Search - Peter Tosh :: Best of 1978-1987

Not As Good As "The Toughest"

Matthew Channon | Sandy, Utah USA | 01/29/2005

(2 out of 5 stars)

"If anyone deserves to have a best of CD, its Peter Tosh. He was one of the origanal founders of the legendary Wailers. He was the first artist to be signed under the Rolling Stones label, toured with the band and composed a duet with Mick Jagger. He even taught Bob Marley how to play the guitar. Upon Marley's death Tosh was universally hailed as the new undisputed King of Reggae and retained that title until his brutal murder in 1987.



The fact that his music is not more widley known is a shame and to be held back in the shadow of Bob Marley's prominence was always unfair (and still is). However, in recent years Peter Tosh is finally getting the recognition he deserves and this CD put out by EMI is just one of many "best of" CDs the artist has to his name. EMI is to be commended for giving so much respect to the late reggae star by giving the CD 14 tracks and all of the info in the cover insert (background to Peter Tosh, commentary on songs etc.), but I have some serious issues with this release. First of all, to their credit, they pay homage to Tosh's reflective side by including tracks like "Lessons In My Life" and "Fools Die" which is a first, and other tracks were obvious. Peter Tosh was always the real rebel of the Wailers and this aspect is represented with songs like "Bush Doctor," but they've completely ignored his humorous side (something Bob Marley and Bunny Wailer never had) by excluding tracks like "Reggaemylitis" and "Maga Dog!" Also, I know that Peter Tosh is famous for his on stage performances but three captured live songs on one "greatest hits" CD is, in my opinion, over doing it, even for Tosh. Also missing are crucial tracks like "Coming In Hot" and the infectious "Crystal Ball!" The songs they seem to have chosen in their place have a rather disco influence, are a bit dated and veer away from the traditional reggae sound. Although I enjoy them too, no other songs can be substitutes for these. Even "Lessons..." and "Fools Die" are a bit slow and long. I never thought I would give a Peter Tosh album only two stars, but it could have been so much better.



Instead of this CD I would strongly recommend "The Toughest." The first, and still the best (I think) collection of Peter Tosh hits for Capitol Records. All the tracks I've mentioned are on that set, and the important ones from this one too."

De Bush Doctor's Best

William Scalzo | Niagara Falls, NY | 01/16/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Original Wailers Bunny Wailer and Peter Tosh split from Bob Marley when Island records insisted on putting Marley's name ahead of the Wailers' and having Marley, with his more "transatlantic" voice, sing all the songs. A lot of Bob Marley fans don't know that many of his best-known songs were in fact remakes of the Wailer's earlier Jamaican hits, where the vocalists took turns on vocals. So, for example, just about everybody knows a song like "Get Up, Stand Up" but not as many know it was written and originally sung by Peter Tosh.



Peter Tosh had a resurgence of sorts in the late 70's under the patronage of Mick Jagger, who also duetted with Tosh on the hit "Don't Look Back."



This compilation does a good job of collecting Tosh tracks from that period up to his violent and untimely death. One of this CD's best features is the inclusion of some exciting live material, including the winning "Equal Rights/Downpressor Man." It's easy to see on tracks like this and "Get Up, Stand Up" how Tosh did indeed have a much more "rude-boy" voice than Marley.



A Reggae cover of "Johnny B. Goode" might sound like something UB40 would do, but I was surprised to find it to be one of the strongest songs on the collection. Tosh really makes this song his own.



This CD does occasionally get a bit preachy in an obvious sort of way. Racism is bad, mon. Really, I didn't know that. Tosh's socialist tendencies might not sit well with some people and might be fine for others. In Tosh's view, a song called "The Day the Dollar Die" is a celebration, not a dirge.



This is for the most part a very good collection, and for people who want to hear the "flip-side" of Marley it's a good place to start. My favorite songs are "Bush Doctor," "(You Gotta Walk) Don't Look Back," "Equal Rights/Downpressor Man," "Johnny B. Goode" and "Get Up, Stand Up.""