Toots & the Maytals – “54-46 That’s My Number” (1968)

October 18, 2008 at 3:05 am (Jamaican Music, Rocksteady)

One of Toots Hibbert’s early great singles. This was during the time when rocksteady was mutating over into the new style called reggae. The lyrics describe Toots’ time in prison for an arrest for possession of ganja. 54-46 was Toots’ prisoner ID number during his servitude, and the original recording was made shortly after his release.
Toots, who had a great bluesy voice, would go on to have many classics in he years to come.