Jamaican Toots and the Maytals was until 1971 a vocal group called simply T… Read Full Bio ↴Jamaican Toots and the Maytals was until 1971 a vocal group called simply The Maytals. They are one of the best known and highest professionally rated (Rolling Stone, AllMusic, etc) ska, rocksteady and reggae groups. They were icons for the early skinhead movement of white working-class youth in UK. Their sound was unique, highly influenced by gospel, soul, and funk. Maytals (Hebrew = "dewdrops") was formed in Kingston, Jamaica 1961 by Frederick "Toots" Hibbert, Henry "Raleigh" Gordon & Nathaniel "Jerry" Mathias. Well known songs are '54-46 Was My Number', 'Funky Kingston', 'Pressure Drop', 'Monkey Man', 'Never You Change' 'Bam Bam'. The group had 2 songs in Jimmy Cliff's 1972 film The Harder They Come, and started to enjoy international hits 1973 on Island Records.
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Frederick "Toots" Hibbert, the leader of the group, was born in May Pen, Clarendon, Jamaica. He was the youngest of seven children. He grew up singing gospel music in a church choir, but moved to Kingston in 1958 at the age of thirteen. In Kingston, Hibbert met Henry "Raleigh" Gordon and Nathaniel "Jerry" McCarthy, forming in 1962 a group whose early recordings were incorrectly attributed to "The Flames" and "The Vikings" by Island records in the UK.
The Maytals first had chart success recording for producer Clement "Coxsone" Dodd at Studio One. With musical backing from Dodd's house band, the legendary Skatalites, the Maytals' close-harmony gospel singing ensured success, overshadowing Dodd's other up-and-coming vocal group, The Wailers. After staying at Studio One for about two years, the group moved on to do sessions for Prince Buster before recording with Byron Lee in 1965. With Lee, the Maytals won their first Festival Popular Song Competition with "Bam Bam". However, the group's musical career was interrupted in late 1966 when Hibbert was arrested and imprisoned. Toots states that he was not arrested for ganja but while bailing a friend. He also states that he made up the number 54-46 when writing 54-46 That's My Number about his time in jail.
Following Hibbert's release from jail towards the end of 1967, the Maytals began working with Chinese-Jamaican producer Leslie Kong, a collaboration a string of hits throughout the late sixties and early seventies - "Do the Reggay", a 1968 single widely credited with coining the word reggae, "Pressure Drop", "54-46" the 1969 Jamaica festival's popular song winner, "Sweet & Dandy" and "Monkey Man", the group's first international hit in 1970 . In 1972 they won their third Jamaica festival popular song with "Pomps & Pride". The group was also featured in one of reggae's greatest breakthrough events - The Harder They Come, the 1972 film and soundtrack starring Jimmy Cliff, named as one of Vanity Fair's Top 10 Best Soundtracks of all time.
Following Kong's death in 1971, the group continued to record with Kong's former sound engineer, Warwick Lyn; the group released three best-selling albums produced by Lyn and Chris Blackwell of Island Records, and enjoyed international hits with Funky Kingston in 1973 and Reggae Got Soul in 1975. Following the release of "Reggae Got Soul", Toots & The Maytals were invited to tour as the warm-up act for The Who during their North American Tour. The tour went poorly and Toots & The Maytals never went on the success of Bob Marley or Peter Tosh in the US.
Toots and the Maytals' compositions would be given a second airing in 1978-80 during the reggae-punk and ska revival period in the UK, when The Specials included "Monkey Man" on their 1979 debut album and The Clash produced their version of "Pressure Drop". They were also included in the Bob Marley and the Wailers song, *Punky Reggae Party". "The Wailers will be there, The Damned, The Jam, The Clash, The Maytals will be there, Dr. Feelgood too".
Having toured throughout the world for many years, Toots and the Maytals disbanded in the early 1980s, but reformed in the early 90s to continue touring and recording successfully. Sublime recorded cover versions of some Maytals songs in the 1990s as well.
