| 54-46 That's My Number | |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Toots and the Maytals |
| Released: | January 1, 1968[1] |
| Genre: | Rocksteady, reggae |
| Label: | Beverley's |
| Producer: | Leslie Kong |
"54-46 (That's My Number)" is a song by Fred "Toots" Hibbert. Recorded by Toots and the Maytals, the song was originally released on the Beverley's label in Jamaica and the Pyramid label in the UK.[2] A follow-up version released a year later, "54-46 Was My Number",[3] was one of the first reggae songs to receive widespread popularity outside Jamaica, and is seen as being one of the defining songs of the genre. It has been anthologised repeatedly and the titles of several reggae anthologies include "54-46" in their title.
The lyrics describe Toots' time in prison after being arrested for possession of marijuana. The song features a similar riddim to "Train to Skaville"[4] by Toots and the Maytals' contemporaries, the Ethiopians.[5]
The song appears in the sci-fi film Repo Men and in the series .
On November 29, 2016, Major Lazer and Bad Royale released "My Number", a track that samples "54-46 That's My Number". Pitchfork describes the song as "a genre-defining classic from legendary ska/reggae group Toots and the Maytals."[6] This release contains newly recorded vocals from frontman Toots Hibbert specifically designed for Major Lazer, changing the original lyrics to incorporate the group into the song while keeping the original melody.[7] [8]