By the time this record hit the streets, Frankie Paul was already moving at a fast pace. Born Paul Blake in 1965, he’d only been recording for about two years, but he was already a force to be reckoned with. When the LP arrived on the Top Rank label, it served as the perfect showcase for what the young singer could do when he had the right team in his corner.

The lineup on this session is pure quality. Producer E.J. Robinson set up shop at Dynamic Sounds and pulled together a crew of heavyweights. On this set, you have Sly and Robbie locking down the riddim section exactly like you’d expect from the most sought-after duo of that era. Willie Lindo is on guitar, Robbie Lyn handles the organ, and you even have Dean Fraser on trumpet and the veteran Winston Wright on keys.

The structure of the album follows that classic showcase style we all love. It features six vocal tracks followed immediately by their six dub versions, alternating throughout the sides. Frankie wrote almost everything here himself, with the exception of So Jah Say, which is credited to Trinity. The mixing desk was handled by David Rowe and Mikey Riley, while the legendary Orville “Bagga” Case provided the cover art.

Strictly Reggae Music captures a young artist with massive range. Instead of chasing the harder dancehall sound that was starting to dominate the island, these sessions stay melodic and clean. When the title track kicks things off over the Things and Time riddim, you know you’re in for a good ride.

The vibes move from the rootsy So Jah Say straight into the smooth lovers rock feel of It’s You I Love. He keeps that lovers theme going on Oh Girl, which uses the You Don’t Care backdrop, though the lyrics take a more somber turn. You also get a fresh lick of the Nanny Goat riddim on Girl I Love, before the set closes out with the heavy reality tune Brothers. It’s a wicked LP and a clear reminder of why Frankie Paul stayed at the top of the game for the next decade.