Freddie McGregor - FM

First released in 1992, out of print for over 30 years and extremely hard to find original copies of, FM remains one of the key releases from legendary singer Freddie McGregor. Worth its weight in gold for the inclusion of the all-time classic anthem ‘Natural Collie’.

 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 playful recuts, re-versioning classic cuts and generally having a great time. The music is a startlingly fresh set of late 1970s / early 1980s funky, soulful and righteous roots reggae tunes that includes ‘Mission Impossible’, ‘Strange Things’, ‘Revolutionist’, ‘Leave Yah’ and ‘Mark of the Beast’.

A number of the tunes here are McGregor’s 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).

McGregor also versions 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’.

FM showcases the talents of Freddie McGregor and The Soul Syndicate like no other album.

This album has been fully remastered on high quality Cyan coloured vinyl, presented in the original artwork and is also available for the first time ever on CD, housed in gatefold-style card sleeve.