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

Peter Tosh Winston Hubert McIntosh (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 Bob Marley and the Wa ...

, 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 record 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 Tr ...

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''.

Bob Marley Robert Nesta Marley (6 February 1945 – 11 May 1981) was a Jamaican singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Considered one of the pioneers of reggae, he fused elements of reggae, ska and rocksteady and was renowned for his distinctive voca ...

and his new Wailers also released '' Rastaman Vibration''. The song was written in response to his ongoing

victimization Victimisation ( or victimization) is the state or 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 ...

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

legalization Legalization is the process of removing a law, legal prohibition against something which is currently not legal. Legalization is a process often applied to what are regarded, by those working towards legalization, as victimless crimes, of which ...

cannabis ''Cannabis'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cannabaceae that is widely accepted as being indigenous to and originating from the continent of Asia. However, the number of species is disputed, with as many as three species be ...

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

colonialism Colonialism is the control of another territory, natural resources and people by a foreign group. Colonizers control the political and tribal power of the colonised territory. While frequently an Imperialism, imperialist project, colonialism c ...

, 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, bimonthly magazine, and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a "Rock music, rock inkie", the ''NME'' would be ...

'' 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 influential music critics, he began his career in the late 1960s as one of the earliest professional rock critics and later became a ...

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''.

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,

) – 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, Robbie Shakespeare – bass guitar * Carlton "Santa" Davis,

Carlton Barrett Carlton 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 triplet patt ...

– drums * Tyrone "Organ D" Downie – keyboards * Donald Kinsey – guitar *Robbie "Ras" Lee – harmonica *

Rita Marley Alfarita Constantia "Rita" Marley OJ OD ( Anderson; born 25 July 1946) is a Jamaican reggae singer. She is the widow of reggae musician Bob Marley. Along with Marcia Griffiths and Judy Mowatt, Rita was a member of the reggae vocal group the ...

– 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 Gordo ...

– 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. It is a radio station for young people, currently broadcasting as an online-only radio station. A few of the prominent features ...

(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