''Legalize It'' is the debut studio album by Jamaican singer-songwriter and former Wailer

Peter Tosh Winston Hubert McIntosh, OM (19 October 1944 – 11 September 1987), professionally known as Peter Tosh, was a Jamaican reggae musician. Along with Bob Marley and Bunny Wailer, he was one of the core members of the band the Wailers (1963� ...

, released in June 1976. It was recorded at

Treasure Isle Arthur "Duke" Reid CD (21 July 1915 – 1 January 1975) was a Jamaican record producer, DJ and label owner. He ran one of the most popular sound systems of the 1950s called Reid's Sound System, whilst Duke himself was known as The Troja ...

and Randy's, Kingston. ''Legalize It'' is one of the two solo albums released in 1976 by Wailers members, along with

Bunny Wailer Neville O'Riley Livingston (10 April 1947 – 2 March 2021), known professionally as Bunny Wailer, was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and percussionist. He was an original member of reggae group The Wailers along with Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. ...

's album ''

Blackheart Man ''Blackheart Man'' is the debut album by Bunny Wailer, originally released on 8 September 1976, in Jamaica on Solomonic Records and internationally on Island Records. Overview The songs on the album are regarded as the finest written by Bunny Wa ...

''.

Bob Marley Robert Nesta Marley (6 February 1945 – 11 May 1981; baptised in 1980 as Berhane Selassie) was a Jamaican singer, musician, and songwriter. Considered one of the pioneers of reggae, his musical career was marked by fusing elements o ...

and his new Wailers also released ''

Rastaman Vibration ''Rastaman Vibration'' is the eighth studio album by the reggae band Bob Marley and the Wailers, released in April 1976. Critical reception Reviewing for ''Rolling Stone'' in 1976, Robert Palmer said that on the album Marley consummately perfo ...

''. The song was written in response to his ongoing

victimization Victimisation ( or victimization) is the process of being victimised or becoming a victim. The field that studies the process, rates, incidence, effects, and prevalence of victimisation is called victimology. Peer victimisation Peer victimisati ...

by the Jamaican police and as a political piece pushing for the legalization of

cannabis ''Cannabis'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cannabaceae. The number of species within the genus is disputed. Three species may be recognized: ''Cannabis sativa'', '' C. indica'', and '' C. ruderalis''. Alternatively ...

, particularly for medical use. In 1977, Tosh backed this up by saying "We are the victims of Rasclot circumstances. Victimization,

colonialism Colonialism is a practice or policy of control by one people or power over other people or areas, often by establishing colonies and generally with the aim of economic dominance. In the process of colonisation, colonisers may impose their relig ...

, gonna lead to bloodbath". Tosh also said "Herb will become like cigarettes", in an ''

NME ''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming, and culture website and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a 'rock inkie', the NME would become a magazine that ended up as a f ...

'' interview in 1978.

Reception

The title track was banned when released in Jamaica in 1975. Attempts to suppress the song failed, however, catapulting Tosh to international fame. 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 The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...

for over one million copies sold. Reviewing in '' Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies'' (1981),

Robert Christgau Robert Thomas Christgau ( ; born April 18, 1942) is an American music journalist and essayist. Among the most well-known and influential music critics, he began his career in the late 1960s as one of the earliest professional rock critics and ...

wrote: "Unlike most sidemen who go on to pursue their own artistic interests, ex-Wailer Tosh has managed to gather about half an album for his solo debut, which ain't bad. 'Ketchy Shuby' even has the makings of a novelty hit. But oh, how his light heart and romantic spirit are missed among his old mates." The album was included in the 2005 book ''

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die ''1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die'' is a musical reference book first published in 2005 by Universe Publishing. Part of the ''1001 Before You Die'' series, it compiles writings and information on albums chosen by a panel of music critics ...

''.

Track listing

All tracks composed by Peter Tosh; except where indicated # "Legalize It" – 4:35 # "Burial" (Tosh,

Bunny Livingston Neville O'Riley Livingston (10 April 1947 – 2 March 2021), known professionally as Bunny Wailer, was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and percussionist. He was an original member of reggae group The Wailers along with Bob Marley and Peter Tosh ...

) – 3:54 # "What'cha Gonna Do?" – 2:25 # " No Sympathy" – 4:35 # "Why Must I Cry" (Tosh,

) – 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

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

– guitar, keyboards, vocals * Al Anderson – guitar *

Aston Barrett Aston is an area of inner Birmingham, England. Located immediately to the north-east of Central Birmingham, Aston constitutes a ward within the metropolitan authority. It is approximately 1.5 miles from Birmingham City Centre. History Aston wa ...

Robbie Shakespeare Robert Warren Dale Shakespeare (27 September 1953 – 8 December 2021) was a Jamaican bass guitarist and record producer, best known as half of the reggae rhythm section and production duo Sly and Robbie, with drummer Sly Dunbar. Regarded as ...

– bass guitar *

Carlton "Santa" Davis Carlton "Santa" Davis (born 21 November 1953) is a musician from Jamaica, primarily known for his drumming with bands such as Bob Marley & The Wailers, The Aggrovators, Soul Syndicate and Roots Radics. He has worked with reggae artists such as ...

Carlton Barrett Carlton "Carly" Barrett (17 December 1950 – 17 April 1987) was a Jamaican musician best known for being the long-time drummer for Bob Marley & The Wailers. Recognized for his innovative style, which featured a highly syncopated, broken tripl ...

– drums * Tyrone "Organ D" Downie – keyboards *

Donald Kinsey Donald Kinsey (born May 12, 1953 in Gary, Indiana, United States) is an American guitarist and singer, best known as a member of the Word Sound and Power Band, the reggae backing group for Peter Tosh. Kinsey is one of three sons of the late ...

– guitar *Robbie "Ras" Lee – harmonica *

Rita Marley Rita may refer to: People * Rita (given name) * Rita (Indian singer) (born 1984) * Rita (Israeli singer) (born 1962) * Rita (Japanese singer) * Eliza Humphreys (1850–1938), wrote under the pseudonym Rita Places * Djarrit, also known as Rita, a ...

– background vocals *

Judy Mowatt Judith Veronica Mowatt, (born 1952) is a Jamaican reggae artist. As well as being a solo artist, from 1974 she was also a member of the I Threes, the trio of backing vocalists for Bob Marley & The Wailers. Early life Mowatt was born in Gord ...

- background vocals *

– background vocals

Charts

References

External links

''Legalize It''
(

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) at

Radio3Net Radio 3 net is the former ''Radio România Tineret'' (or Radio 3). More than 20,000 albums are stored on Radio 3 net. A few of the prominent features available on the website are "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die ''1001 Albums You Mus ...

(streamed copy where licensed) {{Authority control Peter Tosh albums 1976 debut albums Virgin Records albums Cannabis music Songs about cannabis 1976 in cannabis Columbia Records albums Reggae albums by Jamaican artists Jamaican works about cannabis