Editing Legalize It

{{for multi|the EP by Kottonmouth Kings|Legalize It (EP)|the legalization of cannabis|Legality of cannabis}}
{{Infobox album
| name       = Legalize It
| type       = studio
| artist     = [[Peter Tosh]]
| cover      = PeterTosh-LegalizeIt.jpg
| alt        = In a forest, Peter Tosh is seen smoking from a pipe.
| released   = June 1976
| recorded   = 1975–1976
| studio     = Treasure Isle and Randy's, Kingston, Jamaica
| genre      = [[Reggae]]
| length     = 39:04
| label      = [[Virgin Records|Virgin]], [[Columbia Records|Columbia]]
| producer   = Peter Tosh
| prev_title =
| prev_year  =
| next_title = [[Equal Rights (album)|Equal Rights]]
| next_year  = 1977
}}

'''''Legalize It''''' is the debut studio album by Jamaican singer-songwriter and former [[the Wailers|Wailer]] [[Peter Tosh]], released in June 1976. It was recorded at [[Treasure Isle]] and Randy's, [[Kingston, Jamaica|Kingston]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title = 1001 songs you must hear before you die|last = Dimery|first = Robert|publisher = Cassell Illustrated|year = 2010|isbn = 978-1-84403-736-0|location = United Kingdom|pages = 360}}</ref>

''Legalize It'' is one of the two solo albums released in 1976 by Wailers members, along with [[Bunny Wailer]]'s album ''[[Blackheart Man]]''.  [[Bob Marley]] and his new [[Wailers]] also released ''[[Rastaman Vibration]]''.

The song was written in response to his ongoing [[Victimisation|victimization]] by the Jamaican police and as a political piece pushing for the [[Legality of cannabis|legalization]] of [[cannabis (drug)|cannabis]], particularly for medical use.<ref name=":0" /> In 1977, Tosh backed this up by saying "We are the victims of Rasclot circumstances. Victimization, [[colonialism]], gonna lead to bloodbath".<ref>{{Cite book|title = Reggae Bloodlines|last = Davis|first = Stephen|year = 1977|isbn = 9780306804960|url = https://archive.org/details/reggaebloodlines00davi}}</ref> Tosh also said "Herb will become like cigarettes", in an ''[[NME]]'' interview in 1978.

==Reception==
{{Album ratings
| rev1      = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref>{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r104118}}</ref>
| rev2      = ''[[Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies|Christgau's Record Guide]]''
| rev2score = B<ref name="CG">{{cite book|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|year=1981|title=[[Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies]]|publisher=[[Ticknor & Fields]]|isbn=089919026X|chapter=Consumer Guide '70s: T|chapter-url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_chap.php?k=T&bk=70|access-date=March 16, 2019|via=robertchristgau.com}}</ref>
| rev3      = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev3score = (favorable)<ref>[https://archive.today/20120908222333/http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/_/id/230748/petertosh?pageid=rs.ArtistDiscographyMainReleases&pageregion=mainRegion Rolling Stone review]</ref>
}}
The title track was banned when released in Jamaica in 1975. Attempts to suppress the song failed, however, catapulting Tosh to international fame.<ref name=":0" />
{{Listen|pos = right
 |filename     = Legalize_It_(song).ogg
 |title        = "Legalize It"
 |description  = Legalize It audio sample
}}
The album was released in the United States in June 1976 and appeared on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] album chart for two weeks, peaking at No. 199. In 1999, the album was certified platinum by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] for over one million copies sold.<ref>{{cite book |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |date=2001 |title=Top Pop Albums |url=https://archive.org/details/joelwhitburnstop00whitbu/page/888 |location=Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin |publisher=Record Research Inc. |page=[https://archive.org/details/joelwhitburnstop00whitbu/page/888 888] |isbn=0-89820-147-0 |author-link=Joel Whitburn }}</ref>

Reviewing in ''[[Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies]]'' (1981), [[Robert Christgau]] wrote: "Unlike most sidemen who go on to pursue their own artistic interests, ex-Wailer Tosh has managed to gather about half an album for his solo debut, which ain't bad. 'Ketchy Shuby' even has the makings of a [[novelty hit]]. But oh, how his light heart and romantic spirit are missed among his old mates."<ref name="CG"/>

The album was included in the 2005 book ''[[1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die]]''.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Robert Dimery|author2=Michael Lydon|title=1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition|date=7 February 2006|publisher=Universe|isbn=0-7893-1371-5}}</ref>

