Mama Africa (Peter Tosh album) explained

Mama Africa
Type:	Album
Artist:	Peter Tosh
Cover:	Peter tosh mama africa.jpg
Released:	1983
Recorded:	1982, 1983
Genre:	Reggae, pop
Length:	44:11
Label:	EMI America (U.S.) EMI (UK / International) Intel-Diplo (Jamaica)
Producer:	Chris Kimsey, Peter Tosh
Prev Title:	Wanted Dread & Alive
Prev Year:	1980, 1981
Next Title:	No Nuclear War
Next Year:	1987

Mama Africa is a studio album by the Jamaican musician Peter Tosh, released in 1983.^{[1] [2]} It peaked at number 59 on the Billboard 200, becoming Tosh's highest-charting album in the U.S.^[3] Tosh supported the album with a North American tour.^[4] A video was shot for "Johnny B. Goode".^[5]

Critical reception

The New York Times wrote: "Like most of Mr. Tosh's albums, Mama Africa is uneven—Mr. Tosh's raw baritone can be inexpressive—but in 'Glasshouse' and a few other songs Mr. Tosh shows both vehemence and a preacher's timing."^[6] The Globe and Mail determined that "Mama Africa has more snap rhythmically than anything he's done since Bush Doctor."^[7]

Track listing

All tracks composed by Peter Tosh; except where indicated

1. "Mama Africa" - 7:56
2. "Glasshouse" - 5:52
3. "Not Gonna Give It Up" - 5:48
4. "Stop That Train" - 4:02
5. "Johnny B. Goode" (Chuck Berry) - 4:04
6. "Where You Gonna Run" (Donald Kinsey) - 4:09
7. "Peace Treaty" - 4:21
8. "Feel No Way" - 3:31
9. "Maga Dog" - 4:30

Personnel

• Peter Tosh - lead and backing vocals, clavinet
• Leebert "Gibby" Morrison, Robbie Shakespeare - bass guitar
• Carlton "Santa" Davis, Sly Dunbar - drums
• Geoffrey Chung, Lancelot "Maxie" McKenzie - engineer
• Darryl Thompson, Donald Kinsey, Ed Edizalde - lead guitar
• Mikey Chung, Steve Golding - rhythm guitar
• Byron Allred, Peter Couch - keyboards
• Robert Lyn - organ (tracks: A1 to A4, B3 to B5)
• Skully, Uziah Thompson - percussion
• Keith Sterling - piano"
• Dean Fraser - saxophone
• Ronald "Nambo" Robinson - trombone
• Arnold Brackenridge, David Madden, Junior "Chico" Chin - trumpet
• Jon Paris - harmonica
• Audrey Hall, Betty Wright, Donald Kinsey, Dorett Myers, Pam Hall, Raymond Hall, The Tamlins - backing vocals

Technical

• Chris Kimsey, Peter Tosh - mixing
• John "Jellybean" Benitez - mixing on "Johnny B. Goode"

Charts

Chart (1983)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[8]	47
US Billboard 200	59

Notes and References

1. Web site: Peter Tosh Biography by Jo-Ann Greene . AllMusic . 26 June 2023.
2. News: Washington . Linn . Reggae Star Likes Philadelphia Vibes . Philadelphia Daily News . 6 July 1983 . Features . 32.
3. Peter Tosh . Billboard . 26 June 2023.
4. News: Morse . Steve . Peter Tosh Angry at the Stones, He Starts Over . The Boston Globe . 3 July 1983 . Arts . 1.
5. News: Tucker . Ken . Peter Tosh, Mama Africa . The Philadelphia Inquirer . 17 July 1983 . P10.
6. News: Pareles . Jon . Tropical Rhythms Weave Their Spell on Pop Music . The New York Times . 10 July 1983 . A23.
7. News: Lacey . Liam . Mama Africa Peter Tosh . The Globe and Mail . 16 July 1983 . F6.
8. Book: Kent, David. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. illustrated. Australian Chart Book. St Ives, N.S.W.. 1993. 0-646-11917-6. 311.