Legalize It

Here's Peter Tosh calling for the legalization of marijuana in 1976 (in Jamaica). Tosh also said "Herb will become like cigarettes," in an NME interview in 1978. Yet here we are, 46 years later, and cigarettes have become much less common and marijuana is still not culturally acceptable at the level Tosh was pleading for. Five years after this album was released, President Nixon called for a "War on Drugs" as part of the tough-on-crime platform of the Republican Party, and countless lives have been ruined by this war in the years since. In Jamaica, possession of up to 2 oz. of ganja was decriminalized in 2015, and in 2018 the first medical cannabis dispensary opened after medical marijuana was legalized. In the United States, marijuana is legalized in 18 states, 2 territories, and the District of Columbia – but illegal at federal level. Decriminalized in another 13 states and 1 territory. Despite these recent changes, 8.2 million Americans were arrested for marijuana between 2001 and 2010, and 80% of those were for simple possession. On top of that, blacks are 3.73 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana than whites. The numbers improved only slightly from 2010-2020, mostly offset by increases in methamphetamine arrests. Over 40,000 Americans are in prison for marijuana offenses, and millions more have criminal records that impact their quality of life. The War on Drugs is a failure. Legalize It.

I opened the first legal aquaponic cannabis growing facility in Washington State. I ran my business for over 5 years, and then sold it. The profits from that sale bought me and my wife a farm in the county where we raise our now raise our two beautiful girls. I believe that I have lived Tosh's dream. I am so grateful to everyone who came before me and fought for our right to enjoy this plant. Thank you Peter!

Give me 85 degrees, a beach, and a cooler full of beer and this album is a 5.

You smoke weed. I get it.

Legalize It cemented Tosh's position as a giant in reggae, and the album is one of the best albums of the genre.

I'm sorry but all regge sounds the same THIS IS 40 MINUTES OF THE SAME SONG WH

Good to hear reggae albums not featuring Bob Marley for a change, though I do like his stuff. This was consistently great throughout as well which is an extra bonus. Love how there's meaningful messages and really good music to back it..Highly recommended listen.

Was ok. Wouldn't really listen again

Great songs and sounds. Strong start with "Legalize It." "Ketchy Shuby" bumps and "Brand New Second Hand" is a great diss track. The bits of piano really enhance the musical layering. Tosh singing on "Till Your Well Runs Dry" rather than reggae styling is really interesting. Only track I didn't really like was Igziabeher.

Wow. Such a great reggae album. Love the cadence and delivery on the vocals. Incredible instrumentals and backup vocals. Great lyrics and storytelling from the case for legal weed to good vs evil to loyalty and fleeting beauty. Compelling and various composition throughout. Never stale reggae sound. Burial, whatcha gonna do, why must I cry, legalize it.

I'm no big Reggae enjoyer. But some tracks on here i found quite enjoyable! I doubt this will stick for years to come though. Standout tracks: Legalize It, No Sympathy, Igziabeher (Let Jah Be Praised, Ketchy Shuby, 4 out of 10

This was almost exactly what I expected it to be. Bloopy reggae jams that are criminally inoffensive, but generally boring. There is harmonies and stuff I like here, as they remind me of some great 50s and early 60s doo-wop, but otherwise this is stereotypical. Sure, albums like this had to be a thing for this sound to be stereotypical, but that doesn't make it any less so to a modern set of ears.

Love it! Varied song themes, great instrumentation, great vibes. Legalize!

Rating: 9/10 Best songs: Legalize it, Why must I cry, Ketchy shuby, Till your well runs dry

Amazing, lush, melancholy, relaxed

Perfect kick back on the beach album.

An utter joy after 2 Iron Maiden albums. I knew this was his first post-Wailers album - and the important political message behind it (not just about cannabis). Not perfect, but essential listening.

I think I (or my brother) bought this album in the 70s. I remember not being in love with it, possibly I was comparing Peter to the only other reggae guy I knew, Bob. I like it better now, the rootsy feel, the keyboards (clavinet?) and the song-writing is solid - lots of memorable tunes on the side 1. Side 2 not as catchy. Between a 3 and a 4 but since I'm in a good mood...

Good shit, man. I'm not a huge reggae fan, never bought a single album, but I can listen to this all day.

Ketchup Shuby was my fave

Peter Tosh flexes his musical gift with this solo effort with the backing Wailers. Tosh proves he can function in his own spotlight without Marley and comes away with good vibes and a message.

A very nice and enjoyable album. I liked it.

feels fresh & original after his work with the wailers. fav track: burial

It was fine. Not especially memorable.

Gorgeous and totally without fuss, fully-formed grooves unroll as if they've always existed and are just popping out to stretch their legs. Such is the gift of the magi-musician.

