One of the leading lights of the British reggae scene that blossomed in the wake of Bob Marley’s international success, Steel Pulse hailed from the hardscrabble streets of Handsworth, in Birmingham. The band’s defiant Rastafarian outlook meshed well with England’s growing punk movement, and Steel Pulse’s reputation climbed on the strength of a strong live show and their first albums for Island Records. They switched labels to Elektra for 1982’s True Democracy, which became their first release to chart in America. Tracks such as “A Who Responsible?” showed that Steel Pulse could embrace accessible production (by reggae vet Karl Pitterson) without conceding any lyrical ground. With its Santana-esque guitar opening, lilting rhythm and catchy “They don’t give a damn, no” chorus, the litany of social ills rattled off by singer David Hinds could easily fly under a listener’s radar.
It’s only a matter of time before this unofficial holiday becomes legit.(You heard it here first, Hallmark!)So, to celebrate 4/20 we offer up Peter Tosh’s anthem “Legalize It”.Tosh got his start as a founding member of The Wailers, along with Bob Marley & Bunny Livingston.After their Catch A Fire album in 1973, Tosh left the group to pursue a solo career.In 1976, he released “Legalize It”.A paean to the benefits of marijuana, the song features a heavy rhythm track, in the style of Lee “Scratch” Perry.Harmonies by Rita Marley & Judy Mowatt, coupled with lyrical “winks” from Tosh help to lighten the mood and set it apart from his other more stridently political recordings.While today’s song is a bit of an obvious choice, it serves as a reminder that there will be a potentially ground-breaking ballot initiative in California this November to legalize marijuana, which can be looked upon as a testament to the bravery and vision of Peter Tosh.“Legalize it, and I’ll advertise it.”
Bob Marley has been embraced the world over for his message of peace, love, and music. Ranked #11 on Rolling Stone’s list of “The Greatest Artists of All Time”, Marley made a lasting mark on not only Black history but music history as well. Amongst the tumultuous times of the 60’s and the 70’s, which were rich with racial discrimination and cultural intolerance, Bob became a voice of compassion.Like the good Dr. King, he did not fight with anger against hate, instead demonstrated perseverance in the face of people who did not believe in the unity of all humanity. “Them Belly Full (But We Hungry)”, recorded live in 1975, asks you to forget your troubles and dance. So today, “emancipate yourself” and just dance.
