54-46 That's My Number

"54-46 That's My Number"
Single by Toots & the Maytals
Released	1968, 1969
Genre	Ska, Rocksteady, Reggae
Label	Beverly's in Jamaica, Pyramid and Trojan in UK
Writer(s)	Toots Hibbert
Producer(s)	Leslie Kong

"54-46 (That's My Number)" 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 after being arrested for possession of marijuana. The song features a similar 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 in his song Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt. It was later covered on Long Beach, CA-based 1990s ska-punk band Sublime's 1992 album 40 Oz. to Freedom in a medley with their original song "Ball and Chain", as well as Buju Banton on his album Inna Heights and Fermín Muguruza in his album Brigadistak Sound System. The ska legend Byron Lee & the Dragonaires covered the song on their 2002 album Shanty Town. An instrumental version of the song can also be found on the album Below the Bassline by Ernest Ranglin. The Venetian ska band Ska-J recorded an Italian/Venetian-language cover with Venetian-themed lyrics entitled Santamarta.

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