I remember listening to Legalize It back in the day and thinking "This guy actually thinks they will legalize weed. What's he smoking?" 25 years after he died he is smiling in his grave. Tosh also wrote some tunes on The Wailers' albums before he moved on. It seems Bob had a one or two song cap on Tosh tunes per LP similar to the cap John and Paul gave George. There are some good tunes on this one including Burial and No Sympathy in addition to the title track. Till the Well Runs Dry is very clever with the verses and solo done in a blues style and the chorus in a Reggae style. He lays down a good solo in No Sympathy and his guitar work makes this song much better than the version previously released with The Wailers. Around the time this album was released Bob released Exodus. I suppose comparing these two albums validates the two song cap. 

Forgettable

Reggae. No.

I really don't like reggae. I listened to this album and it felt like one long song.

Never been a fan of rastafari music because of its blatant sexism and homophobia. But yeah. Smoke some more weed and claim one love. As long as it's your narrowly defined definition. No thanks

Love my weed. I do not like Raggae. When I smoke weed, I do not like Raggae. When I smoke weed, I like Tosh.0, but not Peter Tosh. That was a hilarious, inappropriate show. I would think most weed lovers would like Tosh.0. Of course, if you're stoned, you probably enjoy a lot things you wouldn't when not stoned. But in my case, not raggae music. All this talk about being stoned makes me want to eat a doughnut. Mmmmm, doughnuts. Especially chocolate covered doughnuts. Anything chocolate. Mmmmm, weed. Great album cover. All I got. 5 for cover 1 for the music 5 for making me think of weed AND chocolate doughnuts

Reggae sux

What a silly Billy, doesn’t he realize that the devils lettuce has been legalized in most states these days

My knowledge of reggae doesnt extend much past Bob Marley's hits, so usually I cant tell bad from good, but I'm pretty sure this is good. Even though my initial impression of the album was mostly "weed, man lol" its a great vibe that explores various subjects, I guess it feels a little darker, but in a good way. Great way to utilize the genre.

The older I get the more Peter Tosh usurps Bob Marley as my favorite reggae artist. This is a delightful collection of songs. I especially enjoyed “Why Must I Cry” this time around

Impeccable timing that my gummy was kicking in as I generated this one.

Кайфовая музыка для летнего настроения даже зимой

I love the calm relaxed vibes from Reggae music. It’s just so easy to listen to and enjoy. I love this album!

Ja man!

Best Peter Tosh album, lots of classic reggae songs, not as good as all the Bob Marly & The Wailers albums in this list, but still: 9/10.

Classic reggae. Really good.

Dope

Astonishingly rich. Praise Jah for this being so “Ketchy Shuby” – and not just tonight but for 40+ years now. Not sure this is positive medical advice (def not good for asthma; for tuberculosis and thrombosis perhaps). Every cut works and offers charm or sharpness or depth or all three. A marvel and immensely enjoyable and happy-making besides.

Äntligen ett reggaealbum. Riktigt bra dessutom. Det var även lite skillnad till annan reggae enligt mig dessutom. Mer soul och blues inflytande definitivt. Unik och passande röst och schyssta instrumentalister. Även om jag håller med om vad han sjunger om så är det inte texten som intresserar mig, utan musiken. Som trummis så har reggae gett stort inflytande på mig och därför tycker jag att det är svårt att göra ett dåligt reggaealbum, om man är bra musiker det vill säga. Samma som med disco så låter nästan allt ganska lika men det gör inget enligt mig. Alla låtar på denna var bra så jag kan inte ge den något annat än en femma.

Vibes

Despite being a big fan of this era of reggae, the wailers, and bob marley, this album still exceeded my expectations this was great. There's a quality to tosh's voice that feels unique amongst the various powerful voices of early reggae and ska and makes a lot of these songs feel closer to the american soul music of the day than a lot of other acts. His vocals are tender and sweet yet he will absolutely command your attention when he needs to in a way that makes this album's blend of politics, love, and heartbreak gel so perfectly with his performance that this album flows effortlessly. Doesn't hurt that the sweet little guitar parts all over the record also sound absolutely heavenly

A classic I've heard hundreds of times. Outstanding reggae.

Yeah mon

Fun

I absolutely love Bob Marley, so it’s great to be introduced to other members of The Wailers. I’m gonna be expanding my repertoire of reggae now. The beach playlist is getting better! And yeah, I think we should legalize it, too. And free every person in prison who has been preyed upon.

Legendary

Jah

Jah-Man! Excellent Album!

A really great find and I did not expect to enjoy this album or be able to differentiate it from other reggae albums I have heard. This is an excellent album and I love hearing Tosh do reggae songs that are not all political. I have always enjoyed Bob Marley's music and I find this album to be on-par with Marley's best work.

Love it

Extremely enjoyable reggae outing

This is Quintessential Reggae, outside of Marley of course. But a fellow Wailer is still a vital part of the music.

🕴

I just love reggae. He’s the man!

Le ga liiiiiiiize iiiiiit yeeaaah. Yeaaaah.

🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲

Pure chill reggae. Him and Robert (Marley) were the GOATs !

You're only acting like You are somebody But I don't no say You know nobody You're only a show off Your painted face, yeah But underneath that face Your just a disgrace Amazing album, I agree that this is one that everyone should hear. 5/5

very cool

Sorry I missed this. Fucking legendary album. Even the goats love it.

