Toots and The Maytals In the Dark

Toots and The Maytals' long and storied musical career spans all the way back to the dawn of ska. The group are not only key figures in the development of reggae, they were among the first to utilize the word in a song title which lead to the popularization of the very term. 1973's In The Dark is the group's second internationally released full length and the follow up to Funky Kingston. And like Funky Kingston, this release is in the pantheon of the greatest reggae albums of all time. In addition to stand out cuts like the James Brown influenced "54-46 Was My Number" that had previously been issued as singles the group recorded all new material at Dynamic Sounds Studios in Kingston. One of those cuts is perhaps the most unique reggae covers of an American hit record. Reggae already had a storied history of Jamaican artists covering American R&B hits. But Toots & The Maytals went where others hadn't with a cover of John Denver's "Take Me Home, Country Roads." Toots Hibbert's beyond soulful vocals here may make you forget you ever heard the original.