yardie's reggae collection - artist page

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THE MAYTALS FROM THE ROOTS * * * 1969 - Trojan - studio - discs:1 The Maytals were Frederick "Toots" Hibbert, Nathaniel "Jerry" Matthias and Henry "Raleigh" Gordon. The most succesful vocal group of the 60's was formed in 1961. Their first records were made for Coxsone Dodd, with "Hallelujah" and "Fever" as their real debut. With religious themed lyrichs they cut two dozens singles for Dodd. After those tracks they cut for Randy's, Kentone and Beverley's. In 1964 they cut for Prince Buster. In 1966 they cut the classic "Bam Bam" for Byron Lee. In 1969 their "Do The Reggay" cut for Leslie Kong's Beverley label was the first song to use the word Reggae. With the classic "54-46 That's My Number" also cut for Kong they were back after a two year absence due to Toots inprisonment for ganja possession. Along with the "Monkey Man" album from 1970, also produced by Kong and cut at Dynamic Sounds, "From The Roots" delivers the typical late 60's Maytals sound. This reissue offers eight bonus tracks. "Israel" is from 1970. "I Alone", "One Eye Enos" (a version of the same track presented in the original set) and "Funky Funky" (no Reggae here but Soul actually, with that style later adopted in the main Toots And The Maytals material) are from 1971. Than there are three versions of songs which appeared in the original set but the recording date in not mentioned. The gem can be found in "Your Troubles Are Over" (a Soulful song).