The group recently won the 2005 Grammy award for best reggae album True Love, an album consisting of re-recorded versions of their classics alongside popular and legendary musicians such as Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Eric Clapton, and Keith Richards, as well as popular artists today such as No Doubt, Ben Harper, The Roots, and Shaggy.
In 2006, they recorded a reggae/ska version of Radiohead's Let Down for the tribute album, Radiodread, by the Easy Star All-Stars. The album is a complete song for song makeover of the English rock band's album OK Computer into reggae, dub and ska. Let Down has been frequently cited by reviewers as one of the successes of the album.
A follow up to 2004's Love was being recorded in 2005 and released in 2007, and featured re-workings of classics such as "Johnny Cool Man" as well as new material. Light Your Light was nominated for the Grammy in the category Best Reggae Album.
Frederick Nathaniel 'Toots' Hibbert passed away September 11, 2020 at age 77.
- - -
Frederick "Toots" Hibbert, the leader of the group, was born in May Pen, Clarendon, Jamaica. He was the youngest of seven children. He grew up singing gospel music in a church choir, but moved to Kingston in 1958 at the age of thirteen. In Kingston, Hibbert met Henry "Raleigh" Gordon and Nathaniel "Jerry" McCarthy, forming in 1962 a group whose early recordings were incorrectly attributed to "The Flames" and "The Vikings" by Island records in the UK.
The Maytals first had chart success recording for producer Clement "Coxsone" Dodd at Studio One. With musical backing from Dodd's house band, the legendary Skatalites, the Maytals' close-harmony gospel singing ensured success, overshadowing Dodd's other up-and-coming vocal group, The Wailers. After staying at Studio One for about two years, the group moved on to do sessions for Prince Buster before recording with Byron Lee in 1965. With Lee, the Maytals won their first Festival Popular Song Competition with "Bam Bam". However, the group's musical career was interrupted in late 1966 when Hibbert was arrested and imprisoned. Toots states that he was not arrested for ganja but while bailing a friend. He also states that he made up the number 54-46 when writing 54-46 That's My Number about his time in jail.
Following Hibbert's release from jail towards the end of 1967, the Maytals began working with Chinese-Jamaican producer Leslie Kong, a collaboration a string of hits throughout the late sixties and early seventies - "Do the Reggay", a 1968 single widely credited with coining the word reggae, "Pressure Drop", "54-46" the 1969 Jamaica festival's popular song winner, "Sweet & Dandy" and "Monkey Man", the group's first international hit in 1970 . In 1972 they won their third Jamaica festival popular song with "Pomps & Pride". The group was also featured in one of reggae's greatest breakthrough events - The Harder They Come, the 1972 film and soundtrack starring Jimmy Cliff, named as one of Vanity Fair's Top 10 Best Soundtracks of all time.
Following Kong's death in 1971, the group continued to record with Kong's former sound engineer, Warwick Lyn; the group released three best-selling albums produced by Lyn and Chris Blackwell of Island Records, and enjoyed international hits with Funky Kingston in 1973 and Reggae Got Soul in 1975. Following the release of "Reggae Got Soul", Toots & The Maytals were invited to tour as the warm-up act for The Who during their North American Tour. The tour went poorly and Toots & The Maytals never went on the success of Bob Marley or Peter Tosh in the US.
Toots and the Maytals' compositions would be given a second airing in 1978-80 during the reggae-punk and ska revival period in the UK, when The Specials included "Monkey Man" on their 1979 debut album and The Clash produced their version of "Pressure Drop". They were also included in the Bob Marley and the Wailers song, *Punky Reggae Party". "The Wailers will be there, The Damned, The Jam, The Clash, The Maytals will be there, Dr. Feelgood too".
Having toured throughout the world for many years, Toots and the Maytals disbanded in the early 1980s, but reformed in the early 90s to continue touring and recording successfully. Sublime recorded cover versions of some Maytals songs in the 1990s as well.
The group recently won the 2005 Grammy award for best reggae album True Love, an album consisting of re-recorded versions of their classics alongside popular and legendary musicians such as Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Eric Clapton, and Keith Richards, as well as popular artists today such as No Doubt, Ben Harper, The Roots, and Shaggy.
