Comments on: Why you are WRONG about Maxi Priest

By: Anders

Anders — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 22:52:46 +0000

I loved the first Maxi Priest albums when they came out in my late teens. I recently rediscovered Maxis music some 25 years later. I heard the album 2 the Max and was blown away. The cover of Stings Fields of Gold just blows me away. Fantastic.

By: Rikki

Rikki — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:46:06 +0000

I first met Maxi when he came to Cincinnati, Ohio back in 1988. He was just getting a taste of what he would later become, an international superstar. I kept saying, if only they would just listen to his voice, his music, he can go far, and far he did! A few years later, he is the only number one selling Reggae Artist in the United States. A feat that non other has accomplished. Today, he is still touring and collaborating all over the place. His music may not be for everyone’s listening ear but hey, Maxi is the definition of “Staying Power.” In the music industry, that is very hard to do. With 20 plus years under his belt, he is a legend. Big ups to the man and his music. One Luv

By: N.S. Elliott

N.S. Elliott — Wed, 06 May 2009 04:56:12 +0000

I just entered this site this evening. Wow – the pros and cons of Max Elliott aka Maxi Priest. Let me tell you my story. I wasn’t acquainted with Maxi’s music until the early 90s – I must’ve been sleeping for a minute – when I finally woke up one day – I heard this amazing voice singing on the radio. After I heard the DJ announce who it was, I was determined to go out and find the CD. Well, let me tell you – I found the CD and more, and more, and more! (Somebody didn’t get paid that week). I played all of those CDs that evening. Needless to say I have been a Maxi Priest fan since then. This man just gets better and better with age and time. Just thought I’d throw that out there! MAX IS THE “IT FACTOR”! Peace.

By: Ha, Spirit

Ha, Spirit — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 11:08:00 +0000

I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE WITH YOU “JACKIE” ABOUT “SMILEY CULTURE”, AS HE WAS TRULY BRILLIANT. BUT THERE ARE SO MANY OTHERS WHO WERE AROUND IN THOSE DAYS THE 80s, WHO IT IS EASY TO FORGET MADE SUCH A HUGE IMPACT IN THE UK REGGAE SCENE. WHICH IN-TURN SPAWNED JUNGLE/DRUM AND BASS, TO THE CURRENT TRENDS OF WHICH YOUNG STARS LIKE “DIZZEE RASCAL” NOW DOMINATE.

NAMES LIKE PAPA LEVI, ASHER SENATOR, AND THE IMMENSELY POPULAR SOUND SYSTEMS THAT GAVE ALL THESE YOUTHS AT THE TIME A CHANCE. SOUNDS LIKE “SIR COXSONE” “FATMAN HI-FI” “SOFERNO B” “FRONTLINE INTERNATIONAL” “D’UNES” “SMALL AXE” AND MANY MANY MORE WHO ARE THE REAL UNSUNG HEROES, IN THE HISTORY OF THIS WHOLE DEBATE.

I THINK WHEN WE CONSIDER THE GREAT STRIDES IN UK MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT ESP (REGGAE) BY THESE AND OTHER PIONEERS, THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT A POWERFUL MOVIE COULD EASILY BE MADE TO CHRONICLE THAT GOLDEN ERA!

NUFF LOVE TO 1 AND ALL
HA, SPIRIT

By: jackie

jackie — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 01:01:48 +0000

all these artist back in the 80′s were great, and still are, but i must admit smiley culture was my favourite, he had so much talent and a good role model for the youth. would be good if he made a come back..xxx

By: Ha, Spirit

Ha, Spirit — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 21:45:48 +0000

DEAR IAN..
“GOD” BLESS YOUR WORDS OF POETIC WISDOM. I THINK SOMETIMES WE ALL TEND TO TAKE OUR HEROES FOR GRANTED, ESPECIALLY OUR LOCAL HEROES. SUCH IS THE BANE OF FAMILIARITY…

By: Ian McCann

Ian McCann — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 19:42:37 +0000

Finally getting back to you John after three(?) years – now you know why you ain’t seen anything from me for a while!

Still find it remarkable that we can love this music and yet so many of us, while being evangelical about praising it and wondering why more people don’t love it so, only turn around and reject anyone who actually does take this music to the masses. Maxi became a big man in the pop business without forgetting what he was really about. Even Dennis Brown get dissed by some people when he die, because people forget just how much he did for the music at ROOTS level, instead just seeing him as a man who have some hits and sing a few love songs. Familiarity breeds contempt. An artist like Alton Ellis spent his entire adult life struggling sincerely to make a living from this music as well as communicate what was in his heart. He had a deal with a major company in the early 70s but it all went sour on him. If he’d have been having big pop hits back then, would he not have been worthy of the respect hs undoubtedly had up to the time of his death? I fear he would have become too familiar, and not the beloved hero of so many who claim to adore all reggae music. The message is: LOVE your heroes, people, because they will not be born again in this world and if you don’t respect them who will? Certainly not the pop people who pick them up and spit them out. It is our job as lovers of this thing. These singers don’t make fortunes from what they do – they do it for love. Give some back now.

By: uncarved.org blog » Blog Archive » Big Yard mix

uncarved.org blog » Blog Archive » Big Yard mix — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 06:37:33 +0000

[...] a completely false distinction between “real” reggae and artists such as Sean Paul, Maxi Priest and especially [...]

By: John

John — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:45:14 +0000

Props to you too Ian – not seen anything by you for a while!

By: Ian McCann

Ian McCann — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 20:58:06 +0000

I was fortunate enough to be around when Maxi was first stinging as practically the lone melodic voice among the slew of fast chatters on Saxon. He always had a charisma and a vibe; there was something different about him. His tunes were a welcome breath of fresh air when he made it onto vinyl – ok, as you say, much of his material wasn’t exactly roots nor even dancehall business, but then nobody complained when Horace Andy sang Delilah or Dennis sang It’s Too Late. Roots is about Jah love and if Jah made everyone then he must also have made romance between lovers. Better this than sing of badness. Even in the times when he was making songs alongside Shabba and the likes, he was still a pioneer, taking the music to ears that had never heard it before. So you are right to praise the Priest: props to you.