“I don’t want a lot for Christmas. There is just one thing I need. I don’t care about the presents, underneath the Christmas tree. I just want you for my own. More than you could ever know. Make my wish come true. All I want for Christmas is…” A criss, lava hot re-issue of Frankie Paul’s Live And Love!! Okay, so maybe I took some liberties with Ms. Mariah Carey’s classic holiday ditty and if you’ve already heard it more times that you’d like to count as I have, then maybe my little remix might add a fresh twist to it and bring a smile to your face. At the least, we reggae fans can be grateful that the holiday season brings us some heat to enjoy when you get a second to turn off the Christmas music, put some chune on and enjoy a beverage of choice while wrapping gifts or decorating.
Reissues
Hotter than your yule log, reissues have been a constant treat to reggae music heads for quite some time now. There’s nothing timelier than getting a reminder of how truly dope some of the more classic releases by both well-known and lesser artists within the genre were, and taking a trip down memory lane as more often than not, these albums worthy of a redux elicit all kinds of memories and good feelings that very rarely can be assigned a price tag. Now available for the first time via streaming services, Live And Love, originally released by VP in 1989, is but one of many worthy albums by the “Jamaican Stevie Wonder” to be made readily available to the masses. Produced by who else, the inimitable King Jammy, this 10 piece of lava heat is what’s needed to get through the winter doldrums for those of us not fortunate enough to experience shorts weather year-round.
Diverse Palate
Kicking things off nicely with his take on the classic R&B Cherelle cut Didn’t Mean to Turn You On, Paul proceeds to pull you right back to what is often considered the height of dancehall music with Jammy’s flawless riddims, and a burgeoning scene fostering a healthy competition to “rule the dance” among his fellow artists. As is par for the course, Frankie’s versatility shines through with something for those with a diverse palate. Call Me, Be Mine Tonight, Why You Acting Shy, and Run Come for the cool out vibe. Style and Pattern, Kibba Yuh Mouth and Long Run Short Ketch for the up-tempo toast crowd.
No Filler
As is usually the case with a Paul release, there is no filler here. When you have as much heat as this man does, there’s no need to fluff up the album needlessly with throwaway cuts with little to no replay value. Go through his catalog and you’ll generally find 7-10 single worthy tracks per album that pack more than enough punch to carry the project. Pass the Tu Sheng Peng (my absolute favorite in his entire discography) is as powerful an example of how brevity can be just as powerful as what a double album could provide.
Matchless Voice
Another thing that’s a constant throughout Live And Love is Frankie’s matchless voice, easily among the top 5 most recognizable in all of reggae music. I mean who doesn’t have a memory of hearing FP in the dance and having the place go ballistic with just two words… HOT NUMBER! Yeah… That’s what I thought! Needless to say as the album closed out, with the mellow I Wanna Love You All Over, I was right where I needed to be mentally which is far away from the ice-cold temperatures that are punishing my home town of Philadelphia, PA. I’ll be sure to let Santa know NEXT year to bring me more Frankie Paul, and not a freezing pall! Happy Holidays to all of the Reggae Vibes family!