Peter Tosh - No Nuclear War

The final album of reggae legend Peter Tosh's career could scarcely have been steeped in more irony. Long one of Jamaica's most radical and outspoken musical voices, the ex-Wailer spent long years of the '80s out of the spotlight only to return in late 1987 a seemingly changed man. Savvy in the ways of fusing Jamaican rhythms with Western pop styles, Tosh's efforts here often seem labored and decidedly overproduced, all too often mirroring the West's own tired and seemingly aimless pop formulas during the era. Even more jarring was the album's lyrical tone, a limp, can't-we-all-get-along pacificism that would have sounded noble coming from the mouth of a folk singer, but shocking from a man who'd long incited his countrymen to "Get Up, Stand Up" and fight for "Equal Rights." Instead Tosh stalked a nuclear straw man on the title track (has there ever been a pro-nuclear war pop star?) and espoused world peace with tired Lennonisms like "Come Together." There are hints elsewhere that Tosh was trying to find a way to reconcile his past musical adventures with contemporary trends, but it was not to be. On September 11, 1987, Tosh and six of his friends and musical associates were massacred by gunmen in the star's own home. – Jerry McCulley Amazon.com

Ignore Mike!

This may not be his best but it's still incredible. 'Nah Go A Jail' is good to light up too. 'No Nuclear War' can be updated and would fit right in today with the ever-present Imperialist objectives of the U.S. 'In My Song' and 'Testify' are praise songs to Jah and 'Lessons In My Life' is one of his best works. It's a perfect song to bring closure to a long and difficult journey. It's not easy to listen to 'Lessons' and not be saddened. July 26, 2006

What a Waste

Peter Tosh and Roots Reggae go together like Peanut Butter and Jelly. Hell, can you think of better reggae albums than "Legalize It" or "Equal Rights?" Or how about a more electic performer live? Even greats like Marley pale in comparison to Tosh's abilities. I mean, he was the revolutionary of a very revolutionary group, and reveled in it. And his fans loved him for that.

So WTF!!

As opposed to inciting his countrymen to war, he asks them to join together in peace and harmony to the rest of the world. Where's the Fire and Passion?! And wtf is up with the overproduction? I think he finally decided to seek mainstream success, but he picked one of the worst times in popular music to do so (the late 80's.) The result: an embarassing album for one of the leaders of an entire musical genre. Basically, think 80's Rolling Stones, and you got a pretty good idea of what I mean. Just terrible. And what the hell is up with the album name? "No Nuclear War?" As opposed to "Yay Nuclear War?" Man, it's a good thing he was shot. July 11, 2006

Peter Tosh won a Grammy for this album!

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. September 8, 2005

Peter Tosh's portentous final album

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. March 6, 2005

Haunting and Monolithic

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. February 26, 2005

More reviews at Amazon.com ...