Customer Reviews

No Nuclear War

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

With 1987 came Peter Tosh's final album, "No Nuclear War," released just days before his death on September 11th, 1987 due to his murder by a friend.

The album opens with an amazing, powerful title track dedicated to the end of Nuclear War and the Cold War Era, as Tosh fortells a coming Armageddon bathed in death and nuclear weaponry. Tosh recounts past wars and their leading up to the final war: a Nuclear fallout. Delivering a similar message in brighter tones is "Come Together," a plea for unity and an end to war and racism, one of the topics that Tosh is so well known for. Closing the album is a shortened single version of the title track.

Second is Tosh's "Nah Goa Jail," another of his world-famous pro-ganja anthems dictating the legalization of marijuana and the ceasing of the arrest of Rastas who dilligently use herb. This is followed by a reamke of Tosh's old "Apartheid," from the "Equal Rights" album of 1977, called "Fight Apartheid," on this album.

Tracks five and seven, "In My Song," and "Testify," are both delightful, uplifting, joyous testaments to the power of God and Tosh's need to express his thanks. Here, Tosh's happiness and joy shine through clearer than on any of his previous albums.

Finally, the albums most signifigant and haunting track is "Lessons In My Life," a song about Tosh's stance on friends, whom he believed would often betray you, as he so illustrated here with the lines:

"Always be careful of mankind
Be careful of mankind

They make promises today
But tomorrow change their mind"

And:

"Always be careful of my friends
Be careful of my friend

Money can make friendship end
It makes friendship end"

Tragically and eerily, Tosh was murdered by a friend in a robbery just days after the release of the album. While this may not have been Tosh's most chart-topping album, it was his most profound. This is a masterpiece, Tosh's final work of art to the world, summarizing each of his core principles. This is a visionary, final chapter in one of the World's great legacies. Rest in peace, Peter. Thank you for the years of beautiful music.

How dare some random jack call Tosh's lyrics limp! Notice Fight Apartheid is on there too, not exactly the most pascifist of songs. Perhaps No Nuclear War isnt the best of Tosh's albums, but only due to the fact than all the others are amazing as well. I definitely recommend it to anyone who remotely likes reggae, and put forth that nobody can truly call themselves a reggae fan who would dis Tosh. Also, anyone tired of the fight for peace against horrible tyrants like the american government need not bother listening to Tosh, reggae, or any music at all, just go ahead and join the robot army.

My first Reggae album.....I went from Black Sabbath to Peter And Bob almost overnight, and spent the next ten years listening to almost nothing but Reggae Music! It's hard for me to pick one Tosh album and say "This one is the best" cuz they're all killer!But this is probably my favorite for more reasons than the music though. Mama Africa is up there too!
ME NAH GO TO JAIL FOR THE GANJA....CUZ I BOUGHT IT FROM AN OFFICER....I think it may have been those very words that did it for me.I cant believe nobody has rated this cd??? Every song on it is great, especially the last one....Vampire. Buy this cd, if you dont love it then you got serious problems mon!& If your new to Reggae, it's a perfect place to start. Peter Tosh was one of the coolest people to EVER walk this planet and every thing he touched is gold.....Jah Rastafari Long live Rashaad Muhamed, Bobby Hardin, and Peter Tosh! Oh yeah & Free Mumia!

Isn't a bad album. I mean it dosen't live up to masterpieces like "Legalize It", "Equal Rights" etc., but the songs like "No Nuclear War, Fight Apartheid, Vampire, and In My Song" are great. The only thing that lacks on the album is the recording tecniques. Jamaica was into new styles of music, like ragga and dancehall, and Peter was trying to keep up with the style. Lyrically the album is solid, "Fight Apartheid" especially shows that. It ranks my favorite track on the album along with "In My Song", and in the songs, you can hear Peter Tosh's great guitar riffs. One wierd thing is, the song "Lesson in my Life" talks about how "money can make a friendship end". And just days after the release of this album, Peter Tosh was assasinated in his home in a robbery by his former friend, so it makes as one of those mystery songs such as Bob Marley's "Redemption Song", where the artists were somehow saying goodbye before their untimely deaths. All together, the album is a sold effort, although i do recommend "Legalize It" or "Equal Rights" first, as they are some truly classic albums.

Double banner here, at times, it seems Tosh is inhibited on this album, the song, "Come together" sounding a bit Lennonesque? Really, this would be a compliment, and yes, that is so, really, another interesting parallel;

GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN; the Wailers do have an early fine rendition of this song, Peter singing prominently in it.

It's not on this album but it is applicable.

How curious, No Nuclear War is Tosh's last album, he dies on 9-11 ; I mean, I wonder what implications that might have; if some call him a prophet,... ;

I feel sad in listening to "Lessons in my life" ; because it is indeed prophetic, the optimism, revitalization of Peter's music on going to Nigeria, which inspired M.A.; is not found as much on this release but it is still very worthy; His vocals on this song, "Lessons in my life" are that if "I'm not going to give it up" reviewed elsewhere, shows he staunchly means it, in a radical sense, then how heart felt the tone of his voice is on this song, as if they are his last words; sounding so solemn, almost a moan...with the female chorus adding in mournful wailing "boo hoos" or like-sounding to me, I often pass on this song because it is often a bit hard to take & unnerving , Peter sings "I'm an honest man, and I love honest people, I'm an intelligent man and I love inttelligent people"; Sadly, he was not able to continue on these aspirations; the CD is worth getting just for this prime song.

