Toots & The Maytals Funky Kingston

These 1973 release capture the sound of Jamaican music as it teetered on the cusp between rock steady and roots reggae. But perhaps more importantly, it finds legendary frontman Toots Hibbert channelling American soul music as he yowls, pleads, roars, bares his soul and testifies. Toots is as fervent as a Sunday sermon throughout, imbuing covers like “Louie, Louie” with so much urgent vitality that they never grow old no many how times you listen to them.