Legalize It : Peter Tosh

This is of course one of the most well known reggae albums of all time thanks to the Bob Marley / Peter Tosh connection via the Wailers that has helped leaked the more poignant and sometimes militant vocals of Peter Tosh in to the main stream. The title  track serves not only as an anthem for the cause of ganja decriminalization, but also a love song and testimonial to the benefits of the herb on not only ones body for certain ailments, but for the psyche of the mind as well.  This album was Tosh's first solo experience and you can hear all the built up enthusiasm in his energetic delivery of songs like "Ketchy Shuby / Track 7" and "Brand New Second Hand / Track 9".  My copy of this disc is the CBS Collector's Choice series of classic seventies releases strictly based on the original 1976 LP.  Tosh followed with releasing "Equal Rights" in 1977, the two first solo sets of his career seem to help Tosh find his true direction and message in the reggae world.  "Legalize It" was recorded at Randy's and Treasure Isle in Kingston, JA and features musicians such as Robbie Shakespeare, Carlton & Aston "Familyman" Barrett.

Rhythm Come Forward : Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Aswad,

This is a quick nine track introduction reggae compilation.  It starts with a little bit of old school Bob Marley and moves through some prime vintage Tosh (Stepping Razor & Legalize It).  The two Aswad tracks to follow are pretty good (Track ##5 - Drum & Bass Line) and then you get a little taste of Yellowman and some more contemporary Third World and Jimmy Cliff.  This disc was put out by Sony back in 1990 or CBS-Columbia in 1984 take your pick.  You can get a used copy off of Amazon for 1 Cent plus shipping.  Recorded material range from the very early seventies all the way through 1984.  This is really a decent set of tracks ; the first six songs are very competent selections that anchor this compilation. 

Climb the Ladder : Bob Marley & the Wailers

Climb the Ladder is a decent release, the bulk of the material is old school vocal trio Wailers featuring Bunny and Peter in the lead as well as Bob. This disc has 17 tracks total, but my favorites on this one are: #2 ( I'm Gonna Put It On), #3 (Lonesome Track), and #10 (Sinner Man). You might have some of these tracks on other Bob Marley or Wailers compilations. I actually prefer the JAD released series of discs called "The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers". The sound quality is better on the JAD discs and multiple versions are offered on many of the tracks. Climb the Ladder was released by Heartbeat in 2000. It's a more rocksteady and ska set from the mid-sixties when there was still a large R&B and Soul music influence on the Jamaican scene. This is a strange CD because it's billed as Bob Marley mainly. I just don't feel like this enough time was put in to this CD - it's make-up of commonly used Wailers tunes just makes this disc another lack-luster compilation and you might have the material covered in your collection already. It's worth a listen, just so you know what's out there.

Owner Fe De Yard : Ethiopians

This is a selection that's been in my permanent catalog for over ten years now. Another quality release from the Heartbeat label (1994) and a great compilation of classic roots with great sound quality. The Ethiopians are some of the old school reggae masters who made that transition from the sixties to seventies a legendary time in reggae culture. Clement Dodd and Leonard Dillon recorded these 15 tracks at Studio One and Randy's mostly in the mid-sixties and the seventies. My favorites on this one are: #1 (Owner Fe De Yard), #3 (One Heart), #4 (Bad to Worse), #5 (So You Look Pon It), and #10 (Fire Fire). The Ethiopians have a very gentle vocal delivery that softens these roots tracks. Like most Heartbeat discs, this has a decent booklet that comes with it. It discusses the early influences of church music and the first meetings with Bob, Bunny, and Peter. Also tracks notes on each song and an interview with Leonard Dillon round out the booklet and make this a quality representation of the prime Ethiopians tracks and a glimpse in to their background.

Talking Revolution : Peter Tosh

This is a 2005 2 disc release from Pressure Sounds. Disc 1 has 8 tracks of live concert material from the One Love Peace Concert. Disc 2 is an acoustic set of 11 songs recorded at US radio stations while touring North America. Most people will tell you Disc 2 is far superior but I feal it the other way around. Tracks #2 (Four Hundred Years) and #3 (Stepping Razor) on the Live CD are my personal favorites for this 2 disc release. If Tosh is one of your favorites then no doubt you'll dig this high quality booklet and rare set lists. Really, most of the Peter Tosh I listen to are on the "Legalize It" and "Equal Rights" albums. A few of my favorite singles are "Wanted Dread and Alive" and "Reggae Mylitis". The deep and powerful messages of his earlier work with the Wailers is another great taste of his brilliance and wisdom. The album "Burnin" or the single "You can't Blame the Youth" are two good examples. "Talking Revolution" is a good deal to find used for about $12 or less on CD. For me Peter Tosh usually isn't something I have in regular rotation, but instead it's music I find myself craving for the specific messages and the energy it gives out.

Rockers Soundtrack : Various Artists

If you've never seen the movie Rockers you're missing the best Reggae film ever made. It's a Jamaican Robin Hood with every scene packed full of short performances by all of our favorite Reggae stars of the seventies. It's a brief look inside the daily life of Jamaican musicians, thick with Jamaican patois and messages of unity and brotherhood. But enough about the film, I would like to give a brief review of the soundtrack. This soundtrack is one of the better compilations you can buy for seventies reggae. This is a great selection of roots from such legends as: Bunny Wailer, Burning Spear, Gregory Isaacs, the Heptones, Jacob Miller, the Maytones, and more. This disc has 14 tracks total and my favorites on this one are : #2 (Money Worries), #7 (Fade Away), and #8 (Rockers). The movie was released in 1979, but the material on the soundtrack could be from about'76-'79. Chris Blackwell was the main man behind this project and you can find this soundtrack released by both the Island and Mango labels. Just a quick note ; the DVD copy of this movie has extra soundtrack songs and versions in the bonus materials/extras section of the menu. If you haven't experienced Rockers yet, I would urge you to watch the movie first and then check down the CD soundtrack as a supplement to the vibe of this fun and energetic movie.

Reggae Sunsplash 2 - DVD -

This is a DVD "Video" from Columbia and features stage performances from: Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Burning Spear, and Third World. All of the concert footage was taken in 1979, Montego Bay, Jamaica. You're basically watching a VHS recorded on to a DVD. It's almost two hours long and the little interviews and street shots of everyday life in Jamaica keep the show moving. There are some great interviews explaining Rastafari and the Reggae movement of the time. The short interview with Burning Spear is great and his performance of "Call on You" is the musical highlight for me. There's also a nice scene of two ganjamen sitting pon the hillside of plants and talking of the situation of the people and the love of Ganja. Kind of old school, but a good DVD to watch with some of our favorite roots artists. My copy has some Japanese writing on it and the interviews have Japanese subtitles, but the credits for the production staff seem to be German names. All of the Interviews and narration are in English.

Dreader Dread : Johnny Clarke

This CD was a Blood & Fire release from 1998 and to me this is the best representation of Johnny Clarke's work through the 1970's. It's a compilation of songs from 1976-1978 and filled with the conscious roots message of the 70's. My favorite tracks on this disc are: "Every Knee Shall Bow", "Age is Growing", " and "Play Fool Fe Get Wise". You can also find dub tracks and King Tubby mixes of the work on this disc, but with the extended tracks included, this CD is the best bang for your buck. A few covers are also included on this disc. A stripped down version of "Time Will Tell" and "Top Ranking" which is a cover of Peter Tosh's "I'm the Toughest" show how Johnny can put his talents to the work of his friends. This disc is in my Top 20 for sure and it belongs in your collection.