For last week’s Tuesday’s Gone, we shared some old-school Sublime, a band who admittedly have never really been unanimous critical darlings (although this writer could make a strong argument in support of the band, we’ll save that for another day). Whatever the case, you could never argue they didn’t have great taste, which was most evident in their 1992 debut, 40 Oz to Freedom. Indeed, the album features a plethora of samples/odes/covers of bands like The Minutemen, The Specials, The Grateful Dead, The Descendants, and Bad Religion (just to name a few), so it’s probably fair to say Sublime helped expose an entirely new generation of fans to some of those classic (generally more critically acclaimed) bands by way of that album.
That was certainly the case for this OG fan, but probably the most rewarding act I discovered via Sublime were reggae/ska legends Toots and The Maytals. Sublime’s cover of “54-46 Was My Number” is one of the best from 40 Oz. to Freedom and was the catalyst for this writer discovering all the timeless, joyful music Toots and The Maytals had to offer. That joy was most apparent in a live setting, as the late great Toots Hibbert’s distinctly radiant aura and infectious energy during their performances were always truly something special to behold. I have seen a multitude of bigger-name acts over the years, but most of them don’t compare to the exuberant communal spirit and sheer fun that always characterized a Toots and the Maytals show. This clip of the band performing “54-46 Was My Number” live at Reggae on The River from 2004 captures that aforementioned exuberant communal spirit and fun beautifully. Soak it up. R.I.P. Toots:
