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It’s a Tosh-up!

Written on July 26, 2011 by Lucy Coughlan

MUSIC

Reggae legend’s still smokin’ on reissued classics

On the cover of his classic album, Legalize It, reggae legend Peter Tosh is sitting in a field of marijuana plants puffing on a pipe.

While Tosh is rightfully remembered as a musical revolutionary, his close friend and reggae authority Roger Steffens will tell you he was also armed with a keen sense of humour.

“When we heard he was coming to town (in ’79, a year after Tosh and Steffens met) we wanted to welcome him,” Steffens told me in an interview several years back. “A friend of mine (who grew marijuana) in northern California had a successful season that year, and he gave me the top of a 16-foot plant, which must’ve been at least 18 inches long.

“My wife and I wrapped it up and told Peter it was a gift from his herb-smoking fans in southern California,” he added.

“He ripped the paper off, looked at it, broke off a little piece, smelled it and said disparagingly, ‘It’ll take a whole lot more than this to get my propellers spinning!’ ”

All of this brings me nicely to the reissue treatment given to Tosh’s first two solo albums — Legalize It and Equal Rights.

Both double-CD packages contain previously unreleased material from the original recording sessions along with new essays by reggae scholar Roger Steffens and Tosh’s former manager Herbie Miller.

Disc 1 of Legalize It presents the original nine-song album along with previously unreleased demo versions of seven of the nine songs.

The second disc features Tosh’s own original mix of the album, the way he was sending it out to major record labels in 1976.

Those nine tracks — all previously unreleased — are followed by a previously unreleased alternate version of the title song, and six extremely rare dubs, only one of which actually made it onto an album (Igziabeher).

Disc 1 of Equal Rights features the original eight-song album along with seven previously unreleased outtakes from the original sessions.

The second disc features a mix of 15 tracks — about half of which are previously unreleased — that include original session alternate and extended versions, and extremely rare dubs.

ISLAND LIFE

Over the last few years, the four-day Island Soul festival at Harbourfront has established itself as a nice alternative to all the hyper-commercial, overpriced, crowded Caribana events happening around town this week.

If you don’t fancy rubbing shoulders with thousands of people on the parade route or waiting outside a club for hours to pay top dollar to shake that rump at one of the umpteen DJ parties that I’ve seen advertised, head to the waterfront complex over the next four days and check out a ton of free concerts, dance and theatre performances, and family activities.

Here are just two highlights:

Richmond, B.C.’s Elaine “Lil’Bit” Shepherd charmed me when we met at a pre-Juno Awards event earlier this year and I was thrilled when I heard she bagged the reggae recording of the year award. Shepherd performs Saturday at 8:30 p.m.

And don’t miss the rare chance to hear the internationally acclaimed poet Mutabaruka when he brings his compelling and political poems to the main stage Sunday night.

A charismatic performer with incredible presence, Mutabaruka softens the blow of his words with great wit and humour. Show starts at 9:30 p.m.

NOW HEAR THIS

DJ K-Zar, Chester Miller, Lord Fury, Nkrumah and others will fill Lula Lounge with classic reggae sounds Sunday. 10:30 p.m. $10. 1585 Dundas St. W.

Local reggae legends Truths & Rights play Queen’s Park Monday as part of the annual Irie Music Festival. iriemusicfestival.com

Samba Squad take over the Toronto Botanical Garden Thursday with their arsenal of drums and various percussion instruments. 7 p.m. Free. 777 Lawrence Ave. E.

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