In 2006, they recorded a reggae/ska version of Radiohead's Let Down for the tribute album, Radiodread, by the Easy Star All-Stars. The album is a complete song for song makeover of the English rock band's album OK Computer into reggae, dub and ska. Let Down has been frequently cited by reviewers as one of the successes of the album.
A follow up to 2004's Love was being recorded in 2005 and released in 2007, and featured re-workings of classics such as "Johnny Cool Man" as well as new material. Light Your Light was nominated for the Grammy in the category Best Reggae Album.
Frederick Nathaniel 'Toots' Hibbert passed away September 11, 2020 at age 77.
Just Tell Me
The Maytals Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Just Tell Me' by these artists:
BTOB Wanna get, get your, your love So tell me what, what…
Cirrone Just tell me Have you made up your mind yet Will you…
Couriers The Tell me, tell me, tell me that you don't mind And…
Cynergy 67 I can't read your mind I can't tell how you feel I…
Dj Roy-Z I want you, I need you, whoah o whoah Shawty say…
ElegantO I Don't Know If I'm Ever Gonna Be The Same Just…
For Felix I'm taking back all the promises That I made myself before …
Jay Sagi So change it innovation why could I keep it basic I…
Lynn You've just stepped in from steppin' out on me And break…
ROB 'N' RAZ FEAT. LEILA K Move - C'mon Move - C'mon Just tell me, what did I…
Sierra Swan Your sweet attention is all I need Your gentle kisses help…
Stumbleine (feat. Violet Skies) Say what you'll say to me It's been 3 months since…
Stumbleine feat. Violet Skies No I don't regret One single second Of loving you I don't re…
The Couriers Tell me, tell me, tell me that you don't mind And…
The Shadow ΠΠ½Π΅ Π±Ρ ΠΊΡΠΎ-ΡΠΎ ΡΠΊΠ°Π·Π°Π», ΠΈ ΠΏΡΠ΅Π΄ΡΠΏΡΠ΅Π΄ΠΈΠ» Π§ΡΠΎ Π»ΡΠ±ΠΈΡΡ Π±ΡΠ²Π°Π΅Ρ ΠΎΡΠ΅Π½Ρ …
The Zodiacs Friends tell me I am crazy And I'm wasting time with…
Toots & The Maytals Just tell me that you really love me true Then I…
Tsmusicproject Donβt want no pot of silver Donβt want a house in…
Wess & The Airedales Want you to know I go for your squeezin' Want you…
We have lyrics for these tracks by The Maytals:
13.Never you change Let me hear you again, now, oh baby, sir Sweetheart, darlin…
13.Never you change. Let me hear you again, now, oh baby, sir Sweetheart, darl…
14. Pressure Drop Hmm hmm hmm, yeah Hmm hmm hmm, yeah Hmm hmm…
54 I said, yeah (I said, yeah) Listen what I say (listen…
54 46 That's My Number I said yeah (I said yeah), listen what I say…
54-46 I said, yeah (I said, yeah) Listen what I say (listen…
African Doctor You can stay in the dark, brother You can stay in…
Alidina Alright, Alidina, go on, go do the work Alright alright …
Are You Mine Are you mine? I need no one but you, you Are you…
Bam Bam Ah? I want you to know that I am the man…
Bim Today Bim Today, Bam Tomorrow I want you tell me the truth…
Bla Bla Bla I called my baby to the breakfast table My baby calls…
Cry Over You Yeah I'm gonna sit right down and cry over you I'm gonna…
Daddy You're my love You're my angel You're the girl of my dreams …
Desmond Dekker Came First Sing a song yeah Reggae soul my brother There is a right…
Do the Reggay I got a rich one (yeah) Do you love me? (yeah) Do…
Doctor Lester aka 'African Doctor' You can stay in the dark, brother You can stay in…
Don't Let Don't let no one tell you that I'm not in…
Don't Trouble Bam, Bam Ah I want you to know that I am the…
Feel So Good As I was walking on Orange Street, I feel so…
Funky Kingston Everybody, give it to me huh Hey Hey Hey I want you…
Give Peace A Chance Two, one two three four Everybody's talking about Bagism, Sh…
Gold And Silver All over this world Desolate All over creation Desolate Mmm …
