Search - Peter Tosh :: Arise Black Man

Tosh's Ska-Nifesto!!! Stunning, absolutely Stunning!!!

Tom Plum | Roswell, NM United States | 08/10/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is about the "toughest" CD you can find out there, it showcases Peter Tosh's keyboard virtuosity, you say, "what?" you didn't know he was keen on the organs? Neither did I, but if you listen to the opening to some of Peter Tosh's later songs, like "Glass House" from "Mama Africa", after listening to this album, it is not a great surprise that he created such music, especially that opening to "Glass House."



What a treasure trove this CD is, not only to real Peter Tosh fans, of which I am one, but really to anyone who has an interest in Ska-Makin' Reggae. Dare I say, these songs are culled from some recording sessions with producer "Bunny" Lee in 1969. Fellow Wailers Bunny Wailer and Bob Marley add harmony to a few of the tracks. Some of the numbers have a jam-like quality, some seemingly like outtakes of the same song repeated, as an example;. tracks 2-6 are the "Magda Dog" melody; 5 outtakes of the same song may seem excessive and probably is, but most of it is good, So why not the whole shabang then? On "Rudies Medley" the original Desmond Dekker recording "007-Shanty Town" is used some with Tosh adding organ, that then breaks into Tosh's own "The toughest", in fact, this is but one glimpse of a few instances where Tosh's own songs, some before there release time, are played. Another example would be Tosh's standard "Dem ha a fe a beaten" known from the "Bush Doctor" release, but here is a very excellent version with an instrumentalized version following.



A minor sidenote too, might be to add on that using the oriiginal recording of Dekker on the medley, certainly smacks some of the coming "Dub" music revolution though this is only in 1969.



If I am not mistaken and this album was recorded in 1969 & that time is the same time in which Toots and the Maytals released the quintessential reggae song "Pressure Point", while Tosh does not play this on the album, tracks like 11. "Ambitious Beggar" seem to call "Pressure Point's" rhythm to mind and this along with other tracks may have a slight "Mento" (Jamaican Calypso) beat. That seems to apply especially to the "Selassie Serenade" and "Pepper Seed" tracks.



Track 12 is "Memphis" a fine instrumental but it may surprise one that it is not Johnny River's (or Chuck Berry's or Elvis' "Memphis", whomever wrote the wellknown version originally) version but authored by Marley. Likewise, track 18. is "Sun Valley" by Tosh, but surely sounds like some pop song I've heard before and in addition to that, Tosh's organ does not sound that far off the mark from the '60s hit, "Telstar."



I'm sure Bob Marley sings on this album though not often, surely, the opening song has his backup vocals, some of this album is purely instrumental. Trojan did a very fine job in putting this together. My one reservation might be titling the whole album from what is probably the best known song for the recording sessions, "Arise Black Man" because the whole of the sessions is so diverse, it might be misleading just to title it by that one song.



Oh lastly, though some songs are repeated, say "Brand New Second Hand" has two versions; we have a generous 25 tracks to listen to, I am sure the CD is in excess of 75 minutes; an allaround good deal for the listener."

Very nice

Sean M. Kelly | Portland, Oregon United States | 09/22/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Unlike most wailers compilations that focus on Bob's output, this one focuses exclusively on what Peter had to offer the rocksteady era Wailers. Like later in life, Tosh's lyrics are biting and to the point, leaving no questions as to where his feelings lie.A wonderful set."

Tosh The Untold Story

Adjua Dubb | Gaithersburg, MD United States | 03/14/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Arise Blackman is a wonderful compilation of instrumentals, original Wailing at its finest. With a few Maga Dog version riddims blessed by a couple of chanters, many of these tunes showcase a producer driven Tosh with various moods and styles. Its a great album to have if you've never heard Tosh's early creative works that show his influence as an artist and as a Wailer."