Time Of The Year, by Maxi Priest

Time Of The Year

by Maxi Priest

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Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album
Gatefold CD shrinkwrapped with 5 Christmas Cards.

Includes unlimited streaming of Time Of The Year via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

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Purchasable with gift card

$23 USD
Streaming + Download

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

Purchasable with gift card

$13 USD or more

1.	Let Them In 03:10	buy track
2.	I As A King 03:32	buy track
3.	What A Wonderful World 02:19	buy track
4.	My Favourite Things 03:47	buy track
5.	Merry Christmas Baby 03:50	buy track
6.	Time of The Year 04:59	buy track
7.	We Wish You A Rasta Christmas 03:21	buy track
8.	Jingle Bells 04:17	buy track
9.	12 Day of Christmas 04:39	buy track
10.	Do You Hear What I Hear? 03:39	buy track
11.	Happy Xmas (War is Over) 04:14	buy track
12.	Silent Night 02:10	buy track

about

There are certain landmarks that all truly great singers measure themselves by. Maxi enjoys worldwide acclaim from audiences made up of all races, creeds and class. By making a Christmas album, heʼs now ventured down the same path as other iconic singers such as Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley, yet thereʼs a tradition of Christmas songs in reggae music too and not least by Maxiʼs cousin, the late Jamaican reggae star Jacob Miller.

Christmas belongs to everyone. “Itʼs that special time of year when people care for one another, and feel love for humanity,” explains Maxi, quoting from the outstanding title track, which he wrote specifically for this project. “Itʼs when everything stops and we put our differences aside, because Iʼve no wish to discriminate against anyone. Iʼm singing for Christians and non-Christians. Iʼm singing for my mum and dad. Iʼm singing for my brothers and sisters in the blues dance and for children all over the world. Singing is my gift, and I have to use it for the good of everyone.”

On his travels across the globe, Maxi was asked many times if he planned to record Christmas material. Those fansʼ dreams have now come true and recording his first album in that vein would prove a liberating experience for him, both on a musical and personal level. As a youth growing up in SE London during the late seventies, Maxi embraced Rastafari, which in turn helped him discover more of his true identity. In later years he made the pilgrimage to Ethiopia and now defines his faith as “a cultural way of life, with the substance of Christianity within it” and a sense of fulfillment borne out of personal experience.

Maxiʼs hardworking parents struggled to gain a foothold in England after leaving the Caribbean. With nine mouths to feed, they didnʼt always have enough money for treats – “you appreciated what you got,” he says – but Christmas would always remain special in other ways.
It was during childhood visits to church where he first sang the carols he transforms here. I say “transforms,” because these tracks arenʼt just covers, but reinterpretations brimming with creativity. Listen to how he playfully changes the lyrics to Jingle Bells, My Favourite Things (shared with Sonna Rele) or re-energises We Three Kings with a scorching ska backbeat. Only a ladiesʼ favourite like him could rewrite Twelve Days Of Christmas to include lines like “three words ʻI love you,ʼ” “two glasses of champagne and a kiss under the mistletoe tree” whilst his take on Silent Night made everyone in the studio feel so emotional the vocals were left as they were, unadorned and full of feeling.

In a career already studded with highlights, Time Of The Year breaks new ground whilst returning this well-loved singer to his roots, both spiritual and otherwise. Itʼs the kind of heartfelt venture thatʼs intended to spread joy, and to promote togetherness – qualities we can all share, and especially at such a special time of year.
John Masouri

Order CD here: www.levelvibes.co.uk/shop/
Amazon: www.amazon.co.uk/Time-Year-Maxi-Priest/dp/B00EECLYVY

credits

released November 24, 2011

Produced by Livingstone Brown & Maxi Priest
Mixed by Livingstone Brown
Engineer: Josh Green
Cover Art: Maxi Priest
Layout: Josh Green

license

about

Maxi Priest London, Ohio

Maxi Priest enjoys worldwide acclaim from audiences made up of all races, creeds and class. By making a Christmas album, heʼs now ventured down the same path as other iconic singers such as Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley, yet thereʼs a tradition of Christmas songs in reggae music too and not least by Maxiʼs cousin, the late Jamaican reggae star Jacob Miller. ... more