Search - Maytals :: Do the Reggae

Great Seminal Reggae

Randall E. Adams | Los Angeles, CA United States | 03/13/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The best music of Toots & the Maytals was always firey and gospel inflected whether from the ska era or later. After starting out with one very great number recorded with Byron Lee ("Bam Bam"), this great collection introduces the often-forgotten recordings produced by Leslie Kong after Toots was released from prison (possession of marijuana, of course)and before the "Monkey Man" album. These include the angry first version of "54-46 That's My Number," the driving "Struggle," the classic killer single "Do the Reggay"--that rhythm section will run you over if you don't get out of the way, the breakneck "Alidina." Everything on here is great.The only reason I give this release four stars instead of five is that the sound is not all that wonderful. These tracks have been mastered from old 45s instead of from tape. I'm hoping that somebody corrects this problem with another release drawing upon the tapes--if they still exist."