The 10 Best Peter Tosh Songs of All-Time

Peter Tosh was a Jamaican singer, guitarist and songwriter who was, in part, the co-founder of The Wailers band. He had a successful music career and is considered one of the most influential guitarists in reggae music. In this article, we are going to discuss the 10 Best Peter Tosh Songs of All-Time;

10. Johnny B Goode

Johnny B Goode is a song about a country boy named Johnny B Goode who played his guitar so well, making it sound like the best music in the world. Peter Tosh wrote this song to honour the most well-known guitarist of all time, Chuck Berry. The song also acted as a prayer for African Americans facing problems of racism and poverty that still lingers. This song has been featured as a soundtrack in different videos, including the movie Forrest Gump.

9. Reggae-Mylitis

This song is about who woke up with a funny feeling. Upon going to the doctor, he was diagnosed with a Reggaemylitis condition about his love for reggae music. According to Oldies, this song was considered a revolutionary song at the time for its social commentary on reggae music. It was loved by reggae music fans and reached number 3 on the charts. The song was released in the year 1981 as the lead single in the album Wanted Dread & Alive.

8. Mama Africa

Mama Africa is a song about Africa which is the motherland of Jamaicans. Peter Tosh sings about the rising problems of Africa and the need to help solve them. In some parts of the song, he encourages African nations to help one another fight against the colonial powers that had previously oppressed them. He points out that brotherhood is the best weapon they have against such oppression. This song reached number twenty-seven on the Top 100 Reggae charts and was loved by many who considered it a memorable reggae song.

7. Pick Me Up

Released in 1977, Pick Me Up is a song about never giving up on life and always trying to move forward. This song was written as a tribute to Bob Marley and his struggle against odds to maintain his reggae music. He was known for doing things without doubt or hesitation, which is depicted in the song by mentioning the two words Pick Me Up. This was one of the top tracks in the album Equal Rights. It was used as a soundtrack in the movie Zoolander and was also performed by Ziggy Marley at the reggae Sunsplash festival.

6. The Poor Man Feels It

The Poor Man Feel It is a song about how poor people are subjected to difficulties when things go bad. When the standards of living go up, they are the ones who suffer the most. It was released in the year 1981 and was one of the top tracks in the album Wanted Dead & Alive. This song was received well by the fans reaching number twelve on the top 100 reggae charts, and was loved for its message of showing love and respect to those who are going through hard times.

5. Maga Dog

Maga Dog is a song written by Peter Tosh and recorded in the album Equal Rights, released in 1977. According to Last FM, this song is about bad decisions young people make when given a good opportunity to do well in life. It was released as a single and reached number ten on the top 100 reggae charts. The song depicts the powers of positive thinking, which is why it is considered one of the best songs by Peter Tosh.

4. Stepping Razor

Released in the year 1977, Stepping Razor is a song about a person asking his partner to treat him good because she wouldn’t like to see his tough side. He uses the image of a razor blade to depict himself as someone who can hurt her if angered. This song reached number seventeen on the top 100 reggae charts and was one of the best tracks in the album Equal Rights. This song has been used in the movie Cool Runnings as the main soundtrack.

3. Glasshouse

Glasshouse is a song about how one should not start something that he/she cannot handle. He specifically states that if you live in a glasshouse, don’t throw stones. It shows that a person should be careful with what he does because he/she might call for help from others. According to Jamaicans.com, this song has been used as a soundtrack in several movies and Films, including the movie Zoolander. It reached number twenty-five on the top 100 reggae charts and was loved for its message about maintaining peace and tranquillity by not causing trouble.

2. Downpressor Man

Downpressor Man is a song about people who live in pressurized situations. He calls them “downpressor man” because the government always presses them. In the song, he encourages people to fight for their rights. He believes they can overcome their difficulties if they stand together and fight. This song reached number twelve on the top 100 reggae charts and was loved for its message of unity and solidarity. It was released in 1977 and is one of the top tracks on the album Equal Rights.

1. Legalize It

Legalize It is one of the best songs ever released by Peter Tosh. It has a powerful message that many Jamaicans widely hold. The song was released in 1976 and is about the need to legalize marijuana. It was released under the record label Columbia Records. This song did well, reaching number sixteen on the top 100 reggae charts. Peter Tosh showcased his story-telling abilities in this song by giving it a political overtone. It has been used in several movies and T.V. shows, including the movie General Hospital and the T.V., show The O.C.