Maytals - Time Tough

The Maytals

In the multi rooted history of reggae music. The Maytals remain for most people the soul or gospel connection back to American music. For some they are the only connection back! They have clearly not heard the works of singers like Ken Parker and Bobby Aitken and many more. And probably never will. Yet the Maytals were able to not only preach the gospel, they also spoke out and gave encouragement to many other groups of people not only in Jamaica, but all over the world. There story starts with Coxsone Dodd. Frederick ‘Toot’s Hibbert, Henry ‘Raleigh’ Gordon, and Nathaniel ‘Jerry’ McCarthy – The Maytals, began recording with Coxsone in 1963, by 1964 – Coxsone released there first album!!!

Maytals – Never Grow Old – 1964 

I’ll Never Grow Old - 1963

Coxsone was actually into releasing albums then. It wasn’t long before he dropped that policy – or changed it into recording albums – but not releasing them. The tracks here represent some of the biggest hits in Jamaica, and in the UK where the LP gained release on Ska Beat. The first track is the title track of the album. Classic call and response harmonies – with Toots bopping and weaving through those harmonies with ease. By now the Skatalites were the resident band at Studio One – which makes these tracks even more special.

Sweet Sweet Jenny – 1965

Such was the popularity of the group, that this tune was actually released a year after the album was released. Most of the time during the sixties and seventies. A single or two was released from an LP, and if it was popular – the remaining tracks were thought of to be singles. If you liked the tunes – buy the album!  The Maytals following even then must have been so strong that – they wanted a tune to released on a single it was!!! And this applied not only to Jamaica, but to the UK. 

Are You Mine – 1965

A truly beautiful tune. When Toots turned on those soul – gospel vibes – he could really take it to another level. A slow ballad built around some magnificent organ work. Which must be Jackie Mittoo. The drum ticks away waiting to go into a Ska, but always holds back. These type of tunes are not about reggae music reaching out – they are about reaching back, to a time when reggae or in this case Ska (or the Ska Era) did not exist. Remarkable music by any standard.

Matthew, Mark - 1963

Back to the Ska, for this one. The whole tune is built around the Maytals harmonies – that take over the over the higher range of this tune. Leaving the space for everything else – horns, harmonica, bass and drum to fill up the rest. You want production technique – this is it. And all done on one mic, perhaps two. Released in Jamaica on Rolando & Powie – and in the UK on Rita and Benny’s R&B label.

Six And Seven Books Of Moses - 63

One of the biggest hits. That Coxsone left off of the 1964 album release. But when Heartbeat – re-issued this classic work in the Nineties – they added a few more tracks and this was one of them.  You can understand the logic of Coxsone, this tune probably was selling on single for years and years – decades after it was release. Why put it on an album? Well Heartbeat did on the CD release. And it’s such a fantastic tune it needs to be heard. The harmonica solo from Charley Organaire is one of the wonders of the world!!

Prince Buster – Greatest Hits – Vol 3 – Featuring The Maytals. 

It certainly does feature them.  Buster had enough material to release albums with at least ten artists. To my knowledge, only Big Youth, John Holt – and this set from They Maytals only ever gained release. In the early days, it made sense albums were expensive to produce and manufacture – but by the early seventies it was easier. Perhaps he tried with those albums from Big Youth and John Holt. And the magnificent ‘The Message’ dub set.  Buster concentrated on himself for the most part. And his contribution was massive. 

Dog War

What an amazing tune. A far east piano intro is soon followed by some mad whelps and screams from the Maytals. Toots of course takes the lead, but it’s the harmonies if you can them harmonies! from Jerry and Raleigh. Well one of them is doing the harmonies, why the other one is making dog sounds like you have never heard!! The rhythm is medium to fast, with a solid one drop drum sound holding it altogether. One of the most wildest and remarkable tunes ever to come out of Jamaica from any era you care to name!

Pain In My Belly

Buster loved unusual percussion this is a man who took Count Ossie and MMR into the studio to create ‘Oh Carolina’ from the Folkes Brothers. This is not like that, very few tunes on earth sound like ‘Oh Carolina’! But you can see he was still experimenting with percussion. Not sure what kind of style this is, but it’s good.  Toots sings with great passion, not quite sure what he’s singing about – but in the context of a Maytals tune – most of the time – it’s vibes. And this tune is packed with them.

