Most Wanted

Frankie Paul was dubbed “the Jamaican Stevie Wonder” not only because he was legally blind, but because he also displayed the same infectious energy as his Motown hero. Check the upbeat dancehall classic “Pass the Tu-Sheng-Peng” and you’ll get it right off, but VP’s excellent set Most Wanted covers the full Paul picture, offering plenty of that velvet-smooth crooning that had the reggae faithful declaring him Dennis Brown’s competition. The epic ballad “Sara” is a prime example of that, while the other Most Wanted women, “Cassandra” and “Alesha,” are boisterous love songs that prove Paul knows the difference between sweet and sugary. Packed with more crucial hits like “Worries in the Dance,” “Jump No Fence,” and “Tidal Wave,” the set leaves only the B+ filler to argue about, but as a gateway to a rich discography, you couldn’t ask for much more. Producers like Henry “Junjo” Lawes, George Phang, King Jammy, and Steely & Clevie are at the controls while the great Sly & Robbie supply plenty of the rhythms. ~ David Jeffries