Legalize It

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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.

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. In 1977, Tosh backed this up by saying 'We are the victims of Rasclot circumstances. Victimization, colonialism, gonna lead to bloodbath'. Tosh also said 'Herb will become like cigarettes', in an NME interview in 1978.

Reception

The song was banned when released in Jamaica in 1975. Attempts to suppress the song failed, however, catapulting Tosh to international fame.

Track listing

All tracks composed by Peter Tosh; except where indicated

1. "Legalize It" - 4:35
2. "Burial" (Tosh, Bunny Livingston) - 3:54
3. "What'cha Gonna Do?" - 2:25
4. "No Sympathy" - 4:35
5. "Why Must I Cry" (Tosh, Bob Marley) - 3:08
6. "Igziabeher (Let Jah Be Praised)" - 4:37
7. "Ketchy Shuby" - 4:53
8. "Till Your Well Runs Dry" (Tosh, Livingston) - 6:09
9. "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

1. Legalize It
2. Burial
3. What’cha Gonna Do
4. No Sympathy
5. Why Must I Cry
6. Igziabeher (Let Jah Be Praised)
7. Ketchy Shuby
8. Till Your Well Runs Dry
9. Brand New Second Hand
10. Legalize It (Demo)
11. No Sympathy (Demo)
12. Why Must I Cry (Demo)
13. Igziabeher (Let Jah Be Praised) (Demo)
14. Ketchy Shuby (Demo)
15. Till Your Well Runs Dry (Demo)
16. Brand New Second Hand (Demo)

Disc 2: Tosh’s original mix, alternates and dubs

1. Legalize It
2. Burial
3. What’cha Gonna Do
4. No Sympathy
5. Why Must I Cry
6. Igziabeher (Let Jah Be Praised)
7. Ketchy Shuby
8. Till Your Well Runs Dry
9. Brand New Second Hand
10. Legalize It (Alternate Version)
11. Burial (Dub Plate)
12. What’cha Gonna Do (Shajahshoka Dub Plate)
13. Igziabeher) Let Jah Be Praised (Shajahshoka Dub Plate)
14. Second Hand (Shajahshoka Dub Plate)
15. Burial (Dub Plate)
16. 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 dub plates, 1976

Disc 2, Track 13 from The Ultimate Peter Tosh Experience (Shanachie 6802, 2009)

Personnel

• Peter Tosh – guitar, keyboards, vocals

• Al Anderson – guitar

• Robbie Shakespeare – bass

• Sly Dunbar – 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