54-46 That's My Number
Encyclopedia
"54-46" is a song by Fred "Toots" Hibbert
, recorded by Toots & the Maytals
and originally released on the Beverly's label in Jamaica and the Pyramid label in the UK. A follow-up version released a year later (as "54-46 Was My Number") was one of the first ska
songs to receive widespread popularity outside Jamaica
and is seen as being one of the defining songs of the reggae
genre. It has been anthologized repeatedly and the titles of several reggae anthologies include "54-46" in their title.
The lyrics describe Toots' time in prison
for an arrest for possession of marijuana
.
The song features the same riddim
as "Train to Skaville" by Toots & the Maytals' contemporaries The Ethiopians
.
The song was covered and released as a single in 1983 by British
reggae
band Aswad. This single also featured on their 1984 album Rebel Souls. The song was also covered by dancehall
star Yellowman
. It was later covered on Long Beach, CA-based 90s ska-punk band Sublime
's 1992 album 40 Oz. to Freedom
, entitled "5446 That's My Number/Ball and Chain", as well as Buju Banton
on his album Inna Heights and Fermín Muguruza
in his album Brigadistak Sound System
. An instrumental version of the song can also be found on the album Below the Bassline by Ernest Ranglin
.
The bass line to the song forms the basis of the 1989 hit "Street Tuff
" by Rebel MC & Double Trouble.
Part of the song was used on the soundtrack to the 2006 film This Is England
.
The song was re-recorded for their album "True Love
", and is played along with Jeff Beck
.
The song was covered and recorded by Fighting Gravity, a band with ska roots from Richmond, Virginia. It was also covered by Earl Stevenson, a contestant on Canadian Idol Season 6, on his first solo release Ghost in 2010.
The punk rock band The Clash
paid tribute to the Maytals with their song "Jail Guitar Doors
" recorded in 1978 which ends with Joe Strummer
singing "54-46 was my number."
Toots Hibbert
Frederick Nathaniel "Toots" Hibbert is a ska and roots reggae singer and leader of the reggae band Toots & the Maytals.-Biography:...
, recorded by Toots & the Maytals
Toots & the Maytals
Toots and the Maytals, originally called simply The Maytals, are a Jamaican musical group and one of the best known ska and reggae vocal groups. According to Sandra Brennan at Allmusic, "The Maytals were key figures in reggae music...
and originally released on the Beverly's label in Jamaica and the Pyramid label in the UK. A follow-up version released a year later (as "54-46 Was My Number") was one of the first ska
Ska
Ska |Jamaican]] ) is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues...
songs to receive widespread popularity outside Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
and is seen as being one of the defining songs of the reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
genre. It has been anthologized repeatedly and the titles of several reggae anthologies include "54-46" in their title.
The lyrics describe Toots' time in prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
for an arrest for possession of marijuana
Cannabis (drug)
Cannabis, also known as marijuana among many other names, refers to any number of preparations of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug or for medicinal purposes. The English term marijuana comes from the Mexican Spanish word marihuana...
.
The song features the same riddim
Riddim
Riddim is the Jamaican Patois pronunciation of the English word "rhythm," but in dancehall/reggae parlance it refers to the instrumental accompaniment to a song. Thus, a dancehall song consists of the riddim plus the "voicing" sung by the deejay. The resulting song structure may be taken for...
as "Train to Skaville" by Toots & the Maytals' contemporaries The Ethiopians
The Ethiopians
The Ethiopians were a ska, rocksteady, and reggae vocal group, founded by Leonard Dillon , Stephen Taylor and Aston Morris.-History:...
.
The song was covered and released as a single in 1983 by British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
band Aswad. This single also featured on their 1984 album Rebel Souls. The song was also covered by dancehall
Dancehall
Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s. In the mid-1980s, digital instrumentation became more prevalent, changing the sound considerably,...
star Yellowman
Yellowman
Yellowman is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall deejay, widely known as King Yellowman...
