There is no doubt Toots and the Maytals are Reggae greats, reggae pioneers, and deserve a lot more recognition than they have recieved.

The songs on this collection are edited (shortened)horribly however. Most notable is the intro to, and the bridge of "54-46 Was My Number", both being completely ommited. Many of the edits eliminate the R&B and gospel influenced parts of the tracks that make Toots and Maytals unique.

I would reccomend instead of this collection, you should try "20th Century Masters, The Best of Toots & The Maytals, The Millenium Collection" The edits are not present, and song choices are better (contains all the great songs the previous reviewer reccomended).

Toots Hibbert is a reggae/ska forefather whose infusion of American rhythm and blues into the sounds of reggae have earned him a respectable following. It's unfortunate that Toots is not as popular as he should be. His music is infectious, danceable, intense fun and should be heard by anyone who loves reggae and R&B. This collection may not be his best, but it's the only one I have. It contains some of his best cuts, like "54-46 That's My Number," his wonderful cover of "Take Me Home, Country Roads" and "Pressure Drop," which is stunning in its simplicity but is quite plainly one of the most irresistibly catchy songs I've ever heard. Unfortunately, the disc is marred by a few cheesy keyboard-driven early-eighties cuts, apparently in an effort to cover Toots' entire career. No matter. Skip the cheese and concentrate on the good stuff...you won't be sorry.