Legalize It
Legalize It | ||||
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Studio album by Peter Tosh | ||||
Released | 1976 | |||
Recorded | 1975 | |||
Studio | Treasure Isle and Randy's, Kingston, Jamaica | |||
Genre | Reggae | |||
Length | 39:04 | |||
Label | Virgin, Columbia | |||
Producer | Peter Tosh | |||
Peter Tosh chronology | ||||
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Legalize It is an album and song by Peter Tosh. Legalize It was Tosh's debut album as a solo artist after leaving The Wailers. It was recorded at Treasure Isle and Randy's, Kingston, Jamaica in 1975 and released in Jamaica in the same year.[1]
Legalize It is one of the three solo albums released in 1976 by Wailers members, along with Bunny Wailer's album Blackheart Man and Bob Marley's Rastaman Vibration.
The song was written in response to his ongoing victimization by the Jamaican police and as a political piece pushing for the legalization of cannabis, particularly for medical use.[1] In 1977, Tosh backed this up by saying 'We are the victims of Rasclot circumstances. Victimization, colonialism, gonna lead to bloodbath'.[2] Tosh also said 'Herb will become like cigarettes', in an NME interview in 1978.
Reception
Professional ratings | |
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Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | |
Rolling Stone | (favorable)[4] |
The song was banned when released in Jamaica in 1975. Attempts to suppress the song failed, however, catapulting Tosh to international fame.[1]
"Legalize It"
Legalize It audio sample | |
Problems playing this file? See media help. |
The album was released in the United States in June 1976 and appeared on the Billboard 200 album chart for two weeks, peaking at No. 199. In 1999, the album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America for over one million copies sold.[5]
The album was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.[6]
Track listing
All tracks composed by Peter Tosh; except where indicated
- "Legalize It" - 4:35
- "Burial" (Tosh, Bunny Livingston) - 3:54
- "What'cha Gonna Do?" - 2:25
- "No Sympathy" - 4:35
- "Why Must I Cry" (Tosh, Marley) - 3:08
- "Igziabeher (Let Jah Be Praised)" - 4:37
- "Ketchy Shuby" - 4:53
- "Till Your Well Runs Dry" (Tosh, Livingston) - 6:09
- "Brand New Second Hand" - 4:03
Peter Tosh, Legalize It: Legacy Edition (Columbia/Legacy 88697 76490-2, 2011)
Sony Legacy Edition
A Sony Legacy Edition was released in June 2011. It was produced by Jerry Rappaport and Sam Dion.
Disc 1: Original LP and demos
- "Legalize It"
- "Burial"
- "What'cha Gonna Do"
- "No Sympathy"
- "Why Must I Cry"
- "Igziabeher (Let Jah Be Praised)"
- "Ketchy Shuby"
- "Till Your Well Runs Dry"
- "Brand New Second Hand"
- "Legalize It" (Demo)
- "No Sympathy" (Demo)
- "Why Must I Cry" (Demo)
- "Igziabeher (Let Jah Be Praised)" (Demo)
- "Ketchy Shuby" (Demo)
- "Till Your Well Runs Dry" (Demo)
- "Brand New Second Hand" (Demo)
Disc 2: Tosh's original mix, alternates and dubs
- "Legalize It"
- "Burial"
- "What'cha Gonna Do"
- "No Sympathy"
- "Why Must I Cry"
- "Igziabeher (Let Jah Be Praised)"
- "Ketchy Shuby"
- "Till Your Well Runs Dry"
- "Brand New Second Hand"
- "Legalize It" (Alternate Version)
- "Burial" (Dub Plate)
- "What'cha Gonna Do" (Shajahshoka Dub Plate)
- "Igziabeher (Let Jah Be Praised)" (Shajahshoka Dub Plate)
- "Second Hand" (Shajahshoka Dub Plate)
- "Burial" (Dub Plate)
- "Legalize It" (Dub Plate)
Disc 1, Tracks 1-9 released as original LP - Columbia PC 34253 (U.S.), 1976
Disc 1, Tracks 10-16 and Disc 2, Tracks 1-10 previously unreleased
Disc 2, Tracks 11-12 and 14-16 released on limited edition dubplates, 1976
Disc 2, Track 13 from The Ultimate Peter Tosh Experience (Shanachie 6802, 2009)
Personnel
- Peter Tosh – guitar, keyboards, vocals
- Al Anderson – guitar
- Aston Barrett, Robbie Shakespeare – bass guitar
- Carlton "Santa" Davis, Carlton Barrett – drums
- Tyrone "Organ D" Downie – keyboards
- Donald Kinsey – guitar
- Robbie "Ras" Lee – harmonica
- Rita Marley – background vocals
- Judy Mowatt - background vocals
- Bunny Wailer – background vocals
References
- 1 2 3 Dimery, Robert (2010). 1001 songs you must hear before you die. United Kingdom: Cassell Illustrated. p. 360. ISBN 978-1-84403-736-0.
- ↑ Davis, Stephen (1977). Reggae Bloodlines. ISBN 9780306804960.
- ↑ Legalize It at AllMusic
- ↑ Rolling Stone review
- ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2001). Top Pop Albums. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 888. ISBN 0-89820-147-0.
- ↑ Robert Dimery; Michael Lydon (7 February 2006). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition. Universe. ISBN 0-7893-1371-5.
External links
- Legalize It (Adobe Flash) at Radio3Net (streamed copy where licensed)