On his first American album, British reggae star Maxi Priest presents himself as the Luther Vandross of reggae. Extravagantly produced and brimming with velvety vocals, this album is unabashedly urbane.

Priest makes up for his lack of rebel ardor with the sheer mellifluousness of his singing. His covers of "Some Guys Have All the Luck" and Cat Stevens's "Wild World" are executed with such earnest...