Anyone who had the pleasure of catching {|Toots and the Maytals|} live in the '70s or '80s will attest to the fact that they didn't hesitate to go that extra mile on-stage. Without question, they had one of reggae and ska's finest live shows -- in fa... Read more

Anyone who had the pleasure of catching {|Toots and the Maytals|} live in the '70s or '80s will attest to the fact that they didn't hesitate to go that extra mile on-stage. Without question, they had one of reggae and ska's finest live shows -- in fact, you could say that singer/leader {|Toots Hibbert|} was as tireless a showman as {|James Brown|} or {|George Clinton|}. The band's vitality is beautifully captured by this superb album, which came out in 1980, and documents a show at the Hammersmith Palais. True to form, {|Hibbert|} spares no passion on performances of hits that range from Funky Kingston, Pressure Drop, and Monkey Man, to Get Up, Stand Up (not to be confused with {|Bob Marley|}'s song), 54-46, That's My Number, and Time Tough. Thankfully, there's plenty of documentation of {|Toots and the Maytals|}' show. ~ Alex Henderson Less