Toots and The Maytals - True Love
Reggae began with Toots Hibbert. Not as a musical form - that was a collective effort, emerging from the ska and rocksteady styles popular with Jamaican youth - but as a name. The Maytals? 1968 single Do The Reggay is regarded as the first published use of the term. By that stage, the group had reached household-name status in Jamaica. Their appearance on The Harder They Come soundtrack introduced them to an international audience and, like many reggae pioneers, they were adopted as favourites of the British punk scene.
In 2002, Toots released World Is Turning, the first album of entirely new material in 20 years, but this latest project is likely to be seen as a more effective reintroduction to the group who have racked up more Jamaican chart-toppers than any other band.
True Love revisits highlights from the Toots & The Maytals? back catalogue, re-recorded with an all-star line-up of guest musicians, including some particularly unexpected choices.
The opening track Still Is Still Moving To Me establishes a languid reggae groove, to which Hibbert?s marvellously husky voice adds a contrasting gravelly texture. Then, before there is any time to bask in leisurely contentment, enter Willie Nelson?s unmistakeable, conversational, expressive tones. This good start just gets better, as the two old warhorses trade timeless observations about the pace and direction of life.
This seemingly bizarre collaboration actually makes perfect sense - Toots & The Maytals have flirted with country music before, while Nelson has always been far more than a country artist. He?s all about the song, so he is happy to meet on Hibbert?s territory, while effortlessly putting his own stamp on the performance. Even the Spanish guitar solo doesn?t sound out of place.
At its best, this album is a seamless blend of musical cultures, which honours the spirit of the original reggae versions while opening the door to the style and influence of some of the guest artists.
Funky Kingston, featuring funkadelic bassist Bootsy Collins and socially conscious hip-hop crew The Roots (or "Toots, Roots and Boots", as Collins has it), is a particular delight, thanks mainly to Collins?s quintessentially louche presence and its loose, organic funk groove.
Added: Friday, June 04, 2004
Reviewer: Fiona Shepherd
Score:
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Language: eng
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