. It was later covered on Long Beach, CA-based 90s ska-punk band Sublime
Sublime (band)
Sublime was an American ska punk band from Long Beach, California, formed in 1988. The band's line-up, unchanged until their breakup, consisted of Bradley Nowell , Eric Wilson and Bud Gaugh . Michael "Miguel" Happoldt also contributed on a few Sublime songs, such as "New Thrash." Lou Dog, Nowell's...
's 1992 album 40 Oz. to Freedom
40 Oz. to Freedom
40oz. to Freedom is the 1992 debut album by the Southern California ska-punk band Sublime released by Skunk Records and again by MCA. 40oz. to Freedom received mixed critical reviews upon its first release, but has earned an improved public perception since...
, entitled "5446 That's My Number/Ball and Chain", as well as Buju Banton
Buju Banton
Buju Banton is a Jamaican dancehall, ragga, and reggae musician.Banton has recorded pop and dance songs, as well as songs dealing with sociopolitical topics....
on his album Inna Heights and Fermín Muguruza
Fermin Muguruza
Fermin Muguruza is a Basque rock musician, singer, songwriter, producer, record label manager, and co-founder for the ska punk band Kortatu, active from 1983 to 1988, and for the crossover group Negu Gorriak, active from 1990 to 1996.He is the brother of musicians Iñigo Muguruza and Jabier...
in his album Brigadistak Sound System
Brigadistak Sound System
Brigadistak Sound System is a studio album from Basque artist Fermin Muguruza. It was released in 1999 and produced by Esan Ozenki Records....
. An instrumental version of the song can also be found on the album Below the Bassline by Ernest Ranglin
Ernest Ranglin
Ernest Ranglin O.D. is a Jamaican guitarist and composer. Best known for his session work at the famed Studio One, Ranglin helped give birth to the ska genre in the late 1950s...
.
The bass line to the song forms the basis of the 1989 hit "Street Tuff
Street Tuff
"Street Tuff" is a hit single by Rebel MC & Double Trouble. It became the biggest hit of both performers' careers, peaking at #3 on the UK Singles Chart. It is the follow-up to their first hit, "Just Keep Rockin'", which made it into the UK Top 20...
" by Rebel MC & Double Trouble.
Part of the song was used on the soundtrack to the 2006 film This Is England
This Is England
-Track listing:#"54-46 Was My Number" - Toots & The Maytals#"Come On Eileen" - Dexys Midnight Runners#"Tainted Love" - Soft Cell#"Underpass/Flares" - Movie Dialogue From This Is England#"Nicole " - Gravenhurst...
.
The song was re-recorded for their album "True Love
True Love (Toots & the Maytals album)
True Love is an album by Toots & the Maytals. It is a collection of Toots & the Maytals classics re-recorded with guest artists including Willie Nelson, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, No Doubt, Ben Harper, Ryan Adams, Keith Richards and The Skatalites....
", and is played along with Jeff Beck
Jeff Beck
Geoffrey Arnold "Jeff" Beck is an English rock guitarist. He is one of three noted guitarists to have played with The Yardbirds...
.
The song was covered and recorded by Fighting Gravity, a band with ska roots from Richmond, Virginia. It was also covered by Earl Stevenson, a contestant on Canadian Idol Season 6, on his first solo release Ghost in 2010.
The punk rock band The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
paid tribute to the Maytals with their song "Jail Guitar Doors
Jail Guitar Doors
"Jail Guitar Doors" is a song by The Clash, recorded during October and November 1977 and released on February 17, 1978 as the b-side of their fourth single "Clash City Rockers". The song is featured on the U.S...
" recorded in 1978 which ends with Joe Strummer
Joe Strummer
John Graham Mellor , best remembered by his stage name Joe Strummer, was the co-founder, lyricist, rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist of the British punk rock band The Clash. His musical experience included his membership in The 101ers, Latino Rockabilly War, The Mescaleros and The Pogues, in...
singing "54-46 was my number."