- Peter Tosh (aka Winston Hubert McIntosh) (RIP 1987) -

  vocals, guitar, keyboards

- The Wailers

Genre: reggae

Rating: **** (4 stars)

Title:  Legalize It

Company: Columbia

Catalog: PC 34253

Year: 1976

Country/State: Jamaica

Grade (cover/record): VG / VG

Comments: --

Available: 2

GEMM catalog ID: 4422

Price: $10.00

Unlike Bob Marley and to a lesser degree Bunny Livingston (aka Bunny Wailer), Peter Tosh never attracted a great deal of attention as a member of The Wailers.  That anonymous lifestyle came to an abrupt change with his decision to leave the group and strike out in pursuit of solo success.  One of the first reggae acts signed by a major US record label (in this case Columbia with a push from The Rolling Stones), 1976's "Legalize It" was easily one of the year's best albums. Overlooking the subtle pro-marijuana title track which was instantly banned by Jamaican radio stations (yes, in case you missed the point, the cover photo showed our man sitting in the middle of a wild field of pot), this was simply a great album.  In addition to producing the album, collection showcased Tosh's writing credentials.  A mesmerizing mix of ballads and up tempo numbers, unlike Livingston and Marley, Tosh had the sense to go light on the political and social rhetoric.  While Tosh didn't exactly abandon his personal beliefs ('No Sympathy' and 'Igziabeher (Let Jah Be Praised)'), he managed to  balance them with surprising humor ('Ketchy, Shuby' which had previously been released as a Jamaican single) and some wonderful music ('Burial' and the standout effort - the ballad 'Why Must I Cry').  Support from Bunny Wailer, the Wailers backing band (guitarist Anston "Family Man" Barrett, drummer Carlton Barrett and Robbie Shakespeare), along with I-Three members Rita Marley and Judy Mowatt certainly didn't hurt.  

Trying to generate a comprehensive Tosh discography would be a nightmare for anyone.  That said, I'm aware of the following local singles:

- 1976's 'Burial' b/w 'Version' (Intel-Diplo catalog number n/a)

- 1976's 'Ketchy Shuby' b/w 'Iration) (Intel-Diplo catalog number 45 7)

- 1976's 'Legalize It' b/w 'Still Grow Mi Locks' (Intel-Diplo catalog number )

- 197? 'Burial' b/w Version'' (Jah Life Time catalog number n/a)

"Legalize It" track listing:

(side 1)

1.) Legalize It  (Peter Tosh) - 4:35

2.) Burial  (Peter Tosh- Bunny Livingston) - 3:45

3.) What'cha Gonna Do?  (Peter Tosh) - 2:25

4.) No Sympathy  (Peter Tosh) - 4:35

5.) Why Must I Cry  (Bob Marley - Peter Tosh) - 3:08

(side 2)

1.) Igziabeher (Let Jah Be Praised)  (Peter Tosh) - 4:37

2.) Ketchy, Shuby  (Peter Tosh) - 4:53

3.) Till Your Well Runs Dry  (Bunny Livingston - Peter Tosh) - 6:09

4.) Brand New Second Hand  (Peter Tosh) - 4:03

And thanks to YouTube you can see a couple of live performances of material from the LP:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HcXcYlF3_0

'Legalizae It'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmKh3BqIl-s

'Burial' pulled from an appearance at the 1979 Montreaux Jazz Festival

Genre: reggae

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Bush Doctor

Company: Rolling Stone

Catalog: COC 39109

Year: 1978

Country/State: Jamaica

Grade (cover/record): VG/VG

Comments: original inner sleeve

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 4423

Price: $10.00

Already signed to Columbia, 1978 found Tosh signing with the Rolling Stones' newly formed Rolling Stone label.  The somewhat odd partnership stemmed from an April 1978 appearance Tosh made at the Jamaican Live at the One Love Peace Concert.  Mick Jagger was in attendance and was apparently knocked out by Tosh's militant performance and anti-government between the song rants. 

To my ears 1977's "Equal Rights" was a bit on the heavy side, which makes 1978's "Bush Doctor" (Tosh's favorite nickname for himself), all the more enjoyable.  Co-produced by Tosh and Robert 'Robbie' Shakespeare and backed by the an all-star cast of players, including Mikey Chung, Sly Dunbar and Donald Kinsey, the album offers up a nice mix of commercial and more hardcore-styled reggae.  Highlights among the more commercial realm included Tosh's duet with Mick Jagger ('(You Got To Walk and) Don't Look Back') and the up tempo 'I'm the Toughest'.  for you Stones fanatics, Keith Richards provided guitar on the title track and 'Stand Firm'.  At the other end of the spectrum 'Dem Ha Fe Get a Beaten' (an old Wailers track) and 'Stand Firm' were both pretty cool. Less impressive, the title pro-ganja title track added nothing to the earlier 'Legalize It', while 'Creation' was just a big mess.  The Stones subsequently picked Tosh to open for them on an international tour.

