Frankie Paul

Frankie Paul – Tidal Wave – Greensleeves – 1985

This Powerhouse produced set from Frankie maintained the man's popular dance hall style, although he's shown himself capable of singing all types of songs. When a strong rhythm comes forward this when the man begins to shine. George Phang working out of Dynamic, has plenty of good rhythms, so there were no worries for Frankie here. In confident mood, he's voiced 10 tracks that kept him well forward. 'Baby Come Home' picks up on the vibes of Delroy Wilson 'Won't You Come' and is a favourite.

Frankie Paul – Sara – Live & Love – 1987

1986 was a good year for Frankie Paul. The LP front was quite though. This year Frankie has stepped up the pace, and what must be the crowning glory of a great year for him is the LP 'Sara' produced by that noted Waterhouse resident King Jammy. It must be the album of the year. Songs rhythms, arrangement, production, everything on this LP is 100% ! What more could anyone want from an LP? This the LP that must silence those who complain that use of digital instrumentation is ruining the music, and that's not the real reggae.

Frankie Paul – Rub A Dub Market – Mango – 1987. If the spring and summer of '87 belonged to Junior Delgado, then the autumn and winter certainly belonged to Frankie Paul. To surpass

'Sara' would have taken some LP, and with 'Rub A Market' produced by Prince Jazzbo he hasn't done it, be he's come pretty close. The only way Jazzbo could have made a better LP than 'Sara' would have been to direct Frankie towards a message based LP, rather than another dance hall album. Still what you have here on this LP is a very high quality production, match be some great lyrics.

Frankie Paul – Warning – RAS – 1987

'Warning' for producer Fatis is different from both 'Rub A Dub Market' and 'Sara'. Botht eh latter LP's took full advantage of computers for their creation, and have ended up with subtle sounding LP's full of textures. Fatis could have created a subtle LP, but he didn't want to. It's got nothing to do with computers. It's so simple. Frankie makes it all happen with song titles like 'Don't Pressure Me' 'Raggamuffin' 'Hungry Belly' 'She's A Manic' and so on. A really good sleeve as well.

Frankie Paul – Hand Cart Man – C&E – 1987

Somewhere between 'Warning' and 'Rub A Dub Market' is 'Hand Cart Man', a Hugh James production (Red Man), which was recorded at Channel One with the Roots Radics. It actully preceded the other two aforementioned LP's and 'Sara', and its as good as them in it's own way. Redman certainly brought Frankie back to his best before before anyone else did, and motivation play a big part in recording. Once a

producer starts thinking that recording is a task its shows, but there no sings of that here.

Frankie Paul – The Best Of – Abraham – 1987

This Channel One produced LP brings together two halves of two dual artist LP's that featured Frankie Paul which Channel One released when Frankie first came on the scene. Why they didn't just release an LP like this right from the start is really hard to understand. Certainly as good as the Techniques LP from the same time, it also from a link between that and the more dance hall based LP's he's made. Recorded with what sounds like the High Times Band, it's and LP that more than lives up to its title. A very welcome LP.

Frankie Paul – Give Me That Feeling – Ujama – 1987. Frankie's ability to keep coming up with the goods is now beyond question. His output in the last couple of years has been incredible; possibly outstripping Sugar Minott's production record a few years earlier. What keeps Frankie's fans coming back for most is the man's ability to adapt to whatever the needs of the producer he's working for are. This Moodies of New York production has the same feeling as the Fatis produced LP 'Warning' only it's less regga. The rhythms here have a modern feel but are not digital like Jammys.