Pass the Pipe is an album by the Jamaican reggae band Toots and the Maytals.[1][2] It was released in 1979 on Mango Records.[3]

Pass the Pipe
Studio album by
Released1979
GenreReggae
LabelMango
Toots and the Maytals chronology
Toots Presents The Maytals
(1977)
Pass the Pipe
(1979)
Just Like That
(1980)

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [4]
Robert ChristgauB+[5]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music     [6]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide     [7]

New York praised the "raspy lushness" of Toots Hibbert's vocals.[8] The New York Times wrote: "Although customarily raucous, the Maytals' reggae retains a marked gospel intensity. As such, Pass the Pipe does not represent a new direction so much as a greater concentration on one aspect of Toots and company's mature gifts. Highly recommended."[3] The Bay State Banner thought that the "guitar and bass men shun the usual metallic riffing in favor of a reedy vegetable sound that purrs and mushes against your speakers."[9] Stereo Review deemed Pass the Pipe "a recording of special merit."[10]

Dave Thompson, in Reggae & Caribbean Music, thought that on Pass the Pipe "jazz influences creep into the now solidly soulful brew."[11]

Track listing

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  1. "Famine" - 3:13
  2. "Inside Outside" - 4:00
  3. "Feel Free" - 4:38
  4. "Get Up, Stand Up" - 6:18
  5. "No Difference Here" - 5:42
  6. "Rhythm Down Low" - 3:29
  7. "My Love Is So Strong" - 4:35
  8. "Take It From Me (No Money, No Love) - 6:20

Personnel

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  • Toots Hibbert - vocals
  • Ansell Collins - piano
  • Raleigh Gordon - backing vocals
  • Jerry Mathias - backing vocals
  • Rad Bryan - lead guitar
  • Ranchy McLean - bass
  • Hux Brown - rhythm guitar
  • Paul Douglas - drums
  • Winston Wright - organ

References

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  1. ^ "Toots & the Maytals | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  2. ^ "Toots Hibbert's pure, powerful voice carried reggae to the world | Alexis Petridis". The Guardian. September 12, 2020.
  3. ^ a b White, Timothy (July 22, 1979). "The Life and Times of Reggae". The New York Times.
  4. ^ "Pass the Pipe - Toots & the Maytals | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  5. ^ "Robert Christgau: CG: Toots and the Maytals". www.robertchristgau.com.
  6. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 5. MUZE. p. 591.
  7. ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. pp. 711–712.
  8. ^ Bentkowski, Tom (Mar 24, 1980). "Working Class Heroes". New York. Vol. 13, no. 12. p. 75.
  9. ^ Freedberg, Mike (31 May 1979). "Soul Dog". Bay State Banner. No. 34. p. 15.
  10. ^ "Toots & the Maytals: Pass the Pipe". Stereo Review. Vol. 43. September 1979. p. 132.
  11. ^ Thompson, Dave (June 27, 2002). Reggae & Caribbean Music. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 9780879306557 – via Google Books.