Toots and The Maytals are from Kingston, Jamaica. It was the producer Byron Lee who 1971 renamed them Toots & the Maytals. Frederick "Toots" Hibbert, the leader of the group and the lead singer, was born in May Pen in the Parish of Clarendon, Jamaica. He was the youngest of seven children. He grew up singing gospel music in a church choir, but moved to Kingston in 1961 at the age of sixteen.
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 drug possession charges.
Following Hibbert's release from jail towards the end of 1967, the band 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" 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.
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", 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.
In 2005, the band won a Grammy award for best reggae album for True Love, consisting of re-recorded versions of their classics alongside legendary musicians such as Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Eric Clapton, and Keith Richards, as well as popular artists such as No Doubt, Ben Harper, The Roots, and Shaggy.
They also contributed to the Easy Star All-Stars album 'Radiodread' (a dub tribute to Radiohead's OK Computer).
In 2016 Toots and the Maytals announced a return to the stage with their first tour in 3 years,[35] and on June 15 at The Observatory North Park in San Diego the group returned to the stage for the first time since 2013.
In 2017 Toots and the Maytals played Coachella Fest April 16 and 23 at 4:20 pm. They became the second reggae-based group to perform at the Coachella festival, after Chronixx in 2016.
In 2018, Toots and the Maytals launched a 50th anniversary tour with concert appearances in North America from April to August, moving to dates in the UK starting in October.
On July 25, 2018 Toots and the Maytals debuted an original song entitled "Marley" live on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and also played the classic "Funky Kingston".
On August 24, 2018 Toots and the Maytals performed at Lockn’ Festival in Arrington, Virginia, where guest Taj Mahal accompanied them on the song “Monkey Man”.
Frontman "Toots" Hibbert died on 12 September 2020.
Feel So Good
Toots and The Maytals Lyrics
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And shook up and shook up and shook up for a little love, yeah
And I walked, and I walked, and I walked and I just couldn't find
Couldn't find, couldn't find that little love, yeah afterwards I feel so good
Afterwards I find my lover, I feel so good afterwards
As I was walking on that street, I feel so lonely
And shook up, and shook up and shook up for a slice of bread, yeah
I could check on, I could check on, I could check on for a slice of bread
Then I feel so good afterwards, oh yeah, I feel so good afterwards
As I was walking on Orange Street, I feel so lonely
And shook up, and shook up and shook up for a little love, yeah
And I walked, and I walked, and I walked and I talked, and I talked
'Til I find a little love, oh Lord and I feel so good afterwards, yeah
I feel so good afterwards, Lord
As I was walking on that street afterwards
Yeah, and I feel so good afterwards
Yeah, and I was walking on Orange Street
The lyrics of Toots and The Maytals’ “Feel So Good” depict the story of the artist wandering aimlessly on Orange Street, feeling desolate and longing for companionship or even just a slice of bread. The repetition of “shook up” emphasizes the emotional turmoil within, and the use of “afterwards” highlights the relief and elation felt after finding what was sought. The song’s message speaks to a universal experience of intense longing, and the sense of fulfillment and contentment experienced when such desires are finally met.
The reference to Mr. Walker’s bakery suggests a sense of nostalgia, perhaps for a simpler time when finding relief from hunger was attainable through a visit to a small, local business. The use of “talked” in the fourth stanza suggests that the singer’s search for love was not just physical, but also involved a desire for meaningful communication and connection with another person. The repetition of “feel so good afterwards” punctuates the song and reflects the joy and gratitude felt by the artist upon finding what was sought.
Line by Line Meaning
As I was walking on Orange Street, I feel so lonely
While I was strolling down Orange Street, I felt a sense of isolation
And shook up and shook up and shook up for a little love, yeah
I was anxious and restless, searching for affection
And I walked, and I walked, and I walked and I just couldn't find
I wandered and roamed around, but couldn't locate
Couldn't find, couldn't find that little love, yeah afterwards I feel so good
That tiny bit of love I was seeking, I couldn't find it at first, but when I did, it made me feel amazing
Afterwards I find my lover, I feel so good afterwards
When I eventually found my beloved, it brought me immense joy and satisfaction
And shook up, and shook up and shook up for a slice of bread, yeah
I was agitated and restless, craving just a small piece of bread
And Mr. Walker's bakery was the only bakery I could check on
The only bakery available to me was Mr. Walker's, so I went there
Then I feel so good afterwards, oh yeah, I feel so good afterwards
After getting that slice of bread, I experienced immense satisfaction
And I walked, and I walked, and I walked and I talked, and I talked
I carried on walking and talking, trying to find that love I was yearning for
'Til I find a little love, oh Lord and I feel so good afterwards, yeah
Finally, when I stumbled upon a bit of romance, I felt incredibly happy and elated
I feel so good afterwards, Lord
That feeling of satisfaction and ease after finding what I was searching for stays with me even now
As I was walking on that street afterwards
As I was walking down that same street, but this time with my heart full of joy
Yeah, and I feel so good afterwards
I still hold on to that feeling of happiness and contentment
Yeah, and I was walking on Orange Street
I was still on Orange Street, but it felt like a different place entirely after finding love or even just a slice of bread
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: FREDERICK HIBBERT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind