In Kingston, he met Henry "Raleigh" Gordon and Nathaniel "Jerry" McCarthy, forming a group whose early recordings were attributed to "The Flames" and, possibly, "The Vikings". Having renamed the group the Maytals, the vocal trio recorded their first album, "Never Grow Old - presenting the Maytals", for producer Clement "Coxsone" Dodd at Studio One in 1962-63. With musical backing from Dodd's house band, the legendary Skatalites, the Maytals' close-harmony gospel singing ensured instant success for the 1964 release, overshadowing Dodd's other up-and-coming gospel trio, The Wailers. The original album augmented by studio out-takes from the Studio One sessions was re-released by Heartbeat/Rounder Records in 1997, and is essential listening for Maytals and Skatalites fans.
After staying at Studio One for about two years, the group moved on to do sessions for Prince Buster (released in 1974) before recording their second album produced by Byron Lee in 1965. However, the band's musical career was rudely interrupted in late 1966 when Hibbert was arrested and imprisoned on drugs possession charges.
Following Hibbert's release from jail towards the end of 1967, the band officially changed their name to Toots and the Maytals and began working with Chinese-Jamaican producer Leslie Kong, a collaboration which produced three classic albums and 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 was my number" and "Monkey Man", the group's first international hit in 1970. The group was featured in one of reggae's greatest breakthrough events - The Harder They Come, the 1972 film and soundtrack starring Jimmy Cliff.
Following Kong's death in 1971, the group continued to record with Kong's former sound engineer, Warwick Lyn; produced by Lyn and Chris Blackwell of Island Records, the group released three best-selling albums, and enjoyed international hits with "Funky Kingston" in 1973 and "Reggae Got Soul" in 1976.
The compositions of Toots & the Maytals (also known as Toots and the Maytals) 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", with other Maytals' covers being recorded by Sublime. 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.
The band recently won the 2005 Grammy award for reggae for the 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.
They also contributed to the album 'Radiodread' (a tribute to Radiohead's OK Computer).
John & James
Toots & The Maytals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah, he want to be a member if he can
But I know and I know
He never had that nice shirt before
He's sitting in a mansion smoking big cigar
He's sitting in a mansion smoking big cigar
But I know, and I know
All I want sir is just put me among the girls
He said all I want sir is just put me among the girls
But I know and I know
He never had that nice shirt before, well, Johnny, you
Johnny is the coolest one
Johnny is the coolest one
Johnny is the coolest one
Johnny is the coolest one
Johnny is the coolest one
Johnny is the coolest one
Johnny is the coolest one
Johnny is the coolest one
But he is bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad
Johnny is the coolest one
Johnny is the coolest one
Johnny is the coolest one
The lyrics of "John & James" by Toots & The Maytals tell the story of two men, John and James, who go to London town with different aspirations. John wants to be a member of something, while James is already living the high life in a mansion, smoking a big cigar. Despite his fancy surroundings, the singer acknowledges that James never had a nice shirt before, indicating his humble beginnings. John, on the other hand, simply wants to be among the girls, but even he has never had a nice shirt before. The repetition of this line emphasizes the theme of social class and striving for acceptance or validation.
Throughout the song, there is a recurring refrain that "Johnny is the coolest one" despite his bad behavior. This hyperbolic statement could be interpreted as commentary on society's tendency to idolize charismatic individuals, regardless of their moral character. It also adds an element of humor to the song, as the singer seems to be acknowledging Johnny's flaws while praising him at the same time. Ultimately, "John & James" is a character study that highlights the complexities of human nature and the desire for acceptance and admiration.
Line by Line Meaning
John James went down to London town, London town
John and James traveled to London with the intention of becoming a member of the prestigious society.
Yeah, he want to be a member if he can
They were aspiring to be members of London's high society, and were willing to do anything to join them.
But I know and I know
The singer knows the truth about John and James, despite their aspirations and façade.
He never had that nice shirt before
The artist knows that John's clothes and outward appearance do not match the lifestyle he is trying to emulate.
He's sitting in a mansion smoking big cigar
John is now living the life of the wealthy and privileged in a grand mansion, enjoying the perks of his new high-class lifestyle.
All I want sir is just put me among the girls
John's ultimate desire is to be surrounded by beautiful women, indicating his shallow and superficial nature.
But I know and I know
The singer reiterates that he knows the truth about John, despite his attempts to fit in with the elite society.
He never had that nice shirt before, well, Johnny, you
The artist calls out John's false image by highlighting the fact that he never owned nice clothes prior to his attempt to join the high society.
Johnny is the coolest one
Despite John's false image, he is still seen as cool and enviable by some people.
But he is bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad
The artist emphasizes John's true nature, which is not as cool or respectable as he appears to be.
Johnny is the coolest one
Despite the singer's negative perception of John, some people still see him as the embodiment of coolness.
Contributed by John J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.