movies such as Just Go With It (2011), In Her Shoes (2005), and 50 First Dates (2004), among others.

This latest accolade places “Is This Love” alongside Marley’s other commercially successful singles in the UK, including “Three Little Birds” (1977) and “Could You Be Loved” (1980), both of which have also surpassed the 1.2 million unit milestone. Marley’s legacy in the UK is further cemented with four other tracks reaching Platinum status— “No Woman, No Cry” (1974), “Jamming” (1977), “One Love” (1977), and “Buffalo Soldier” (1983)—and additional hits like “Stir It Up,” “Waiting In Vain,” and “Redemption Song” achieving Gold certification.