Customer Reviews

Honorary Citizen

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Peter Tosh was an amazing musician who delivered a powerful message about oppression, justice, and rightousness. While his message was not elevated to the level of Bob Marley's due to his militant approach, Peter's message was very important. Due to this standing, I was expecting an amazing box set. My expectations were both met and disappointed in different ways. Artistically, this box set is the best we may ever see. The artwork in the accompanying insert can be studied for hours. Musically, this box set could have been better. Don't get me wrong, all of Peter's music had its place and is well deserving of recognition, both musically and lyrically. CD1 is the highlight of this box set. Unreleased material and very early recordings make up this disc. We are treated to Peter's early fire for Rastafari, and can see his evolution of this passion and rejection of Christianity. These songs are treasures for any Reggae fan. Disc 2 was disappointing due to the fact that the live material picked here is highlighted in different form elsewhere. Most of these songs were released live from different venues on Captured Live or the VHS recording at the Greek Theatre in LA. I was hoping for a little more diversity in the selection of songs here. As for the spoken words, those chosen here focus on the pornography in Southern Cal. Pointless! If you do care to hear more of Peter's message outside of his music, rent the Red X Tapes on VHS. This autobiography/documentary is amazing, and will teach you more about Rastafari than any other source. They should have put another song in this time slot. CD 3 was also a disappointment in meeting my grand expectations. While this greatest hits disc is good, there are numerous Tosh Greatest Hits CD's out there with basically this same lineup. What about Peter's stellar performances of Mama Africa, Jah Guide, I am that I am, or Pick Myself Up to name a few? And where are songs from the formally hard to find Mystic Man CD? No Buck In Hamm Palace? The CD is capped by a very disappointing tribute song called Honorary Citizen. For an introduction to Peter Tosh, this box set is great. For experienced Tosh fans, tape CD 1 from your friends because you probably have most of CD2 and CD3 elsewhere.

One of the true masters of reggae, Peter Tosh is akin to Keith Richards or John Lennon, not the frontman but as a powerful and gritty a member of the band as he is supreme. As everyone is familiar with Paul McCarthy, Mick or Bob Marley not always are their right hand men as well known. Peter Tosh had the pesence to go alone but arguably was at his best as a member of the now world famous Bob Marley and the Wailers. Most fans of reggae know quite a bit about Peter Tosh as he was an integral part of the sound of the Wailers that internationalized reggae. Part of his appeal was his persona but his strength was his writing and playing music from deep within his militant soul. All his hits are in this box set and they are organized in a listenable manner beginning with his lesser known early efforts and choice live and classic hits. There are many favorites to choose from, the best are all here. If you're new to Peter Tosh or just familiar with "Get Up Stand Up" than you're in for a treat as he delivers his message with conviction. If you're an old fan than you will enjoy having all his music in a box set at your disposal, upon first listen it will be like meeting an old friend. Great vintage classic Tosh that proves the longevity of the artist beyond the grave and that old school survives for the young lions to blaze a new trail.

i am by no means a real reggae expert-- having mostly listened to Bob marley and a few others, this is sort of new to me. Nevertheless, i can truly say that i loved this box set! Peter Tosh has such passion and conviction for what his music seems to express--power over repression of any kind etc... he is an extremely powerful human being and listening to him and his means of relaying that to anyone who is willing to listen is a great thing. the music is raw and strong...bitter at times..but the kind of bitter that is good for you... i am totally floored by the simplicity and rawness of it. the ideals are stellar, yet blunt <<no pun intended>>. overall a beautiful piece of work for anyone who will take it seriously. i highly reccomend to anyone looking to expand.

I own a few boxed sets but Honoray Citizen gets by FAR the most listening time of any in my collection. Perfect for Sunday mornings. Its not comprehensive, and anyone who wants all of Tosh's songs probably won't want it, but if you want a beginning to end solid record by one of the greatest (and overshadowed at the same time) musicians--that's right not just reggae, musicians, PERIOD, then I recommend this.

Disc 1 is packed with great older tracks, starting in the late 60's as ska began to morph into another beast. As the disc plays Tosh's skills are patently obvious, showcasing his own songs with (and without Marley) before anyone outside Jamaica knew who Bob Marley was.