Gonna Need Somebody Every morning, every night you make me cry Just because you…
Got to Feel Got to, got to, got to Sure I saw you walking…
HALLELUJAH Once I was B-O-U-N-D Bound in the name of J-E-S-U-S Through …
I Feel Alright As I was walking on Orange Street, I feel so…
I Know I know we can make it if you don't break…
I Shall Be Free I know, oh yes, I know, I know, oh yes,…
I'll Never Grow Old I will never grow old No I'll never I'll never I'll never I'…
I'm Gonna Sit Down Yeah I'm gonna sit right down and cry over you I'm gonna…
It Must Be True Love When you feel like loving I feel like loving too When you…
It's You It's you, it's you, it's you, it's you Yeah, yeah, it's…
John & James John James went down to London town, London town Yeah, he…
Johnny Coolman They call me Johnny Cool Man They call me Johnny Cool…
Just Got to Be Lord I must know If you've been weeping and wailing Naughty,…
Know Me Good You sure do know me Know me, know me, know me,…
Koo Koo Koo, Koo, you have me in the corner, baby Hey, hey,…
Loving Spirit I say, I feel the loving spirit deep down in…
Monkey Girl This one's for the bouncers. big, big monkey man Aye…
Monkey Man Aye aye aye, aye aye aye Tell you baby, you huggin'…
Never You Change Let me hear you again, now, oh baby, sir Sweetheart, darlin…
Night & Day Night and day and night I wonder if the time can…
Oh Yeah Everybody, give it to me, huh Hey, hey, hey I want you…
One Do do do do do, ohh ohh ohh Fret not for…
Pee Pee Cluck Cluck Pee pee cluck cluck Lara Look at me You should know that…
Peeping Tom Peeping, peeping, peeping tom Peeping, peeping, peeping tom …
Pomps And Pride Everybody just Cryin out (cry out) Calm down (calm down) Hav…
Pressure Hmm hmm hmm, yeah Hmm hmm hmm, yeah Hmm hmm hmm, yeah It…
Reborn When I look When I look When I look Oh yes indeed When I…
Revival Reggae You got lovin', yeah you got lovin' yeah yeah You go…
scare him Scare him, scare him, scare him Scare him, don't let them…
She's My Scorcher I said, turn her back, turn her back and don't…
Six & Seven Books And the six and the seven books He wrote them all From…
Six And Seven Book Of Moses And the six and the seven books He wrote them all From…
Six And Seven Books And the six and the seven books He wrote them all From…
Sweet & Dandy Etty in the room a cry Mama say she must wipe…
Sweet And Dandy Etty in the room a cry Mama say she must wipe…
Tell Me You Love Me Tell me, tell me, tell me...what's on your mind? Tell me,…
The Preacher Got to, got to, got to, got to Kneeling, oh kneeling Oh,…
Thy Kingdom Come Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done On earth as it…
True Love Love is a habit My true true love I found A love…
Walk With Love Walk With Love, Talk With Love You will all walk with…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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@TheMalmut
Goddamn, this music never ceases to wash away all my troubles, bring a smile to my face, and get get me groovin, however temporary it may be.
@michaelgifford8602
This song in particular. Wow. Toots was incredible.
@empresstashaii
I love this so much,..
thanks Toots.....live for ever tunes....
@mefirstnommelastnom8109
Love this song. I could listen to it in an endless loop... Well, I actually do π
The vocals at 2:18 are just brilliant β€ π―π²πͺπΉ
@andrelacoste4974
Brilliant, hapiness in a can! Summer, good people and smiles!!
@terrorbhaudet2509
What a master soundβ€
This is probably the best music ever madeππ½ jah bless
@giuseppelogiurato5718
Happiest song... Strength!
@Kaiqueoalves
Beeeeeest!!! π―π²π₯π₯π₯
@pepeolivasanchez9945
They just bright like sun, their smiles are stars and moon
@kevuelitamoi884
He was loved by people in my country..all the way from Fiji islands...