One spin of one side of Jackie Mittoo's Evening Time LP turned into a two day Maytals binge. Mitto is a great organist, a huge part of the sound of Studio One, but the album had a riddim that was the backing of a Maytals song, and that was exactly where the diversion went. Shit, once I put on the Maytals it was all over. Toots Hibberts has such a distinctive voice, all gravely and soulful and shit, that he could sing just about anything and make it sound good. Case in point: John Denver's "Country Roads". I don't like John Denver so the original has never done much for me, but Toots and the Maytals' version is do-able, no, it's actually better that you'd expect. It's no "Pressure Drop", but it beats most reggae these days (is there even any?) and it's a hell of a lot more enjoyable then the original.
Toots split from the Maytals, went solo, then reconstructed a new Maytals. He's done a few too many novelty things for my taste (an LP of duets will non-reggae artists, a Radiohead cover, etc.) but he has always had that voice and that's what really slays me.
Toots split from the Maytals, went solo, then reconstructed a new Maytals. He's done a few too many novelty things for my taste (an LP of duets will non-reggae artists, a Radiohead cover, etc.) but he has always had that voice and that's what really slays me.
~ NOTE: ALL MEDIA IS HOSTED BY THE BLOGS & SITES NAMED BELOW ~
Listen:Toots and the Maytals - Sweet and Dandy mp3 at ATumblr (?)
Toots and the Maytals - Freedom Train mp3 at Keep the Coffee Coming
Toots and the Maytals - Gold and Silver mp3 at The Fader
Toots and the Maytals - Monkey Man mp3 at SpacePack
Toots and the Maytals - Reggae Got Soul mp3 at ATumblr (?)
Toots and the Maytals - Six more songs at Soul Garage
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