Bonafide (Maxi Priest Album)

''Bonafide'' is the fourth studio album by the English pop/reggae singer Maxi Priest. It was released in 1990 by Charisma Records. 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.

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

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."Wynn, R
AllMusic Review
accessed July 4, 2012 The ''Los Angeles Times'' wrote that the album "avoids the scattershot syndrome that often afflicts projects with multiple producers." The ''Milwaukee Sentinel'' called ''Bonafide'' a "tour de force" and "smooth, seductive, stylistic and very, very addictive."

Track listing

Personnel

* Maxi Priest – vocals, backing vocals (3)
* Handel Tucker – keyboards (1-4, 10-12), drum programming (1), arrangements (1-4, 10-12), bass (2), keyboard bass (11)
* Robbie Lyn – keyboard bass (1), synthesizers (7), keyboards (9)
* Peter D. Rose – keyboards (3, 12), keyboard bass (3), drums (3, 12), drum programming (3, 12)
* Martyn Phillips – keyboards (5, 8)
* Carlton "Bubblers" Ogilvie – keyboards (6), drums (6), drum programming (6), arrangements (6)
* Danny Browne – acoustic piano (7), keyboards (7), guitars (7)
* Leo Grant – keyboards (9, 11)
* Stanley Andrew – guitars (6)
* Leroy "Mafia" Heywood – bass (1, 4, 6, 9, 10, 12)
* Wycliffe "Steely" Johnson – bass (7)
* Robbie Shakespeare – bass (12)
* Sly Dunbar – drums (2-4, 10-12), drum programming (2-4, 10-12), arrangements (2-4, 10-12)
* Nellee Hooper – drums (5, 8), drum programming (5, 8), arrangements (5, 8)
* Cleveland "Clevie" Browne – drums (7)
* Erskine Thompson – vibraphone (3)
* Luís Jardim – percussion (5, 8)
* Rass Brass – horns (1)
* Ray Carless – saxophones (4)
* Dennis Rollins – trombone (4)
* Barbara Snow – trumpet (4)
* Howard Ball – violin (5)
* Bill Benham – violin (5)
* Dean Fraser – vocal arrangements (1, 7), horns (9)
* Geoffrey Chung – arrangements (2-4, 10-12)
* Jazzie B – arrangements (5, 8), DJ (8)
* The Music Works Crew – arrangements (7)
* Brian and Tony Gold – backing vocals (1, 7)
* Nadine Sutherland – backing vocals (1, 12)
* Paul Robinson – backing vocals (2-4, 10, 11)
* Janice Hoyle – backing vocals (4)
* Beverley Skeete – backing vocals (4, 6, 10)
* Claudia Fontaine – backing vocals (5)
* Cleveland Watkiss – backing vocals (5)
* Donald Campbell – backing vocals (6)
* Toyin Adekale – backing vocals (8)
* Derrick Cross – backing vocals (8)
* Kimberley James – backing vocals (8)
* Pam Hall – backing vocals (12)
* J.C. Lodge – backing vocals (12)
* Stanley "Stanrick" Ricketts – backing vocals (12)
* Gavin "Fullness" Sant – backing vocals (12)
* Junior Tucker – backing vocals (12)

Reggae Philharmonic Orchestra on "Close to You"
* Mykell Riley – string contractor
* Ellen Blair, Pamela Crawford, Ivan Hussey, Stephen Hussey, Sara Lorwenthal, Yolisa Phahle and John Taylor – string players

Production

* Maxi Priest – executive producer, additional production (9, 10)
* Erskine Thompson – executive producer
* Augustus "Gussie" Clarke – producer (1, 7)
* Geoffrey Chung – producer (2-4, 10-12)
* Sly Dunbar – producer (2-4, 10-12)
* Handel Tucker – producer (2-4, 10-12)
* Phil Bodger – additional production (2, 3, 11)
* Peter D. Rose – additional production (3)
* Nellee Hooper – producer (5, 8)
* Beresford "Jazzie B" Romero – producer (5, 8)
* Carlton Ogilvie – producer (6), additional production (7)
* Paul Rabiger – additional production (7)
* Donovan Germaine – producer (8)
* Leroy "Mafia" Heywood – additional production (9, 10)
* Stylorouge – art direction, design
* Eamon J. McCabe – photography
* Level Vibes Ltd. – management

Technical
* Sylvester Gordon – recording (1, 7)
* Courtney Small – recording (1, 7)
* Paul Rabiger – mix engineer (1, 4, 6, 9, 12), mixing (4, 6, 7, 12), remix engineer (7), remixing (9), recording (12)
* Jeremy Allom – recording (2-4, 10-12)
* Phil Bodger – mixing (2, 3, 11), mix engineer (2, 3, 11)
* Dominic Robson – recording (3)
* Peter D. Rose – mixing (3, 12)
* Nellee Hooper – mixing (5, 8)
* Jazzie B – mixing (5, 8)
* Guy Fixsen – recording (6)
* Marcus Lindsey – recording (6)
* Carlton Ogilvie – mixing (7)
* Ruddy Thomas – recording (9)
* Steven Stanley – mixing (10)
* William Stuart – recording (12)
* Leo Grant – mix assistant (2, 12), mix engineer (10)

Charts

Certifications

References

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1990 albums
Charisma Records albums
Albums produced by Nellee Hooper
Maxi Priest albums