Monkey Man/From The Roots

This two-albums-on-one-disc set, part of Trojan Records' Classic Reggae series, is absolutely essential for all fans of Toots & the Maytals and early roots reggae. Although FROM THE ROOTS was originally released in 1973, three years after MONKEY MAN, these 26 songs all date from the same recording sessions. Therefore, there's a consistency of sound and vision here that makes the set sound like one double album rather than a compilation. Included are many of Toots & the Maytals' most famous songs, most notably "Monkey Man" (familiar to fans of British ska from the Specials' spirited cover), and the immortal "Pressure Drop", one of Toots Hibberts' finest songs ever. However, the lesser-known album tracks are equally fine, including the sly "Peeping Tom" and a surprisingly effective reggaefied take on John Lennon's "Give Peace a Chance". Any one of the many compilations of Toots and the Maytals' classic years would also be an excellent starting point, but MONKEY MAN / FROM THE ROOTS finds the band at their creative peak.|