Due to a Pro Set numbering error, 1991 MusiCards [Series 1] came packed out with two different cards at #86. One of those was supposed to be #90, and was corrected for the updated packs of Series 2. We'll tackle that blunder soon enough, but today let's take a look at the correct card #86, Maxi Priest.
Solid, well-framed photograph of Maxi. It's a rare instance where the intrusive "totally radical '90s" design actually compliments the photo, one might venture to say.
Maxi Priest is an artist that I like fine based on the small handful of songs I've heard from them, though never bothered to dig deeper than what the radio/MTV played me. "Close To You" is his biggest hit, going all the way to #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in early October of 1990.
Maxi Priest - "Close To You"
The card's write-up mentions that song's album, Bona Fide (released June 29, 1990), but not the smash hit from it, instead noting 1988's "Wild World" cover. This all indicates the blurb was likely typed up sometime around July-September 1990. (Always fun trying to pin down stuff like that.)
Anyways, I also like that Cat Stevens cover and the version of "Set the Night to Music" he did with Roberta Flack.
"Set the Night to Music"
Maxi Priest is in his 60s now, still releasing music every once in a while and performing. He notched his third nomination for "Best Reggae Album" in 2021. Here's his Wikipedia entry for further reading.
Truth be told, I wanted to cover the other card #86 in this post too, pulling a bit of a blog double-header, but.. well, I ran out of time before hitting my self-imposed monthly deadline here at the end of April, so it'll have to wait!
Thanks for reading and please share in the comments if you've got anything to say about Maxi Priest.
Pretty much the same reaction here--I liked his radio hits OK but never investigated further. There is nothing by him on my rather music-filled hard drive.
ReplyDeleteRoberta Flack teaming up with a new-ish (at the time) reggae singer to cover a Starship song is one of the weirdest ways of creating a hit ever. I mean, she was always the duet queen, so that part makes sense, but still!
Close to You popped into my head as soon as I saw the title of the post. Wasn't the biggest fan of the song, but it obviously is stuck in my brain. I also remember Set the Night to Music... but had no idea it was him and Flack that covered it.
ReplyDeleteSame here... I know him from the radio but nothing beyond that.
ReplyDeleteI remember a few of his late 90's radio singles more than anything. Can't say that I was a fan, as his music, even at the time, felt really generic to me.
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