FM (Remastered) Freddie McGregor

• 1 Natural Collie 04:09
• 2 Revolutionist 04:26
• 3 Mission Impossible 05:08
• 4 Strange Things 02:50
• 5 Mark Of The Beast 03:57
• 6 Sergeant Brown 05:13
• 7 Leave Yah 03:01
• 8 Love Ballad 03:53
• Total Runtime 32:37

Info for FM (Remastered)

Newly remastered! First released in 1992, out of print for over 30 years and extremely hard to find original copies, FM remains one of the key releases from legendary singer Freddie McGregor. Worth it's weight in gold for the inclusion of the seminal 'Natural Collie', the album also brings together a stunning reggae roots set of recordings made between 1977-82 backed by the High Times/Soul Syndicate Band at Channel One.

Produced by Earl ‘Chinna’ Smith and originally released on High Times, album highlights include ‘Revolutionist’, ‘Mark of the Beast’, ’Strange Things’ and of course ’Natural Collie’. A truly righteous roots reggae album, until now criminally hard to find!

FM’ is an absolutely stunning collection of tracks by Freddie McGregor, recorded between 1977 and 1982, originally released as singles on Earl ‘Chinna’ Smith’s High Times label in Jamaica. Freddie McGregor is accompanied on the album by the Soul Syndicate band, one of the most important and defining roots reggae session groups, who worked regularly with many of the major producers in Kingston in the 1970s and 1980s.

What is amazing about this album is that ‘Natural Collie’, the most well-known cut of this set, is simply the first in a line of KILLER tunes as Freddie McGregor and the Soul Syndicate drop stunning original tunes as well as playfully recuts, re-versioning classic cuts and generally have a great time. The music is a startlingly fresh set of late 1970s/early 1980s funky, soulful and righteous roots reggae tunes that include ‘Mission Impossible’, ‘Strange Things’, ‘Revolutionist’, ‘Leave Yah’ and ‘Mark of the Beast’.

A number of the tunes here are McGregor stunningly soulful renditions of American R&B classic tunes. The classic ‘Natural Collie’, is McGregor’s Rastafarian-inspired cover of the soul and jazz artist Norman Connor’s ‘You Are My Starship’ released two years prior. ‘Love Ballad’ was written by Skip Scarborough for the USA soul group L.T.D. (featuring Jeffrey Osborne).

Here McGregor also version’s his own ‘I’m A Revolutionist’, originally cut for the Studio One label, The Intern’s ‘Nothing is Impossible’ (as ‘Mission Impossible’) and John Holt’s classic ‘Strange Things’.

Freddie McGregor was born in Clarendon, Jamaica in 1956 and began his singing career as a child at Studio One signing to the label when he was just seven years old alongside Fitzroy ‘Ernest’ Wilson and Peter Austin, in the group The Clarendonians.

Converting to Rastafari in 1975, his music took on a strong socially conscious tone, with classic songs such as ‘Bobby Babylon’, and ‘I Am A Revolutionist’, recorded for Clement ‘Sir Coxsone’ Dodd, becoming a key part of Studio One’s resurgence in the 1970s and ‘80s.

In this same prolific period McGregor also recorded a stunning set of single releases for producer Earl ‘Chinna’ Smith’ on his High Times label. Collected here, these songs show Freddie Mcgregor at the top of his game and height of his powers.

On all these tunes, Mcgregor is backed by the Soul Syndicate – Earl ‘Chinna’ Smith, Carlton ‘Santa’ Davis, George ‘Fully’ Fullwood, Tony Chin and Bernard Harvey. This much in-demand session group recorded for many A-class producers including Keith Hudson, Niney the Observer (as ‘The Observers’), Duke Reid and Smith.

They created the famous ‘Stalag 17’ rhythm (used for Tenor Saw’s ‘Ring the Alarm’, Sister Nancy’s ‘Bam Bam’ and many more) for producer Winston Riley and were also an integral part of The Aggrovators, who recorded extensively for Bunny Lee.

FM showcase the talents of Freddie McGregor and The Soul Syndicate like no other album!

Freddie McGregor, vocals
Earl “Chinna” Smith, guitar
Tony Chin, guitar
Bernard Harvey, keyboards
Carlton “Santa” Davis, drums
George “Fully” Fullwood, bass

Digitally remastered

Freddie McGregor
born on June 27, 1956, in Clarendon, Jamaica, is a highly influential reggae singer, songwriter, and producer with a career spanning several decades. Known for his smooth voice and relatable lyrics, McGregor has made significant contributions to the development of reggae music.

McGregor's musical journey began in the early 1960s when he joined the Clarendonians, a group he formed with his friends. His solo career took off in the 1970s with hits like "Big Ship" and "Push Comes to Shove." His soulful, emotive style often incorporated elements of roots reggae and lovers rock, earning him recognition as a master of both genres.

Over the years, McGregor has collaborated with numerous reggae legends, including Bob Marley and the Wailers. He established his own record label, Big Ship, in the 1980s, contributing to the production and promotion of reggae music. McGregor's commitment to preserving the authenticity of reggae led him to emphasize live instrumentation in his recordings, further solidifying his status as a purveyor of the genre's rich traditions.

Beyond his musical endeavors, McGregor has been an advocate for social change, using his platform to address issues such as poverty and inequality. His enduring career, marked by numerous albums and timeless performances, has earned him respect and admiration globally.

This album contains no booklet.