“Equal Rights” by Peter Tosh - album review

features in: Album Chart of 1977Album Chart of the Decade: 1970s

TJR says

Peter Tosh the stoner of ’76 turns into Peter Tosh the hardliner of ’77 – equal rights then we’ll talk peace. “Get Up, Stand Up”, a reworking of his Wailers tune of ’73, sets the tone from the off, spoiled only by the nonsensical exclamation that “Almighty Jah is a living man”. Never let the facts get in the way of a good story, eh? The day of the oppressor will come on “Downpressor Man”, a reworking of a Tosh single from several years back, itself a variant of the old “Sinner Man” traditional spiritual. Where will the fat cat run on the hellish day? “You gonna run to the sea, but the sea will be boiling” … “You gonna run to the rocks, the rocks will be melting”. Stunning imagery, no matter your views on the subject. Bad-ass credentials are to the fore on “Stepping Razor” as the tall one fires a warning shot: “If you want to live, live, I beg you treat me good, I'm like a walking razor, don't you watch my size, I'm dangerous”. On side 2, the title-track seems to take a dig at Bob Marley’s harmonious vision for the troubles of the world: “Everyone is crying out for peace, none is crying out for justice.” The corrupt and oppressive Apartheid regime of South Africa is last in the crossfire on the straight-to-the-point call-to-arms, “Apartheid”. Steve Biko was tortured to death in police custody in September ’77. Perhaps Tosh has a point, and on this album he makes his statement very well.

The Jukebox Rebel
12–Nov–2008

Tracklist
A1 [03:29] 8.9.png Peter Tosh - Get Up, Stand Up (Winston McIntosh, Bob Marley) Reggae
A2 [06:25] 8.2.png Peter Tosh - Downpressor Man (Winston McIntosh) Reggae
A3 [04:28] 6.6.png Peter Tosh - I Am That I Am (Winston McIntosh) Reggae
A4 [05:47] 7.3.png Peter Tosh - Stepping Razor (Winston McIntosh) Reggae
B1 [05:58] 6.8.png Peter Tosh - Equal Rights (Winston McIntosh) Reggae
B2 [03:41] 6.3.png Peter Tosh - African (Winston McIntosh) Reggae
B3 [04:29] 5.9.png Peter Tosh - Jah Guide (Winston McIntosh) Reggae
B4 [05:31] 6.5.png Peter Tosh - Apartheid (Winston McIntosh) Reggae

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