LEGALIZE!

9/10 good vibes, love reggae the mixing on some of these songs were a bit weird but idc, still sounds great

Don't be fooled by the simple and clear message (agreeing or not) at the beginning and in the album's title. There's a lot going on and to me this album just gets better the longer it runs. Especially Tosh's feeling for melody and the guitar play makes this a great listen.

I think it's the first reggae album I bought. Love the riddims.

Trying my best not to give everything five stars . Aw well

Muito bom!

5, based album

legalizeeeeeee it

I don't smoke pot. This album made me want to smoke pot. Decent variety of songs, even if it's all based on the same reggae beat. At least each song has its own character and every song oozes cool. Good stuff. [lights one up]. Favorite tracks: What'cha Gonna Do, Igziabeher.

Storming album with a great message. Can’t go wrong with Peter Tosh!

4.5

Maybe my favourite reggae album ever. More varied and more interesting instrumentation than what I am used to. Enjoyed this one. 4.5 stars

Never hear this album before. I have heard the title track, which honestly never did a lot for me, but I'm glad I checked this out because it's a really solid rootsy reggae album. Not as great as my favorite Bob Marley albums, but still plenty enjoyable. 4 stars.

Pete Tosh comes out from the shadow of the Wailer's with a great reggae and rocksteady album which, while masterfully produced is let down by fairly generic vocals. The album starts with the title track, the questionable medical advice in the lyrics play a back seat to dub mixing and psychedelic phaser effects on the backing vocals. I never realised the links between dub, Burial and General Levy revealed in the second track. Watcha Gonna Do feels a bit lame with the corny organ drowning out some good guitar skank. Wailer's classic No Sympathy gets back on track with a heavy hook and lyrics. Why Must I Cry opens with a soul break and heartbreak, again the synths feel a bit out of place but at least sit in the back of the mix this time. The proselytising on Igziabeher falls flat but there are some great piano vamps at the end. Ketchy Shuby is a nice little rocksteady number but isn't going to blow minds. Till Your Well Runs Dry constantly shifts between a ballad about an on again off again relationship and a reggae skank chorus. Brand New Second Hand closes out the album with more dub mixing. The return of the synths in this song doesn't grate as much as the others. Beautifully arranged with a complex roster of studio musicians, the album demonstrates Tosh's natural musicality. The mixing is bass forward as it should be. Sets the scene for Tosh's brilliant solo career.

enjoyed it

Raggae is either dogshit or really really good and there's no in-between. This album is od the latter. It's definitely an album you have to be in the mood for, and the touches on weed culture and smoking do get jading, but there's just so much quality on this album it's fantastic. My highlights are definitely: Brand New Second Hand Till Your Well Runs Dry WHY MUSTI CRY No Sympathy It's just shy of a 5 for me, as there's a few songs I don't gel with that well (Legalize it being the most apparent), and it doesn't necessarily /stand out/ on top of already existing raggae music. Solid album and one I'll definitely be coming back to in the future.

No absolute stand out tracks but no filler either. Heavy beat but relaxed too, this is high quality reggae

Oh man, I forgot how much I like Peter Tosh, and I don't even get high any more. I'm going to knock off work early and have a beer and listen to reggae all afternoon. Irie. Four stars.

Feel good

Had a blast honestly

I remember buying this in the Vancouver HMV in high school because of the weed. Legalize it turned out to be one of the worst songs on the whole thing. Then Burial hits you and it becomes so layered and interesting. Love this album.

perfect at 4:20 afternoon

This is more than „just a reggae album“ imo. While it starts with the title track which is a typical and also pretty famous reggae track, it offers more than that with the other songs and creates a great atmosphere. I also like the chilled guitar parts.

Well he got his wish! The rest of the album was pleasant and I had no issues with it, maybe it would grow on me with time but it was somewhat forgettable.

Although this is not my favourite Peter Tosh album, it is my favourite period of reggae - No Sympathy is a great song

hell ye

It’s fucking Tosh, man. He was so far ahead of his time. This is better on headphones. Quality reggae, sensitive lyrics, gentle vocals. It’s like sharing a spliff with an old friend. Let Jah be praised. 4/5

Enjoyed listening to this, something very different for me, while sewing up a jacket :) interesting to hear some of the darker notes of reggae!

4/5. Great production to start out with, heavy on the bass and has a dark tone throughout while still having positive lyrics in some songs. Plus the musical tones and vocal flows are definitely reggae but has influence from classical music as well some rock. Just a series of great songs, maybe one or two I can skip but overall, an amazing album. Peter was clearly the musician, even if Marley was more well-known. And the directness in his message is a nice change of pace for reggae music which has always been political, even if it shouldn't have to be. Best Song: Legalize It, No Sympathy, Igziabeher

4.0

Chill

Sunny chilled reggae goodness - to put a smile on your face and a song in your heart

As others have said, with a cooler of beer on a beach in the Caribbean, easily a 5. Overall though, it’s a 3. Averaging those out, it’s a 4

🥬

Classic