Chart entered : 29 March 1986
Chart peak : 32
Number of hits : 20
Strictly speaking ,Maxi is the first reggae solo performer to qualify here.
He was born Max Elliott in London in 1951. His parents were Jamaican and had nine children. His cousin Jacob Miller was front man of Inner Circle. He worked for reggae sound systems in London and soon began performing himself standing out as a singer rather than toaster. Initially he had a named backing band Caution and early releases were credited to "Maxi Priest and Caution" .
Their first single in 1984 was an EP split with Papa Levi on an independent label. Maxi's two tracks were "Sensi" and "Love In The Ghetto". The former is a tribute to the weed and unlikely to appeal to the unconverted but "Love In The Ghetto" already shows a keen ear for melody in its mournful lilt although the song is a bit meandering. I can hardly make out a word on the follow-up "Throw My Corn" but it ambles along quite pleasantly with some nice horn work.
The following year Maxi signed with 10 Records and started working with producer Paul Robinson. They wrote the next single "Should I ( Put My Trust In You )" which is a clean and tidy lover's rock number that might have been a hit with some airplay. The same goes for "Dancing Mood" which sounds more like The Wailers than hitherto. All three singles , plus "Sensi" from the EP were included on Maxi's first LP "You're Safe ". By the time of "Dancing Mood"'s release as a single Caution were no longer credited.
"Strollin On" was the lead single for the next LP. It's an infectious , romantic pop reggae number about the joys of walking with your baby, filled with springtime vim. An insistent poppy synth riff helps it along There's not much substance to it , sounding like one long chorus, but it was infectious enough to bypass Radio One - I don't remember hearing it at the time - and give him his first hit.
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