Toots Hibbert
September 12, 2020 4:37 AM   Subscribe

 
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posted by Thorzdad at 4:45 AM on September 12, 2020


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posted by Otherwise at 5:30 AM on September 12, 2020


I had Love Is Gonna Let Me Down on heavy rotation for a while. I wasn't even thinking about love or disappointment at the time; it's just a great song.

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posted by clawsoon at 5:39 AM on September 12, 2020 [3 favorites]


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posted by gc at 5:53 AM on September 12, 2020


🎼

I have "Pressure Drop" on so many mixes. Lots of great music over the years.
posted by wenestvedt at 6:13 AM on September 12, 2020 [11 favorites]


Sad news. He made such great music.
posted by Dip Flash at 6:14 AM on September 12, 2020


Toots and the Maytals are my absolute favorite reggae group. I did not know how much I loved that music until I encountered them. He will be missed.
posted by vorpal bunny at 6:30 AM on September 12, 2020 [2 favorites]


There was a quote I loved about his work that was something to the effect that you didn't necessarily know what he was singing about [with his more abstract songs], but you knew he was passionate about it.

I really loved his vocals on the Easy Star All Star's remake of Let Down on the Radiodread album.
posted by Candleman at 6:35 AM on September 12, 2020 [6 favorites]


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posted by The Great Big Mulp at 6:44 AM on September 12, 2020


Ugh.

It's Toots and the Maytals, right? It just is. One of those names and groups that feels like they've been around forever and they'll be around forever, because of how amazingly, consistently good their music is and how relevant it always is. Seconding Candleman's call out of "Let Down" (an incredibly soulful and thoughtful cover, natch) as a not-heard-enough-anymore standout.

Influential, and a heavy loss.

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posted by hijinx at 6:56 AM on September 12, 2020 [1 favorite]




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There was a pressure drop and the lights went out one by one.
Another legend gone.
Thanks for all the good times.
Always remember Reggae got Soul.
posted by adamvasco at 7:28 AM on September 12, 2020 [2 favorites]


I'm not a believer but love astronomy, so the T&M version of this hymn is a favourite:

The heavens declare the glory of God; The firmament showeth His handiwork
posted by bonobothegreat at 8:02 AM on September 12, 2020 [1 favorite]


I caught Toots and the Maytals live a few decades back. Still one of the best dozen or shows I've ever seen. Funky Kingston was the finale. Hell, yeah!



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posted by philip-random at 8:08 AM on September 12, 2020 [1 favorite]


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With Baron Thielemans gone in 2016, we may now be without any Toots
posted by scruss at 8:26 AM on September 12, 2020


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My personal favorite: Sweet and Dandy
posted by TrialByMedia at 8:32 AM on September 12, 2020 [3 favorites]


Man, what a voice. Pure fire, it could strip paint from the walls.

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posted by SystematicAbuse at 8:38 AM on September 12, 2020 [1 favorite]


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posted by droplet at 8:42 AM on September 12, 2020


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posted by LobsterMitten at 8:51 AM on September 12, 2020


So many of his songs are among my very favorites. Thanks to those who have posted links to his music.

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posted by OHenryPacey at 9:35 AM on September 12, 2020


The music of Toots & the Maytals has made such a difference in my life; I too thank everyone for posting links.

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posted by winesong at 9:42 AM on September 12, 2020 [2 favorites]


Pressure Drop /w Ben Harper & Jack Johnson

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posted by dr_dank at 10:01 AM on September 12, 2020


What a bloody year.
posted by allthinky at 10:10 AM on September 12, 2020 [1 favorite]


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posted by Lawn Beaver at 10:16 AM on September 12, 2020


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posted by jabo at 10:47 AM on September 12, 2020




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posted by Hairy Lobster at 11:58 AM on September 12, 2020


First saw Toots & the Maytals in 1981. Funky Kingston was first up after "our" song at our wedding 28 years later, the "come join us on the dance floor" song. 54-46 Was My Number was Lyme Drop Jr.'s favorite song when he was an excitable 2 year old. Toots Hibbert added a heck of a lot of joy to my life. RIP.

Here he is doing 54-46 on Live from Daryl's House.

posted by Lyme Drop at 12:03 PM on September 12, 2020 [5 favorites]


I want you to believe every word I say
I want you to believe every thing I do
I said music is what I've got to give
And I've got to find some way to make it
Music is what I've got baby
I want you to come on and shake it
Shake it shake it baby
I've been dreading this news ever since the recent Madness post, when I followed a link from one of the YouTube videos in that post and wandered into some favorite Maytals tracks. I learned from the comments of those videos that he had been admitted to a hospital in Kingston with serious Covid symptoms and had been reported to be in an induced coma. When you're Toots' age that's not something from which most people could recover.

Preferring to remember him as the raw force of nature that he was in his prime, let me share links for two favorite tracks I haven't seen linked yet:Thanks, Toots & company, for all the brilliant music over the years.
posted by Nerd of the North at 12:03 PM on September 12, 2020 [2 favorites]


To me this was "real" reggae. Marley was excellent, but Toots was much more fully in the groove, so deep in it that he could tunnel right out the other side and still somehow be keeping time, band so loose they were tight. I believe everything he said and did.
posted by Meatbomb at 1:13 PM on September 12, 2020 [4 favorites]


I had to immense privilege of seeing him in concert at two small venues, about 10 years apart. The first show was woefully under-attended and Toots and the band played a full show at maximum energy anyway. Second show had a bigger crowd and they brought the same amazing energy. Toots might have been the real hardest working man in show business, as far as I'm concerned. What a loss. 2020 continues to suck completley.
posted by TwoStride at 1:29 PM on September 12, 2020 [2 favorites]


Toots was the soul of Reggae.
posted by tommasz at 1:38 PM on September 12, 2020 [1 favorite]


damn.

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Rastaman Dub
posted by evilDoug at 2:02 PM on September 12, 2020


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posted by Kattullus at 2:04 PM on September 12, 2020


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posted by stanf at 2:05 PM on September 12, 2020


Premature was always my favorite Toots song, just so sweet and caring.

At least I know whose music I'm listening to this coming week in this fucking year that just keeps on fucking giving.
posted by vers at 3:20 PM on September 12, 2020


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One of my favorite concerts of all time. His Country Roads is one of my favorite songs.
posted by Gray Duck at 3:31 PM on September 12, 2020 [1 favorite]


One of the greatest voices of pop music. Sigh.
posted by aspersioncast at 5:33 PM on September 12, 2020


So many great covers. Louie Louie

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posted by RobotVoodooPower at 5:36 PM on September 12, 2020


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posted by Unioncat at 6:22 PM on September 12, 2020


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Saw him at Lee’s Palace in Toronto in 2005, and it was one of the best half-dozen shows I’ve ever been to. So joyful and exuberant...R.I.P. to a true legend.
posted by The Card Cheat at 5:40 AM on September 13, 2020 [1 favorite]


The Guardian - 10 essential recordings - YVMV - all with links.
posted by adamvasco at 11:04 AM on September 14, 2020


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posted by hap_hazard at 11:53 AM on September 14, 2020


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posted by filtergik at 3:50 AM on September 17, 2020


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