Toots and the Maytals, originally called The Maytals, were a Jamaican musical group, one of the best known ska and rocksteady vocal groups. The Maytals were formed in the early 1960s and were key figures in popularizing reggae music. Frontman Toots Hibbert's soulful vocal style has been compared to Otis Redding, and led him to be named by Rolling Stone as one of the 100 Greatest Singers. Their 1968 single "Do the Reggay" was the first song to use the word "reggae", naming the genre and introducing it to a global audience.
As Island Records founder Chris Blackwell says, "The Maytals were unlike anything else ... sensational, raw and dynamic."
Toots Hibbert died on September 12, 2020, at the University Hospital of the West Indies in Mona, Jamaica, due to complications of COVID-19.
Links to Peel[]
Toots and the Maytals were one of the acts, along with Bob Marley & The Wailers and Jimmy Cliff, whom Island Records boss Chris Blackwell thought would appeal to a wider audience than just regular reggae record-buyers[1]. Their album Funky Kingston,[2] issued in 1972, was well-reviewed by some rock critics and their reputation began to grow. Even if they didn't attain the superstar status of Bob Marley, the US release of the album made the Billboard charts and Blackwell hired Joe Boyd to produce their follow-up LP for the US market, Reggae Got Soul.
The first known play of a track by Toots and the Maytals on a Peel show was in 1975, their version of "Louie Louie", but to judge from the relatively small number of plays over the years, they didn't seem to be among his favourite reggae artists. JP played tracks from the group mostly in the late '70's and early '80's, when bands such as the Clash and the Specials were recording cover versions of their material (see below). The selections Peel featured came both from their early period, when they were called the Maytals, and after they changed their name to Toots & The Maytals, as well as singer Toots Hibbert's collaboration with Anthony B in 2002.
Shows Played[]
Do The Reggay
- Maytals
- 22 February 1979: Pressure Drop
- 07 December 1982: I've Got A Pain (split 7" with Buster All Stars - I've Got A Pain / City Riot ) Blue Beat 45/BB 220
- 12 December 1982 (BFBS): I've Got A Pain (split 7" with Buster All Stars - I've Got A Pain / City Riot ) Blue Beat 45/BB 220
- 02 June 1984 (BFBS): Pressure Drop
- 19 July 1988: Hallelujah (v/a LP - Dance Crasher (Ska To Rock Steady)) Trojan
- 22 February 2001: John & James (v/a CD - The Rough Guide To The Music Of Jamaica) Music Rough Guides
- 04 March 2001 (BBC World Service): John James (v/a CD - The Rough Guide To The Music Of Jamaica: Roots Music From the Loudest Island on the Planet) World Music Network
- 14 March 2001: John James (v/a CD - The Rough Guide To The Music Of Jamaica: Roots Music From the Loudest Island on the Planet) World Music Network
- Toots & The Maytals
- 29 December 1975: Louie Louie (album - Funky Kingston) Island ILPS 9330
- 03 February 1976: Reggae Got Soul (7") Island
- 09 April 1980: Chatty Chatty (LP - Just Like That) Island
- 28 August 1980: Pressure Drop (7" - Toots & The Maytals E.P.) Island
- Toots
- 11 September 2002 (& Anthony B): Pumps And Pride (7") Fat Eyes
Covered[]
(The list below was compiled only from the Cover Versions page of this site. Please add more information if known.)
Artist | Track | First Known Play
- Clash: Pressure Drop 06 July 1991
- Melt Banana: Monkey Man 12 December 2002
- Specials: Monkey Man (session) 29 May 1979