The album, as a whole represents some what of a lull after Mama Afica; anything would be virtually. Still enough good music; namely "In my song" which is becoming his custom to have on each album a gospel-like worship song for Jah ; as "Rastafari is" might be on the "Wanted Dread or Alive" album. "Vampire" shows Mr. Tosh's continuing use of adding sound effects to songs on albums; as in songs such as "Magda Dog", "African" on the Equal Rights CD or "Creation (Jah is my Kingdom)" on Bush Doctor with the thundering rainstorm; etc. "Vampire" also, carries Tosh's mark, to at times, revert to using old Jamaican Calypso beats to his songs, adding to it's diversification.

The Iron Curtain fell years after this album came out, as well as the end of Apartheid; I think it was very timely of Tosh to add on a fine rendition of "Apartheid" to the release as well.

Other songs on the release, "Nah Goa Jail" shows Peter writing another song, though, I somewhat agree, that some of the songs, almost seem a bit formula like, the named song, is very good, even the ones that are not up to standard, I would say, "Testify" still has some good parts; "Come together", shows Peter going to his own personal Mecca, gone are some of the radical statements, which are good, but also, he says, "We got to come together, respect each other."

But we have Peter Tosh's Message, for Africans, Jamaican and all with the identity of an African;

And all, period!

Go Tell it on the Mountain

My only issue with the album is the "western production." That's why I give it 4 stars. Now seeing how a previous reviewer said " good thing he was shot".....that's not even a comment that needs to be made about Peter. Now ALOT of the "musicians" (including the corny "poppy rock" groups of today....that can apply to.) Peter was great. My interpretation of Peter music was: This IS how the world is today, what can YOU, who listen to my music, do about it. While Bob was: Wouldnt it be nice IF life was peaceful, upfull, majestic and Irie!!! So thats the difference, not entirely, but the overall vibe of both of them. Now this albums lyrics and riddims ("see thru" the overproduction,)was exceptional. I wish there could be like a "Jamaican Version" to this album, Like "Catch A Fire" just bare... otherwize I have no other tiffs with this one. Otherwise, thank you Peter for you everlasting gifts of Music!!

The only problem was that he didn't live to see it. Peter tosh was assassinated before this album won the attention of the world. No Nuclear War is the first Peter Tosh album I bought, I recommend it to people who want an album friendly to all ages. The album has a folk theme, with horns and flutes. It is post modern subject matter with medieval reggae.

Reggae legend Peter Tosh gives another statement of his african consciousness, marijuana legalization struggle, unity of humankind and matters like the anding of nuclear proliferation.This re-mastered version sounds really tough and features mostly material recorded in 1985, but not released until just days before his tragic murder in Kingston on September 11, 1987. "Fight Apartheid" is one of my personal favourites, but the original version released in the "Equal Rights" lp sounds more roots reggae and less syntethised and electric than this later effort. "NO Nuclear War" is a mixed remake of material of some of his seventies songs like "Vampire",the strong "Lessons In My Life", and "Fight Apartheid" and new compositions like his praise to Almighty JAH ("In My Song"), the anti-nuclear hymn with his single version or bonus track. Another fact that adds to the musical experience is the outstanding cover art, and one of my favourite Neville Garrick's work ( with Marley's "Confrontation" and Winston Rodney's "Hail H.I.M.").By watching his ilustration of Peter dressed like a Kung Fu fighter with a gas mask on his face and an armor plate with flashing lightning out of his hands towards the two missiles of Russia and United States I realized how powerful and terrifying a musical graphic image can be. In the last period of his life he asked people to call him by his ethiopian name that was Son of Thunder (in Amharic;Wolde Semayat),and this album still sounds thunderable 18 years later.

This was sadly Tosh's last album but he definitely went out with a bang. This album is lyrically one of his best. It has everything you look for in a Peter Tosh album and is definately good listening. The ganja anthem Nah Goa Jail along with No Nuclear War and Vampire this album is killer. Recommended to all reggae fans.

The only reason to get this cd is if you already own all of Peter Tosh's other cds and you just want to experience all of his music. It is a very watered down reggae album. The remake of "Apartheid" is terrible. It's like he was looking for a hit song that would play well in the U.S. The original version on the album "Equal Rights" is amazing. The whole cd sounds like he either lost his edge or he was just looking for a crossover cd. It kills me to say all of this because I am a huge fan of Peter Tosh. If you are looking for a cd of Peter Tosh do yourself a favor and get "Equal Rights", "Legalize It" or "Mama Africa". "Wanted Dread & Alive" and "Bush Doctor" are also very good cds.