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.
Spiritual Healing
Toots and The Maytals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A little spiritual healing
And everyone has got to say
That it's a good feeling
Spiritual Healing
So good
It gives a higher feeling (oohhhh yeah)
So good
It's good for your bad feeling
Satisfy yourself and be a part of it
(be a part of it, c'mon and be a part of it)
Reunite your love and be a part of me
Hear what I say...
Open your heart so wide
Let love come 'round in here, believe
If you have that love in your own life
Let it shine (x3) yeah
Living in this world of today, we don't love
It is a waste of time
If you have that love in your heart
You gotta give it to em with the spiritual feeling
Toots and The Maytals's song "Spiritual Healing" is a plea for spiritual awakening and a call to embrace love and healing in the world. The lyrics of the song state that what this world needs today is a little spiritual healing, which everyone can agree is a good feeling. The song highlights the importance of spiritual healing and the impact it can have on our lives, giving us a higher feeling and being good for our bad feelings.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the importance of spiritual healing, stating that it is so good for us and can provide a higher feeling that is good for both our body and soul. The lyrics call on us to satisfy ourselves and be a part of it, to reunite our love and be a part of the world, and to open our hearts wide and let love come 'round in here, believing that if we have love in our own lives, we should let it shine.
The song argues that living in this world of today, we don't love enough; however, if we have that love in our hearts, we should give it to everyone with the spiritual feeling. The lyrics of the song are clear on the need for spiritual healing and love in the world, and the importance of embracing and pursuing these things for our own benefit.
Line by Line Meaning
What this world needs today
The current state of the world requires attention
A little spiritual healing
The world needs to heal spiritually
And everyone has got to say
The need for spiritual healing is widely recognized
That it's a good feeling
The experience of spiritual healing is positive
Spiritual Healing
The power of spiritual healing
So good
It is incredibly beneficial
It gives a higher feeling (oohhhh yeah)
It elevates one's mood and mindset
Spiritual Healing
The power of spiritual healing
So good
It is incredibly beneficial
It's good for your bad feeling
It helps to overcome negative emotions
Satisfy yourself and be a part of it
You should strive for personal satisfaction and participate in spiritual healing
(be a part of it, c'mon and be a part of it)
The need for active participation is emphasized
Reunite your love and be a part of me
Unite with others and become part of a greater whole
Hear what I say...
Listen to the message
Open your heart so wide
Be receptive and open-minded
Let love come 'round in here, believe
Invite love and believe it will come
If you have that love in your own life
If you possess love within yourself
Let it shine (x3) yeah
Dare to show your love outwardly
Living in this world of today, we don't love
Love is lacking in the present world
It is a waste of time
This attitude is detrimental
If you have that love in your heart
If you possess love within yourself
You gotta give it to em with the spiritual feeling
Express your love through spiritual healing
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave
Written by: FREDERICK HIBBERT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@rickynaidoo2921
I listened to this song in 1984. Until today I still listen to it.
@simonmanamela9421
I almost missed writing my final Economics Matric exam paper in 1986. Such a masterpiece. Not the trashy music we're fed these days
@user-gr6ci1du3e
How old are you Ricky
@rickynaidoo2921
@@simonmanamela9421 52 now
@leonardmabunda69
Even the production of song was good
@locks1175
Another beautiful soul taken from us.
R.I.P Toot 💔😥
@paulinemagala1497
♥️💛💚🔥🎶 one of the greatest hits in reggae
love from Australia 🇭🇲 🇭🇲
@rkagiso10
Childjood memories fm, growing up in Sourh Africa in the 70s and 80s. Reggae was the only music i liatened to in my teenage years.
@BlackfireProductionsmusic
Yes sir we sure do need some spiritual healing in this world right now.
@ToyotaGuy1971
Amen.