Judgement Day

Is another mix up tune, with a bassline that is pure R&B – but then to make it more forward – more roots – he brings in the handclappers!!! They truly the carry the beat of tune. With only a faint echo of a harmonica – also pushing the rhythm along.  Toots loves the Bible, it’s also provided him with inspiration. From Creation – to in this case ‘Judgement Day’ He’s not just singing – he’s living the moment. Very few artists on earth can do this better than Toots. Much later in Reggae music – Prince Far I did the same, but with Deejaying.

Domino

Not a tribute to Fats Domino out of New Orleans, but a tribute to the game much loved by Jamaicans – and a whole lot of people the world over. Except people the world over – do not play Dominoes in the way Jamaicans play. Oh no, a game of Dominoes is a game of wild excitement, in need of a strong table, and even stronger nerves!!! I was expecting some mad drums rolls on this – but who comes in towards the middle of the tune.. The Hand Clappers! You can always rely upon Buster to come up with something different!!!

The Sensational Maytals – 1965

Ronnie Nasralla and Byron Lee had not yet got around to creating Dynamic Sounds - but BMN was up and running. And they were working with some very interesting people – The Blues Busters, David Isaacs, Sir Lord Comic and of course the Maytals. And both  the Blues Busters and The Maytals released albums on the label. And this album from the Maytals contains some amazing first cuts.

Bam Bam

Was the Jamaican Festival Song winner for 1966, and I’m not surprised. With Rock Steady in full swing, you would think this was a rock steady tune. Well think again. This is something very special. It opens up with some incredible conga work, then the bass comes in. This bassline remained at one cut for years – until Sly and Robbie got hold on it and turned it into ‘Murder She Wrote’ from Chakademus & Pliers. Returning to this cut, the original from the Maytals, another musical surprise comes in next. An acoustic mento guitar – playing the rhythm. Of course it’s also a great song from Toots. 

It’s You

Another first cut.  And another great bassline. This time it’s Ska. But it’s very clean Ska. Recorded at Federal, as was all of the album. Perhaps the cleanness of the sound was too much for some people, but it was a different sound to what the Ska producers were getting. It’s just curious how they got it, what was they doing in the studio on these sessions for BMN – that was not being done on sessions for other producers. I notice that Tom Dowd the US engineer was present on these sessions.

Fever

Not a hit for BMN, back then, but a massive hit for Dynamics with Warrick Lyn producing in 1973.

This one is a more traditional sounding Ska. In that it sounds like it could have been produced by Coxsone. The clean sound – is not present here at all. But a simple explanation could be the musicians – most of the other producers were using variations of the Skatalites band. Not so BMN. The musicans here would be the The Dragonaires, Byron Lee’s backing band – the same band that were sent to World Fair in NYC in the early sixties, which caused a lot of argument.

Never You Change

This one is back to the clean sound, and this as also got a noticable jump to it. When they brought in the organ, some of these tunes really jumped – but this one features no organ. Although it does feature a fantastic guitar solo! I wonder why played that?! A lovely set of lyrics from Toots are sung in a laid back way to great effect.  While the rhythm section, is pushed along by a well played bassline.  Now Byron Lee is the bass player in the Dragonaires – and if this him, he did a very good job. 

Sweet And Dandy – 1969

When the Maytals arrived at Beverley’s in 1967, it created a musical explosion that still sends shockwaves out that can be still be felt today. The Beverley’s sound was ready made for the group. When the reggae era came in, the group responded with a tune that is a celebration of the new sound. ‘Do The Reggay’ is not on this album. But a whole heap of other great tunes are. How many hits do you need on an album!!! The album I’m reviewing here is the CD re-issue from Jet Set. Which as got 14 tracks. 

