Editor’s Note: The Albumism staff has selected what we believe to be 50 fantastic first solo albums recorded by artists who departed—or simply took a temporary hiatus from—their respective groups, representing a varied cross-section of genres, styles and time periods. Click “Next Album” below to explore each album or view the full album index here.
PETER TOSH | Legalize It
Virgin/Columbia (1976)
Selected by Daryl McIntosh
As an Amazon affiliate partner, Albumism earns commissions from qualifying purchases.
A major pillar of the groundbreaking, revolutionary, and influential reggae band The Wailers is Peter Tosh. His contributions to their formation and initial rise to prominence are immeasurable, but by many accounts, they were the heart and soul of the group. His great political mind and sensitivity to human rights issues including political corruption and poverty, seemed to fuel his extensive musical talent.
The brilliance and courageousness that helped ink timeless revolutionary anthems like “Get Up, Stand Up” found a springboard, with Tosh’s debut solo LP Legalize It. An album decades ahead of its time with its bold advocacy of the medicinal use of cannabis, Legalize It offers insight into the mythical world of Rastafarianism and has lasted as a bedrock for the political arm of the reggae genre.
LISTEN:
