The reggae musician who released the solo album “Equal Rights” was Peter Tosh. Released in 1977, it was Tosh’s second solo studio album after leaving the Wailers, the Jamaican group he had formed and performed with alongside Bob Marley and Bunny Wailer.
“Equal Rights” is one of Tosh’s most politically forceful recordings. Its songs address racial injustice, African unity, oppression and resistance. The album includes “Get Up, Stand Up,” co-written with Bob Marley, as well as “Stepping Razor,” “Apartheid” and the title track. Tosh’s direct activism helped distinguish his solo career from Marley’s more internationally marketed image.
A common mix-up is Bunny Wailer, another former Wailer who also pursued a major solo career. Bunny released albums such as “Blackheart Man,” while Tosh released “Equal Rights” and “Legalize It.” The album was recorded in Kingston and released by Columbia Records in 1977.