Monkey Man

One of the greatest basslines in reggae music. And one of the Maytals greatest tunes. The lyrics are more like a film script - with Toot’s story telling abilities being taken to new heights.  “I see no sight of you, but you know I know it’s true” Just when you are wondering what Toots as seen, he comes out with it “Hugging up that big Monkey Man’. All the while the rhythm is kept on the bubble by that bass line. Which despite being so well known - remains at very few cuts. It’s almost like it’s being held in reverence - such is it’s power and beauty

Pressure Drop

Talking of power and beauty. Another massive tune!!! A statement that inspired a generation - sometimes all you need are two words - and a great rhythm. As the sixties was coming to an end - a new harsher world seem to emerge. Where every country on the planet started to feel the pressure.  Wars without end - that turned not only nation against nation, but caused internal wars. All the while - people worldwide were trying to make sense of all this chaos. Toots felt this And the band did as well. Another classic bassline much loved the world over. 

Bla Bla Bla

More great story telling from Toots. Over yet another powerful rhythm, He goes into vivid descriptions of everyday life for many!!!  The simple joy of posting a present to a friend or family member is turn into a sorrow when the present turns into just a Christmas card! It’s a statement of how the everyday services most people rely upon - suddenly start to breakdown. ‘Bla Bla Bla’ is usually the only kind of response you get. Know proper explanation is ever given. To do so - is far too much for the powers that run things. Truth is an offence to them.

54-46 - Was My Number

Finally we get to one of the greatest songs ever written in any kind of genre. There are 3 cuts of this tune. One is slow and is rock steady - and features a bassline so heavy - it will test your speakers to the max. And what a bassline it is. Since Jackie Jackson played it - so many others have been inspired by it. You then have a reggae cut, this is the one present here. Plus a sightly faster reggae cut sometimes called ‘54-36’  The song itself is more great story telling from Toots, about his time in prison for smoking herb. Just before Toots passed he told someone that ‘54-46’ was never his number. It matters not Toots, it’s still one of  the worlds great tunes. 

From The Roots – 1970

The popularity of the Maytals was so great in the late seventies. That another album release was put   together. It’s probably the first time ‘Roots’ was mentioned on a reggae album sleeve as well. It’s not packed with big hits like the ‘Sweet And Dandy’ set. Albums like that are a rarity in any form of music. This is more like a part 2. The same sound, the same kind of songs. And as the title indicates aimed at the people who bought the first album. And this was the start of the era when having an album out every year was important.

Pee Pee Cluck Cluck

What an amazing rhythm, it’s so heavy the weight of it makes it seems like it’s bouncing!!! Hux Brown and Jackie Jackson are just bouncing the rhythm all over the place. The musicianship involved in playing like that is tremendous.  It’s the attention to lead guitar/rhythm guitar that makes the Beverley’s sound so different. Other producers loved to work in the organ or piano but not Beverley’s – it’s the guitars that are always upfront in the mix.

One Eye Enos

Having dealt with the ‘Monkey Man’ Toots turns his attention to Enos. Although this time his interest in Enos seems to be more about making sure the man keeps both eyes. Knowing Toots love of the parables and such such. The song probably as nothing to do with eyes at all. And more to do with showing some respect and love to others. It is the way of Jesus. And that is one person who is never far from Toots. Once again another great rhythm, which is big enough for the Organ man – Ansel Collins or Winston Wright to get in a few licks.

Dr Lester

Aka ‘African Doctor’ Once again Toots is digging deep into the Bible to deliver a message.

Dr Lester – is held in total respect by Toots, that much is clear.  The rest of the songs seems to be about hiding your light under a bushel. This is a Doctor who likes to keep a low profile. And hopefully is one that operates a surgery where no appointment is necessary. Your only requirement to see him, being that you are sick!!! When this song was released in 1970, that’s how it used to be. And until we get back to that – let no one say things have not got better.

Gold And Silver

Anyone who thinks like Toots will quickly come to same conclusion that many have reached. The wealth of this earth needs to shared. Only then will so many of the other problems be solved. As I write the world is still suffering from the Corona bug pandemic. And yet perversely some have become even more richer – out of so much sufferation. Until this as changed, nothing will change. They will say ‘Lessons Have Been Learnt’ those kind of statements will only bring comfort to fools. But they are not fools because they are ignorant, it’s because they have let others think for them.  

