Toots and The Maytals Album: “Pressure Drop: The Definitive Collection”

If you are a fan of roots reggae and ska, this CD belongs in your collection. Although the recording engineering is primitive, the tracks are all clear and the essence of the music is readily discernible. Some of the tracks will not be familiar to even ardent reggae fans, but every track is worth a listen. Pressure Drop will be familiar to most, and as with many reggae tunes there is often a lot of social or political meaning in the music.

OK, I keep forgetting that I love reggae . . . so when I was listening to my Pandora 'Jimmy Cliff' station, every time I heard Toots & the Maytals it would snap my head around, so I decided to purchase this double CD. It is really great listening music, with some really great songs. I especially enjoy 'Pomps & Pride' and 'It's You' (ska version) . . . some folks might be annpoyed by the ska vs reggae version of some of the same songs, but I enjoyed hearing the differences. My enjoyment flows from thinking that the early stuff sounds like 1950's doo-wop but to a ska/reggae sensibility, so I dove in with this & have not regretted it at all.

There's old reggae, and then there's ooooooold reggae. Disc 1 is the latter. Some of the older stuff is VERY repetitive, and gets old really fast, but when these guys do shine, they are truly magnificent.

I really enjoyed MOST of the songs on this CD. The rhythms are enough to make your body groove and Toots voice is befitting and mesmerizing (sp). I noticed a couple songs on this CD that were remade by modern artist (Sublime) which was great to hear.

If you like kick back, beach bar atmosphere Ska you need to buy this CD.