"Bush Doctor" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) (You Got To Walk and) Don't Look Back   (Smokey Robinson - White) - 3:46

2.) Pick Myself Up    (Peter Tosh) - 3:58 

3.) I'm the Toughest    (Peter Tosh) -  3:53

4.) Soon Come   (Bob Marley - Peter Tosh) - 3:59

5.) "Moses" - The Prophets    (Peter Tosh) -  3:38

(side 2)

1.) Bush Doctor    (Peter Tosh) -  4:07

2.) Stand Firm    (Peter Tosh) -  6:12

3.) Dem Ha Fe Get a Beaten    (Peter Tosh) -  4:15

4.) Creation    (Peter Tosh) -  6:27

Genre: reggae

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Mystic Man

Company: Rolling Stone

Catalog: COC 39111

Year: 1979

Country/State: Jamaica

Grade (cover/record): VG/VG

Comments: original inner sleeve

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 4061

Price: $8.00

Genre: reggae

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Wanted Dread & Alive

Company: Rolling Stone

Catalog: SO-17055

Year: 1981

Country/State: Jamaica

Grade (cover/record): VG/VG

Comments: minor end wear; cut lower right corner

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 4840

Price: $9.00

Self-produced (Tosh also arranged and wrote most of the nine tracks), 1981's "Wanted Dread & Alive" marked the end of Tosh's partnership with The Rolling Stones and was his final release for their record company.  Musically the set's best described as being somewhat chaotic.  Exemplified by tracks like 'The Poor Man Feel It', 'Cold Blood' and 'That's What They Will Do' Tosh's standard personal and activist agenda was still in place, but atypically the collection included a couple of light-hearted efforts ('Reggae-Mylites' and the title track) and several out-and-out commercial tracks.  Ever imagine you'd hear Tosh sharing a lead vocal with an American soul star like Gwen Guthrie?  Well, it's here and takes a little getting use to, but 'Nothing But Love' made a dandy single (b/w 'Bumbo Klaat' (Rolling Stone catalog number EMI-8083).  The label also released 'Reggae-Mylites' b/w 'Coming In Hot' as a single (Rolling Stone catalog EMI-8089).

"Wanted Dread & Alive" track listing:

(side 1)

1.) Coming In Hot   (Peter Tosh) - 

2.) Nothing But Love   (Fred Harris - Ella Mitchell) - 

3.) Reggae-Mylites   (Peter Tosh) - 

4.) The Poor Man Feel It   (Peter Tosh) - 

5.) Cold Blood   (Peter Tosh) - 

(side 2)

1.) Wanted Dread & Alive   (Peter Tosh) - 

2.) Rastafari Us   (Peter Tosh) - 

3.) That's What They Will Do   (Peter Tosh) - 

4.) Fools Die   (Peter Tosh) - 

Genre: reggae

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Peter Tosh Captured Live

Company: EMI America

Catalog: ST 17126

Year: 1984

Country/State: Jamaica

Grade (cover/record): VG/VG

Comments: --

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 4493

Price: $8.00

Recorded at L.A.'s The Greek Theater, 1984's "Peter Tosh Captured Live" has it's pleasures.  For one thing, Tosh has seldom sounded as good as on this compilation of hits and better known material.  He's one of the few reggae acts that sounds as good in person as on his studio work.  He's certainly aided by a crack backing band.  Though our copy doesn't provide performance credits, it's Word, Sound and Power, featuring The Kinsey Report guitarist Donald Kinsey, drummer Santa Davis and bassist Fully Fullwood.  The other oddity, the track listing show 'Bush Doctor' as the second song, but it's actually 'Legalize It'.  Guess EMI America wanted to avoid the political heat associated with a pro-marijuana track in the US market.  Anyone know?  There's also an accompanying tape/DVD "Peter Tosh Live".

"Peter Tosh Captured Live" track listing: 
(side 1) 
1.) Coming In Hot   (Peter Tosh) - 

2.) Bush Doctor   (Peter Tosh) - 

3.) African   (Peter Tosh) - 

4.) Get Up, Stand Up   (Peter Tosh - Bob Marley) - 

(side 2)
1.) Johnny B. Goode   (Chuck Berry) - 

2.) Equal Rights/Downpresser Man   (Peter Tosh) - 

3.) Rastafari Is   (Peter Tosh) -