Monkey Man – 1970

Very much a combination album which includes ‘Bla Bla Bla’ ‘Monkey Man’ ‘Pressure Drop’

but also includes ‘Peeping Tom’ and what an amazing tune that is. And a good place to start.

‘Peeping Tom’

Is part of a set of fantastic tunes from The Maytals, that also contains magnificent basslines. If Beverley’s had kept going – these basslines would have become as massive as anything recorded at Studio One. It’s the same with Duke Reid.  In fact Duke Reid was right at the start of the idea of recutting rhythms with the U Roy album ‘Version Galore’. Peeping Tom – is another one of these songs that Toots loved to sing. A character would be made into a song. Of course Peeping Tom , was not invented by Toots.  It seems we have Lady Godiva to thank for that – and her naked ride through Coventry!!

She’s My Scorcher

Could be Toots is singing about Lady Godiva! Although subjects like this are probably best left to Deejays like Yellowman!!! or Shabba Ranks.  This tune of course as nothing to do with slackness. It’s all about Toots’s admiration for a young woman full of fire. “Turn her back, turn her back, don’t let her go” Sings Toots. Another great rhythm, which is a bounce off of something else.  I can hear Gregory singing over this kind of rhythm, that’s all I can tell you at the moment.

Sun Moon & Star

For this tune, it’s back to his much loved songs inspired by the Bible. Listen out for the story of the three Hebrew children – Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego who were cast in the fire but never got burned. This story from the Bible was made more famous by The Abyssinians – but The Maytals tell the same story with as much wonderment. I’m sure Toots as also made comments on ‘Daniel In The Lion’s Den’ which is another favourite topic within reggae’s narrative.

Reggae Revival

As already noted ‘Do The Reggay’ does not seem to appear on any of the early Maytals albums and yet this tune released in 1968, is one of the most well known tunes by the group. Considered by many to be in the top five tunes for the origin of the word ‘Reggay’ or ‘Reggae’. Now some artists get obsessed with mentioned the word in there songs. Yet Toots – only ever used the term three times. ‘Do The Reggay’ ‘Reggae Revival’ and ‘Reggae Got Soul’. And this one is very special – do you like scatting!!! Well this one for you!!! 50 Seconds of non stop scatting. Try and find another tune in the history of reggae music – that does that!

Slatyam Stoot – 1972

The Maytals released no album in 1971. That was the year that Leslie Kong died. My guess would be that this was out of respect for the man. The Maytals like all the artists on Beverley’s knew that out of all the labels and producers they could work with. Very few of them could offer what Beverley’s had. The Maytals re-connected with Byron Lee. 

Dynamics was in full swing then, and Byron Lee was trying to turn his label into a more traditional label. Along the lines of US or European labels. This began with bringing in a wide range of producers to do the work. Bunny Lee, Lee Perry, Tommy Cowan and last but not least Warrick Lynn. Warrick was not only a producer – he was also an engineer. Although it seems like Carlton Lee had engineered most of the sessions for Beverley’s at Dynamics. Warrick Lynn had taken up this engineering role around 1970. It also suggests that Leslie Kong was thinking of the future – and possibly setting up his own studio.

This then is the first post Beverley’s and what an album it is!!! First of all you have the odd title. No one as ever explained that. But the big hits on this album are something else.

Louie Louie - 1972

Written by Richard Berry – and becoming a hit with The Kingsman in 1963, Louie Louie is based on the ‘El Loco Cha Cha’  by bandleader Rene Touzet. What makes the tune famous is the amount of cuts of it. Nearly 2000 cuts!!! Bigger than anything in reggae. Although it’s very possible that ‘Sleng Teng’ from Wayne Smith is closing in on this tune.  Anyways, most reggae people know the tune from The Maytals. It’s got a great rhythm with some nice distorted sax!!

Pomps And Pride - 1972

Another interesting first. The Maytals – have had countless hits, when the DJ thing came in you would expect someone to do a DJ version. Well the first and only DJ cut of any Maytals came with with a version of this from Carey ‘Wild Man’ Johnson & Lloyd  Young -’Come Down’ released on Jaguar and produced by Warricky Lynn and Tommy Cowan. A great tune from an early DJ duo.

