Toots and The Maytals Album: «Very Best of»

- Customers rating: (4.7 of 5)
- Title:Very Best of
- Release date:2000-04-25
- Type:Audio CD
- Label:Island
- UPC:731454234528
- Average (4.7 of 5)(17 votes)
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- 1 Broadway Jungle Toots & the Maytalsimg 3:14
- 2 Bam Bam Toots & the Maytals and Byron Lee & the Dragonairesimg 4:20
- 354-56 Was My Number
- 4Do The Reggay Toots & the Maytals
- 5 Pressure Drop Toots & the Maytalsimg 2:13
- 654-46 That' s My Number
- 7Sweet & Dandy Toots & the Maytals and The Maytals
- 8 Monkey Man Toots & the Maytalsimg 3:46
- 9 Pomp & Prideimg 4:27
- 10In The Park
- 11 Funky Kingstonimg 4:56
- 12 Time Toughimg 4:24
- 13 Reggae Got Soul Toots & the Maytalsimg 3:10
- 14 Never You Change Toots & the Maytalsimg 2:30
- 15 Living In The Ghetto Toots & the Maytalsimg 3:29
- 16 Never Get Weary Toots & the Maytalsimg 4:18
- 17(I've Got) Dreams to Remember Toots & the Maytals
- 18 Spiritual Healing Toots & the Maytalsimg 4:08
- 19 Peace Perfect Peaceimg 4:30
Of course, mention reggae music to nearly every human on the planet and the first name out of their mouths is Bob Marley. But if there's gotta be a #2 slot, then let it go to Frederick "Toots" Hibbert. He's the very embodiment of the word "journeyman". Influenced as much by classic sixties soul as by the bluebeat of his native land, Toots scored a series of funky, soulful, genuinely skanking hits in Jamaica and overseas. Total fans looking for a detailed and loving anthology are directed to TIME TOUGH, a double CD retrospective released in 1997 that touched on all the right bases. Those looking for a more concentrated dosage can line up here without guilt. If you regularly play the heck out of your Bob Marley LEGEND disc, then you'll equally play the heck out of this one, too. All the coolest cuts are here: "Bam Bam" (which was sampled and covered by Chaka Demus & Pliers), "54-46 That's My Number", "Reggae Got Soul" (where Kingston, Jamaica meets up with Atlanta, Georgia!), "Funky Kingston" and his remarkable remake of Otis Redding's "Dreams To Remember" (which, you may recall, was used as the music bed for a series of Club Med TV spots). The ultimate marriage of roots, rock, reggae on a disc that'll quickly become a fave! "54-46" may have been his number, but 10/10 is the number you can assign this set! Recommended!
Bob Marley may be the king but Toots was the originator. He was one of the first musicians to use the word Reggae to describe this popular Jamaican musical style. My only complaint with this compilation is that it omits the song, "Premature" from the LP, Reggae Got Soul (Lyrics: "Let the girl go home, let her go back home ..."). It's a great tune and one of his biggest international hits. Otherwise, this CD is a keeper.
This is an exceptional summary of one of the great pioneers of Reggae music, Toot and the Maytals. The song included here, DO THE REGGAY, has even been credited with giving the music it's name. Toots Hibbert and his compatriots created some of eary Reggae's great highlights including 54-46 WAS MY NUMBER, PRESSURE DROP, MONKEY MAN and SWEET AND DANDY. This collection shows the versitily of the Maytals to include raw Ska (BROAWDAY JUNGLE, BAM BAM), funk(FUNKY KINGSTON) and Memphis soul(REGGAE GOT SOUL and the great cover of Otis Redding's I'VE GOT DREAMS TO REMEMBER). THE VERY BEST OF TOOTS AND THE MAYTALS is a great introduction to one the the giants of Reggae music.
I was lucky enough to see both Bob Marley & the Wailers and Toots & the Maytals on the same double bill at the Beacon Theater in NYC back in the '70's. Until then I had heard neither. While Bob Marley was phenomenal. He did more with simply folding his arms than most rockers do flailing all around the stage & smashing guitars. But the true revelation was Toots & the Maytals. They didn't stop until they rocked the house. Listening to this "Best of" collection brings that night home to me. If you've never experienced Toots & the Maytals, buy this collection, and give it a listen. You won't stop dancing and swaying. I promise.
we have so enjoyed listening to this album and has really brought memories back ..what more can i say .