Disc 2 is Tosh's live stuff. If you come from the same camp I come from, you might be a little leary of this if you heard that Sly and Robbie aren't in the lineup of Tosh's band during these recordings. Don't be. These live songs, taken from different shows, are an incredible homage to Tosh's presence, and some of the dialogues he rattles off between songs are spine-tingling. Not only could the man sing, he smoked (no, uh pun) as a guitar player! The boxed set is worth it for the live version of "Rastafari Is" alone.

Disc 3 is perhaps the weakest. Then again, you have to have the greatest hits *somewhere* on a boxed set. It does a solid job of showing Tosh as a political leader through music. If you haven't heard these songs before, they're great, and if you have, and you don't have his other records, its nice to have all these classic tunes in one place.

I've got two criticisms of this incredible package. 1) Take the totally cheeseball dedication song that was written not by him but "in honor" of him OFF the boxed set. He honors himself best through his own music. 2) Please put "I am that I am" somewhere in this boxed set. It's the one song that really seems sad to have been left off.....

Those 2 nitpicks aside, this set blew me away...

Honorary Citizen epitimizes Tosh's best complete works in one box set. Often misunderstood by authority, and always in the political spotlight through his music, Tosh is like a "stepping razor" searching for his "Equal Rights" every step of the way! This is one purchase that any TRUE Reggae fan must have! Tosh much like Marley, was so electrifying and uplifting as a performer, that the saddest thing of all, is that like Bob, he too was struck down way before his time... Peace, Love, & Happiness in the name of Jah Rastafari!

If you know you like a few Peter Tosh songs and can't decide on a single album, this is for you. And if you lover Peter, how come it's taken you so long to find this one? The best of the 3 CD's included is the Live collection. While Tosh was good in the studio, his passion comes through in front of an audience. Most of the Live tracks are previously unreleased versions of Tosh Classics like Coming in Hot and the Wailers Classic Get Up Stand Up. Enjoy!

i love the 2nd disc- it has most of his really superior work, such as a 13 minute live version of "rastafar is" and "mystic man" as well as "comin in hot" and "not gonna give it up", "get up, stand up". love love love them. discs 1 and 3 are the mediocre stuff, with the exception of "steppin razor", but when he's good...............no one can touch him.
not even robert nesta marley--who i really love too.

I would have liked to have something more for the money. The sound quality, overall, is lacking. It seems as if this set was put together just to cash in on Tosh's name. The Honorary Citizen original song is beyond awful.

The live disc is disjointed. The quality here - as we've seen on other releases - should have been much better.

Truthfully, the militant Tosh comes out far too much here and maybe that is why I give the lukewarm review. I like the sound of disc one and despite the militant feel it is ok.

What to like about the first disc: Here Comes the Sun - outstanding, Legalize It Version - cool dub version, Dracula (Vampire Version) - I do love this song.

If you're new to Tosh and want to get the best introduction try Legalize It. That was one of my first Peter Tosh purchases and I loved everything about it.

I confer with the review by c~insano. The glue on my boxset became loose also. I give it four stars because the collection starts at 1967, Tosh had been singing lead since 1964. The list of Tosh's complete recordings is a treat. There are so many on the list that hadn't been released when I bought it, like "Crimson Pirate," but that was released on the album Arise Blackman Arise. Many songs weren't on the complete list like "Little Green Apples," or "Blowing in the Wind."

I am very happy with this box set. I have a ton of Peter Tosh in my vast reggae collection and this box set is a nice little addition. Although it doesn't cover as much as I'd like it to cover (there could be a disc four in my opinion) , it does do well in capturing his authoritative and militant voice through his beautiful music. Peter was a Wailer as in Bob Marley and the Wailers and he, as Peter would say, "decorated Bob's music and made it beautiful". Although he has been over shadowed by Bob Marley's success with reggae, he stands on his own in that world and equally with Bob in my opinion.

I have heard it stated and have read that Bob Marley is to Martin Luther King Jr. as Peter Tosh is to Malcolm X. Both sent a message to the people, but they sent it in different ways. Peter being the militant voice. His music almost seems too beautiful to be militant, but maintains a hard-edge and a defiant tone which were his intentions. This box set captures that militancy especially with the concert recordings on disc two when he speaks to the crowd.

I really feel that people should take a good hard listen to Peter's music as it is lively as Bob's music is lively. I am only sad that the man had to die such a brutal death, but as they say...live by the sword and die by the sword. (Fortunately those who opposed him will die out, but Peter will live on stronger than ever through his music). You will be very happy you made the decision to listen to him.