Details
Track Listing
1. That Girl - (remix, featuring Shaggy)
2. Man With the Fun
3. Watching the World Go By
4. Message in a Bottle
5. Heartbreak Lover - (featuring Beres Hammond/Buju Banton)
6. Love Will Cross Over
7. All Kinds of People
8. Happy Days - (featuring Chaka Demus & Pliers)
9. Golden Teardrops
10. Are You Ready For Me
11. Ain't It Enough
12. Human Cry
13. Frienenemy
14. Won't Let It Slip Away
15. That Girl - (Urban Mix, featuring Shaggy)
Album Notes
Personnel includes: Maxi Priest, Shaggy, Buju Banton, Beres Hammond, Chaka Demus, Pliers (vocals); Rass Brass (horns); Handel Tucker (keyboards, programming); Joey Moskowitz (keyboards); Brian Gold, Tony Gold, Bunny Rugs, Cat Coore (background vocals); Robert Zapata, Anastey Hackette, Sting Int'l, Robert Livingston, Kent Bryan, Dennis Haliburton, Firehouse Crew, John Raf Allen, Simon Law, Ross Anderson.
Producers: Robert Livingston, Shaun "Sting" Pizzonia (tracks 1-2, 5, 8, 10, 15); Andy Marvel (tracks 3, 11); Clive Hunt Productions Limited, Sly Dunbar, Robbie Shakespeare (track 4); Donovan Germain (track 6); Livingstone Brown, Gary Benson (track 7); Simon Law, Ross Anderson (track 9); Clive Hunt Productions Limited, Paul "Computer" Henton, Maxi Priest (track 12); Mafa, Fluxy (track 13); Handel Tucker (track 14).
Engineers: Sting Int'l (track 1); Sting Int'l, Robert Livingston (track 2); Andy Marvel, Peter Ankelein (track 3); sly Dunbar, Robbie Shakespeare, Clive Hunt, Shane Brown, Lynford "Fatta" Marshall (track 4); Fat Head, Buru (track 5); Michael Cooper, George "Prendy" Prendergrast (track 6); Ben Jones (track 7); Lynford "Fatta" Marshall (track 8); Lee Hamblin (track 9); Dennis Halliburton, Robert Livingston (track 10); Andy Marvel, Peter Ankelein, Scott Hollingsworth (track 11); Michael "Coolie" Cooper, George "Prendy" Prendergrast (track 13); Mike Rew, Chris Barnett (track 14).
MAN WITH THE FUN was nominated for a 1997 Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album.
In the grand tradition of modern pop music, MAN WITH THE FUN is something of a mongrel child of pop, rock, R&B, dancehall and roots reggae that isn't quite any of the above. The infectious opening cut, "That Girl, catapults a sample from the Booker T & The MG's' classic "Green Onions" into a new context (one that allows for some toasting by dancehall sensation Shaggy). In an act of cultural ping-pong, Priest covers the Police chestnut "Message in a Bottle." The Police took reggae and Anglicized it; Priest takes the Police and reggaefies them.
Priest displays a strong R&B influence on "Golden Teardrops," neatly contextualizing the American soul sensibility that colors much of MAN WITH THE FUN. In the midst of all this genre-hopping, the unifying elements of the album are Priest's smooth, assured vocal style and the bright, upbeat feeling that is ubiquitous enough to be considered thematic. In short, this album's title turns out to be quite an accurate moniker.
Industry Reviews
6 (out of 10) - ...there is inspiration afoot on planet Priest....MAN WITH THE FUN is essentially an exercise in employing numerous comedy-voiced guests to highlight Maxi's own dreamy lilt...
NME (07/13/1996)
3 Stars (out of 5) - ...massively radio-friendly rhythms which juggle elements of pop, soul, ragga and rap in a readily accessible crossover soup...
Q (08/01/1996)
...a rich blend of reggae, pop, and R&B rhythms; fresh lyrics; hot guest stars like Shaggy and Buju; and a team of on-target producers...
Vibe (09/01/1996)
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