54-46 Was My Number - Toots & the Maytals

54-46 Was My Number - Toots & the Maytals

3:24

single, 1969

Written by Toots Hibbert

Although this laid-beat rocksteady single is far better known, it's actually a reworking of a Toots song from a year earlier with a similar title, "54-46 That's My Number."  Built on a classic riddim, the lyrics describe his arrest for marijuana possession, and proclaim that he was set up: "Do you believe I would take such a thing with me / And give it to a police man? / I wouldn't do that, oh no."  The relaxed groove and Hibbert's soulful delivery make this one of the great early reggae singles.

Monkey Man - Toots & the Maytals

Monkey Man - Toots & the Maytals

3:44

single, 1969

Written by Toots Hibbert

I know this song from the Specials cover.  According to Toots himself, "Well Monkey Man is all about a girl, a very good looking girl!  I fell in love with her and then a monkey-looking man took her away from me but I thought she was in love with me. The guy was ugly and not good looking like me, ha ha!"  The line "See you, baby, you huggin' up the big monkey man" seems to support this.  However, the Genius website claims that the song is an affectionate dig aimed at The Maytal’s producer, Leslie Kong.  I suppose both could be true.