Wikipedia

Bonafide (Maxi Priest album)

Bonafide is the fourth studio album by the English pop/reggae singer Maxi Priest.[6][7] It was released in 1990 by Charisma Records.[8] The album peaked at number 47 on the Billboard 200 in the United States, while its biggest hit, "Close to You", was a smash, peaking at number one that year.

Bonafide
Studio album by
Maxi Priest
Released29 June 1990
Recorded1989−90
Genre
Length53:07
LabelCharisma
Producer
Maxi Priest chronology
Maxi / Maxi Priest
(1987) 		Bonafide
(1990) 		Best of Me
(1991)
Singles from Bonafide
  1. "Close to You"
    Released: 8 July 1990
  2. "Peace Throughout the World"
    Released: 1990
  3. "Human Work of Art"
    Released: December 1990
  4. "Just a Little Bit Longer"
    Released: 1991
  5. "Space in My Heart"
    Released: 1991
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Chicago Tribune[2]
Robert ChristgauC+[3]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[4]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[5]

Three other singles were issued: "Human Work of Art" ("Close to You"'s predecessor, which did not chart in the US), "Just a Little Bit Longer" (a minor hit at 62) and "Space in My Heart" (failed to chart). However, the success of "Close to You" (a gold single on 30 October 1990) drove the album to gold status, which it received on 30 January 1991 by the Recording Industry Association of America.

Critical reception

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The AllMusic review by Ron Wynn stated: "Priest scored a #1 pop hit with 'Close to You' from this album, which is more pop/R&B with a reggae touch than it is real reggae."[1] The Los Angeles Times wrote that the album "avoids the scattershot syndrome that often afflicts projects with multiple producers."[9] The Milwaukee Sentinel called Bonafide a "tour de force" and "smooth, seductive, stylistic and very, very addictive."[10]

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Just a Little Bit Longer"Handel Tucker4:23
2."Close to You"
5:25
3."Never Did Say Goodbye"
4:05
4."Best of Me"
3:38
5."Space in My Heart"
3:41
6."Human Work of Art"
  • Michael Leeson
  • Peter Vale
4:09
7."Temptress"
  • Mikey Bennett
  • Hopeton Lindo
5:06
8."Peace Throughout the World" (featuring Jazzie B)
  • Elliott
  • Maunick
4:38
9."You"
  • Elliott
  • Benson
  • Sela
4:29
10."Sure Fire Love"
  • Elliott
  • Phil Radford
  • Peter Yellowstone
3:54
11."Life"
4:15
12."Prayer for the World"
5:17

Personnel

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  • Maxi Priest – vocals, executive producer
  • Cleveland "Clevie" Browne – drums, percussion
  • Luís Jardim, Erskine Thompson – percussion
  • Peter D. Rose – keyboards, drums, percussion, drum programming
  • Sly Dunbar – drums, percussion, drum programming
  • Leo Grant – keyboards
  • Nellee Hooper – drums, percussion
  • Robert Lyn – bass, keyboards
  • Carlton Ogilvie – keyboards, drum programming
  • Martin Phillipps – keyboards
  • Dennis Rollins – trumpet
  • Robbie Shakespeare – bass
  • Handel Tucker – keyboards, drum programming
  • Stanley Andrews – guitars
  • Danny Browne – guitars, piano
  • Margo Sagov – backing vocals

Charts

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Chart (1990) Peak
position
Australia ARIA Charts[11] 25
UK Albums Chart[12] 11
US Billboard 200[13] 47

Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[14] Gold 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[15] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ a b Wynn, R. AllMusic Review Archived 16 July 2013 at the Wayback Machine accessed July 4, 2012
  2. ^ May, Mitchell (20 September 1990). "Recordings". Chicago Tribune. Tempo. p. 8.
  3. ^ "Robert Christgau: CG: Maxi Priest". www.robertchristgau.com.
  4. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 6. MUZE. p. 647.
  5. ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. pp. 560–561.
  6. ^ "Maxi Priest | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  7. ^ Norment, Lynn (February 1991). "Sounding Off". Ebony. 46 (4): 14.
  8. ^ "Jet's Top 20 Albums". Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. 5 November 1990 – via Google Books.
  9. ^ Snowden, Don (21 February 1991). "Reggae's Maxi Priest Wins Mainstream Favor". Los Angeles Times. p. F7.
  10. ^ Tanzilo, Robert (14 September 1990). "`Bonafide' success". Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 14.
  11. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  12. ^ "MAXI PRIEST | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com.
  13. ^ "Maxi Priest". Billboard. Archived from the original on 6 October 2021.
  14. ^ "British album certifications – Maxi Priest – Bonafide". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  15. ^ "American album certifications – Maxi Priest – Bonafide". Recording Industry Association of America.
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