Essential Peter Tosh CD

The Peter Tosh entry in Sony's The Essential series of best-ofs is a reasonable selection from Tosh's limited catalog of Columbia Records recordings, which includes only two studio albums, Legalize It (1976) and Equal Rights (1977), plus a belatedly released concert album, Live & Dangerous Boston 1976 (2001). In 1999, Columbia/Legacy released Scrolls of the Prophet: The Best of Peter Tosh, which included material from both the Columbia studio albums and Tosh's subsequent tenure on the Rolling Stones and EMI America labels (1978-1987), making that collection more comprehensive than this one. However, The Essential does contain "Why Must I Cry," an excellent song co-written by Bob Marley that is not found on Scrolls of the Prophet, as well as a live version of the Wailers classic "400 Years" also missing from the earlier disc. ~ William Ruhlmann

The Peter Tosh entry in Sony's The Essential series of best-ofs is a reasonable selection from Tosh's limited catalog of Columbia Records recordings, which includes only two studio albums, Legalize It (1976) and Equal Rights (1977), plus a belatedly released concert album, Live & Dangerous Boston 1976 (2001). In 1999, Columbia/Legacy released Scrolls of the Prophet: The Best of Peter Tosh, which included material from both the Columbia studio albums and Tosh's subsequent tenure on the Rolling Stones and EMI America labels (1978-1987). Since that collection, which is more comprehensive than this one, was selling for the same $11.98 list price at the time that The Essential Peter Tosh: The Columbia Years was released, it was difficult to understand why someone looking for a good, inexpensive collection of Tosh's best major-label recordings wouldn't go for the earlier collection instead. True, the newer album does contain "Why Must I Cry," an excellent song co-written by Bob Marley that is not found on Scrolls of the Prophet, as well as a live version of the Wailers classic "400 Years" also missing from the earlier disc. But Scrolls of the Prophet is still a better album on the whole. ~ William Ruhlmann

Recorded in 1976. Includes liner notes by Liz Reilly.

This is part of the "Essential Collection" series.

Compilation producer: Jerry Rappaport.

Personnel: Peter Tosh (vocals, guitar, keyboards); Donald Kinsey, Al Yasha Anderson, Abdul Wali, Karl Pitterson (guitar); Robbie Shakespeare (harp, background vocals); Ras Lee (harp); Bobby Ellis (trumpet); Harold Butler (Clavinet); Skully (keyboards, percussion); Tyrone Downie, Errol "Tarzan" Nelson (keyboards); Santa Davis, Sly Dunbar, Carlton "Carlie" Barrett (drums); Judy Mowatt, Rita Marley, Bunny Wailer (background vocals).

Audio Mixer: Thom Cadley.

Liner Note Author: Tom Terrell.

Recording information: Aguarius, Kingston, Jamaica (05/1976-12/1976); Dynamic Sound Studio, Kingston, Jamaica (05/1976-12/1976); Joe Gibbs, Kingston, Jamaica (05/1976-12/1976); Randy's Studio 17, Kingston, Jamaica (05/1976-12/1976); Sanders Theatre, Cambridge, MA (05/1976-12/1976); Treasure Isle, Kingston, Jamaica (05/1976-12/1976).

Photographers: Pieter Mazél; Tony Mottram; Peter Simon.

Personnel: Peter Tosh (vocals, guitar, keyboards); Al Anderson, Donald Kinsey, Karl Pitterson, Abdul Wali (guitar); Dirty Harry (tenor saxophone); Bobby Ellis (trumpet); Harold Butler (Clavinet); Earl "Wire" Lindo (keyboards, background vocals); Tyrone Downie, Skully (keyboards); Robbie Shakespeare (bass, background vocals); Aston "Family Man" Barrett (bass); Carlton Barrett, Santa Davis, Sly Dunbar (drums); Skully (percussion); Rita Marley, Judy Mowatt, Bunny Wailer (background vocals).

Producers: Peter Tosh, Jerry Rappaport.