==Track listing==
All tracks composed by Peter Tosh; except where indicated

# "Legalize It" – 4:35 
# "Burial" (Tosh, [[Bunny Livingston]]) – 3:54
# "What'cha Gonna Do?" – 2:25
# "[[No Sympathy]]" – 4:35   
# "Why Must I Cry" (Tosh, [[Bob Marley]]) – 3:08
# "Igziabeher (Let Jah Be Praised)" – 4:37
# "Ketchy Shuby" – 4:53
# "Till Your Well Runs Dry" (Tosh, Livingston) – 6:09
# "Brand New Second Hand" – 4:03

===Sony Legacy Edition===
A Sony Legacy Edition was released in June 2011. It was produced by Jerry Rappaport and Sam Dion.

Disc 1: Original LP and demos
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
# "Legalize It"
# "Burial"
# "What'cha Gonna Do"
# "No Sympathy"
# "Why Must I Cry"
# "Igziabeher (Let Jah Be Praised)"
# "Ketchy Shuby"
# "Till Your Well Runs Dry"
# "Brand New Second Hand"
# "Legalize It" (Demo)
# "No Sympathy" (Demo)
# "Why Must I Cry" (Demo)
# "Igziabeher (Let Jah Be Praised)" (Demo)
# "Ketchy Shuby" (Demo)
# "Till Your Well Runs Dry" (Demo)
# "Brand New Second Hand" (Demo)
{{div col end}}
Disc 2: Tosh's original mix, alternates and dubs
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
# "Legalize It"
# "Burial"
# "What'cha Gonna Do"
# "No Sympathy"
# "Why Must I Cry"
# "Igziabeher (Let Jah Be Praised)"
# "Ketchy Shuby"
# "Till Your Well Runs Dry"
# "Brand New Second Hand"
# "Legalize It" (Alternate Version)
# "Burial" (Dub Plate)
# "What'cha Gonna Do" (Shajahshoka Dub Plate)
# "Igziabeher (Let Jah Be Praised)" (Shajahshoka Dub Plate)
# "Second Hand" (Shajahshoka Dub Plate)
# "Burial" (Dub Plate)
# "Legalize It" (Dub Plate)
{{div col end}}
Disc 1, Tracks 1–9 released as original LP - Columbia PC 34253 (U.S.), 1976

Disc 1, Tracks 10–16 and Disc 2, Tracks 1–10 previously unreleased

Disc 2, Tracks 11–12 and 14–16 released on limited edition dubplates, 1976

Disc 2, Track 13 from ''The Ultimate Peter Tosh Experience'' (Shanachie 6802, 2009)

==Personnel==
*[[Peter Tosh]] – guitar, keyboards, vocals
*[[Al Anderson (The Wailers)|Al Anderson]] – guitar
*[[Aston Barrett]], [[Robbie Shakespeare]] – bass guitar
*[[Carlton "Santa" Davis]], [[Carlton Barrett]] – drums
*[[Tyrone Downie|Tyrone "Organ D" Downie]] – keyboards
*[[Donald Kinsey]] – guitar
*Robbie "Ras" Lee – harmonica
*[[Rita Marley]] – background vocals
*[[Judy Mowatt]] – background vocals
*[[Bunny Wailer]] – background vocals

==Charts==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ Chart performance for ''Legalize It''
! scope="col"| Chart (1976)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
{{album chart|Billboard200|199|artist=Peter Tosh|rowheader=true|access-date=1 May 2021}}
|}
{{Spoken Wikipedia|Don't Criticize It.ogg|date=18 July 2016}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
<!-- This is a licensed stream for the album, which is allowed under Wikipedia polices -->
*[https://archive.today/20130416120256/http://www.radio3net.ro/dbartists/supersearch/TGVnYWxpemUgSXQgKFZpcmdpbik=/Legalize%20It%20(Virgin) ''Legalize It''] ([[Adobe Flash]]) at [[Radio3Net]] (streamed copy where licensed)

{{Peter Tosh}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Peter Tosh albums]]
[[Category:1976 debut albums]]
[[Category:Virgin Records albums]]
[[Category:Cannabis music]]
[[Category:Songs about cannabis]]
[[Category:1976 in cannabis]]
[[Category:Columbia Records albums]]
[[Category:Reggae albums by Jamaican artists]]
[[Category:Jamaican works about cannabis]]