The tune tune itself is one of Toots stories played out over a magnificent skank rhythm.

Pressure Drop 72

What a tune this is, Slow and Moody. Very rarely does a second cut of a tune sound better than the first – but this is one such occasion. This matched the time and the vibes of the era exactly. By slowing the tune down, it made seem heavier – which matched the lyrics perfectly. These were the beginnings of the time of dread and sufferation. The energy and optimism of the early days had gone. Toots could feel it, and so he sang it – and with great passion. A shame no one did a DJ cut of this!!!

Redemption Song 

Another great slow tune, there are different mixes of this epic. Some include a fantastic drum roll others cut it. Both of them are great tunes. Toots wails over the rhythm in fine style. It’s the bassline on this tune – that really takes the tune to another level. It’s digs in deeps – but then all of sudden it comes out almost like a Rockabilly bass line!!! Toots songwriting as always embraced the Bible. And this one is a very personal statement. Like all of Toots songs you have to listen very carefully to hear the message, but it’s there, it always is.

Funky Kingston – 1973 - Dragon

Chris Blackwell may be a lot of things – but he is not a fool. In 1973, The Maytals were still bigger than the Wailers. In order to promote the Wailers in the way he did, he knew that he needed to control the The Maytals. Not for long, but long enough so that someone didn’t come along and promote them in the same he was about to do with Wailers. What happened was that Dynamic set up a new label in the called ‘Dragon’.  It was distributed by Island. Nothing to do with Trojan.  The first release was this set. It came in a magnificent sleeve.  A real piece of art. Sadly the production lacked the punch . The best tracks came from the Slatyam Stoot album.

Sit Right Down

Hux Brown plays like a man possessed on this track. But the rhythm itself is going to fast. A slower rhythm would have suited the song and the times. That is not to say it’s a bad track – but having heard the power and the glory of the tracks on ‘Slatyam Stoot’ That becomes a new reference point. The mixing of the track as well – needed to be more precise. This sounds more like a rough mix.  But with Island promoting the tune – it became one of The Maytals biggest and most well known hits. Such is the record business.

It Was Written Down

Another great track. Released on Attack in 1972 as an A Side – then turned into a B Side for it’s issue on Dragon. The Aside being ‘Fever’ – another great tune which would have been good for this album.’It Was Written Down’ is slower, in tune with the times. And is also much loved by fans of the group.  Toots once again turns to his Bible for inspiration, and he gets it, “My Father Sent Me To Warn The Nation” If you are not listening to Toots preaching – and are not being moved – something is very wrong.

Funky Kingston

Kingston is not Funky.  R&B is one of the many strands that make up Jamaican music.  And funk is one of those strands.  What the Maytals represent in reggae music – is that strand. No more, no less.

They also represent a Gospel strand, A Folk strand and so on. To go beyond that, is to cause confusion.  Music is like colour, you can take one colour add it or mix it with another colour to create a third colour. It is neither the first or second colour. It is a new colour. 

Daddy’s Home

This is another example. ‘Daddy’s Home’ is a much loved tune in reggae music. So many artists have covered it down the years. Originally cut in the early sixities by R&B act Shep and The Limeliters. Toots version is intense, it is a perfect song for him. A classic story song. The rhythm is what Winston Grennan would call a slow reggae – but it’s a rhythm built on many styles, not least R&B. Toots originally cut the song way back in the Ska era in 1964 for BMN.

In The Dark – 1974 - Dragon

And so it came to pass that Dynamics – Dragon left Island Records – and made a distribution deal with Trojan. This probably means nothing now to the average person buying reggae music – but it meant that The Maytals were no longer going to be marketed to the Rock market. This did not mean that Byron Lee and Warrick Lynn had given up trying to create a pop hit for the group. In fact they nearly cracked it…

(Take Me Home, Country Roads)

The much loved John Denver tune from 1971 gets a re-lick into a reggae – and it sounds great. Some tunes have got universal appeal – and this is one of them. Toots adapts the lyrics to take in a trip back to West Jamaica.  The rhythm chugs along in a style from about 1970/71. And Jerry and Raleigh are joined by some great female harmony singers. Not so long ago, I found the name of them – they actually were a group. They provide that gospel feel to a great song.

