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From the Vault...
10/07/2001
#754 |
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info
Maxi Priest
"Best Of Me"
© Charisma Records
Year of Release: 1991
Rating:
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track listing
Wild World
In The Springtime
Should I
Close To You
How Can We Ease The Pain
Let Me Know
Housecall
Just A Little Bit Longer
Caution
Some Guys Have All The Luck
I Know Love
Strollin' On
Best Of Me
Crazy Love
Woman In You
Peace Throughout The World
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Maxi Priest "Best Of Me"
In looking at this week's review album cover, many may think that its
Lenny Kravitz. The year was 1991, and even though Kravitz had already started
his career in 1989, we know that Maxi Priest is definitely NOT Lenny Kravitz.
Appearances between the two, they both had the dreadlocks; musicwise, reggae
and soul is best to describe the music of Maxi Priest, where Kravitz' music is
more of rock and soul than reggae.
Best Of Me is a compilation Best-of for Maxi Priest, where he had
recorded 4 albums since 1985. Achieving 1 number one record, "Close To
You," (1990) it is featured here, and another radio favorite, the remake of
Cat Stevens' "Wild World" are here with some other tunes that may not
have been heavy radio players, yet worth checking out.
For the true reggae fan, the remake of "Wild World" is quite
impressive. It's just as great as Cat Stevens' and has a more upbeat touch,
by adding the reggae sound to it. Blending reggae and pop, "In The
Springtime" has a more pop sound, with the reggae style. Likewise,
"I Know Love," "Best Of Me," and "Woman In Love."
Blending reggae and soul are heard in Maxi Priest's #1 hit, "Close To
You," likewise "Should I" and "Just A Little Bit Longer."
The latter song has Priest's vocal style to that (somewhat) of Elvis Costello.
Another soulful song is "How Can We Ease The Pain." It's a song that
could be overlooked; it's just as soulful as "It Ain't Over Til It's Over"
by Lenny Kravitz. This song is definitely worth checking out. "Crazy Love"
has a more slow soulful approach with a reggae beat; another tune worth checking out
also.
With the style of reggae, it's easy to compare such songs to that of Bob
Marley. "Let Me Know" is very soulful, and could easily be compared to
the style of the legendary Marley. "Some Guys Have All The Luck"
(Rod Stewart had done this song on his Camoflauge release) has the Marley
sound, and has a more pop feel. Pure reggae is heard on "Strollin' On,"
easily compared to Marley and Peter Tosh.
Before there was Shaggy, there was Maxi Priest -- "Housecall" has the
reggae and "rap" lyrics, as heard in Shaggy's #1 hits "It Wasn't Me" and
especially "Angel." Another song that could be compared to Shaggy is
Priest's "I Know Love." UB40's music is compared on "Caution."
"Peace Throughout The World" has a more upbeat sound, just a mix of
soul and R&B hip-hop, and the vocal style could be compared to that of Lenny
Kravitz. This one is quite different in sound than all of the songs heard before
on this release, and is another impressive one.
Maxi Priest's Best Of Me provides the best in reggae and reggae/soul.
There's more pop and soul mixed wtih the reggae style, this best-of has
Jamaican reggae roots and has a warm feeling for the listener. For the reggae
and soul fans, it's worth checking out.
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Review or any portion may not be reproduced
without written permission. Cover art is the
intellectual property of
Charisma Records
and is used for reference purposes only.
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