Time Tough

The early seventies were the very beginning of the dark ages – the industrial dark ages. The optimism of the sixties had gone. The world had just woken up to the fact that it had become dependent of cheap energy. In much the same way now fifty years later, it’s woken up to the fact that it’s become dependent on ‘Cheap Labour’. Increasing the price of certain products won’t work. People will simply stop buying them. And the reason for that is that they are not essential. In the early seventies it was cheap energy. Toots sums it all up very well. “I go to bed – but sleep won’t come, early in the morning, I get a knocking on my door, I got five months rent to pay, and I can’t find a job.” This is Toots singing about reality. And he’s doing it in fine style.

Fever

Toots works his way through a list of ailments relating to his fever, caused by his loved one.

It’s also got a tough rhythm, with some FX on the bass line. The real feature of the tune is the massive horn section. They don’t sound like a Jamaican horn section – but it works. With a great honking Baritone sax pushing the tune along. ‘Fever’ released on single on Dragon was part of a run of tunes from the Maytals – that nearly hit the charts. ‘Take Me Home, Country Roads’, ‘Time Tough’ and ‘Fever’.

In The Dark

Some people would include this tune into that group – also released in 1973. It’s the title track of the album – and it’s a fantastic tune. Much loved by the reggae audience. It’s a classic Toots story tale tune. Full of parables inspired by the Bible. “In the Dark, You live your lives, in the Dark, you cheat and lie” Not a tune for the wicked. This one is all about commendation. That’s the reality of the Bible. It is full of peace and love – kindness and compassion. But for the wicked there will be no peace. 

Reggae Got Soul – 1976 - Island

It was 1976, Rockers had come in big time. Island, were determined to take the Maytals out of the mainstream. And the only way that can work – is if you creating something brand new. Getting the Maytals was to sing over rhythms that sounded at least five years out of date was not new. Imagine all these tracks recorded at Channel One – with the Revolutionaries on the rhythms!!That is what the Maytals needed then. This is senseless. It was as mad as taking the Mighty Diamonds off to New Orleans. 

Rastaman

This is ‘Bam Bam’ with different lyrics. Toots once again reaches for Bible, and when that man reached for Bible. It was usually a shower of blessing that followed!! The rhythm is something special, but once again it is running a bit too fast. When you got back and listen to the original cut of the rhythm, it had tension and purpose. This tune with the lyrics that Toots needed a Skank rhythm. Or it should have been left off, in favour of something like ‘Dog War’ done in a Rockers style.

Premature

Yet another great story song. And this one is brand new. And it’s a great one. Rules and Regulations are in place for young people to help them keep on the straight and narrow. There are too many people who think it is fun – to encourage them to take things they shouldn’t be taking. Or even worse ‘Spiking’ drinks. There is nothing new in this, but it’s been going on for years, but now it an epidemic. And when it comes to epidemic and pandemics, it is up to Governments to set some example – and not treat their people like they are Rat Labs. They act in no way better than a spiker of drinks.

Six And Seven Books

Back to past glories again, with one of there great songs recut in a reggae style. Toots and the Bible is always good for inspiration, no matter what kind of rhythm the man is singing over. Considering how popular this song was in the Ska, era, it’s amazing to think how long it took for the group to do a second cut. Of course it’s not as good as the original Ska cut. That tune is so popular that Coxsone was still repressing it twenty years after it was released!! You have foundation artists and foundation tune, and this is one of them.

Never You Change

The third recut of this song. And another one that was originally cut for BMN back in 1964. It sounds like someone decided to try something a little different – so did a mix down cut of the tune. And to a certain extant it works. Once again though, someone listening to this now – would have very little appreciation of how fast the beat changed back then. It would have been very hard to make a 1970 album in 1976. Just as now it would be hard to make a ‘Rockers’ albums now nearly fifty years after Rockers popped. Better to take the vibes of times past – and try to add to them.