15th March 2018

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BOBBY BOBYLON1
Freddie McGregor (1979)

Studio One
matrix: SOLP 0139 A // SOLP 0139 B

Bandulo (Soulful Music); We Need More Love (I Make A Woman); What Difference Does It Make; Go Away Pretty Girl; Tomorrow Is Like Today // Bobby Bobylon (One Step Beyond); Wine Of Violence (Undying Love); Gonna Take Over Now (I'm Gonna Take Over Now); Rasta Man Camp; I Am A Revolutionist

The first press came on a red & yellow US label with the Coxson's Musik City, Freeport, Long Island address; the second press came on a US red & yellow label with the Coxson's Musik City, Brooklyn address (the Long Island shop predates the Brooklyn shop). Subsequent represses followed on a variety of Studio 1 labels where the tracks listed on the labels don't always match the A and B matrices, so that Side 1 sometimes starts with Bobby Bobylon. ((Click sleeve to enlarge.))

Although Freddie McGregor had been recording at Studio One since the 1960s (as a 7 year old with Ernest Wilson as Fitsy & Freddie), his debut solo album on the label was not released until 1979. Featuring a collection of re-cut singles and new vocals over old rhythms it was an immediate success and remains one of the all-time classic Studio One albums.

BOBBY BOBYLON1
Freddie McGregor

Studio One
matrix: MML 2165

BOBBY BOBYLON2
Freddie McGregor (2006)

Heartbeat 7815-1/2

Bandulo; We Need More Love; What Difference Does It Make; Go Away Pretty Girl; Tomorrow Is Like Today; Bobby Bobylon; Wine Of Violence; Gonna Take Over Now; Rastaman Camp; I Am A Revolutionist

Bonus tracks: Freddie; Homeward Bound; Little Girl; When I'm Ready/Jacklyn (Freddie & Lone Ranger) (extended mix); Come Now Sister (extended mix); I Man A Rasta (original 7" mix); Rastaman Camp (extended mix); Bobby Bobylon/One Step Beyond (Freddie & Jackie Mittoo) (extended mix)

Released on double vinyl LP, CD and cassette.

BOBBY BOBYLON2
Freddie McGregor (2018)

Studio One LP-SOR-013
matrix: 167017E1/A

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bobby3

Now, this is the way the reissue of a classic album should be treated. Remastered from the original tapes, with improved sound quality, and featuring eight bonus tracks all released on CD for the first time.

Freddie dates from 1975 and was previously compiled on STUDIO ONE SALES CONFERENCE; Homeward Bound and Little Girl were both originally released as 7" singles in 1979 and 1978 respectively. When I'm Ready is presented in its extended form, and features a Lone Ranger toast. Come Now Sister was originally released as a 12" discomix in 1979. I Man A Rasta was originally released as a 7" single in 1976, before being re-cut and re-titled I Am A Revolutionist for the first issue of the BOBBY BOBYLON album. The extended version of Rastaman Camp appears as a previously unreleased special mix, as does the Bobby Bobylon/One Step Beyond combination.

The CD comes in an attractive slip case and both formats feature an extensive and informative track by track commentary by Joshua Blood. With nearly 70 minutes of superlative music this constitutes excellent value for money from Heartbeat. One of the best ever albums just got even better...

BOBBY BOBYLON1
Freddie McGregor (1991)

Heartbeat CD 3502

Bandulo; We Need More Love; What Difference Does It Make; Go Away Pretty Girl; Tomorrow Is Like Today; Bobby Bobylon; Wine Of Violence; Gonna Take Over Now; Rastaman Camp; I Am A Revolutionist

Heartbeat CD, released in 1991, with an extended version of Rastaman Camp.

bobbybobylon1stpress200
bobbybobylon2ndpress200
bobbybobylonSOLP0139blueflash200
bobbybobylonSOLP01393200
bobbybobylonSOLP01394200
bobbybobylonSOLP01395200
bobbybobylonSOLP01396200
bobbybobylonMML2165300
bobbybobylonMML21651200
bobbybobylonMML21652200

Bandulo (Soulful Music); We Need More Love (I Make A Woman); What Difference Does It Make; Go Away Pretty Girl; Tomorrow Is Like Today // Bobby Bobylon (One Step Beyond); Wine Of Violence (Undying Love); Gonna Take Over Now (I'm Gonna Take Over Now); Rasta Man Camp; I Am A Revolutionist

1980s reissue in the same sleeve as the original release. The full Side 1 matrix reads MML 2165 A - SPIDER MAN FREDDIE MCGREGOR STUDIO 1 BOBBY BOBYLON.

bobbybobylon2018200

Sides 1 & 2: Bandulo (Soulful Music); We Need More Love (I Make A Woman); What Difference Does It Make; Go Away Pretty Girl; Tomorrow Is Like Today // Bobby Bobylon (One Step Beyond); Wine Of Violence (Undying Love); Gonna Take Over Now (I'm Gonna Take Over Now); Rasta Man Camp; I Am A Revolutionist

Sides 3 & 4: Freddie; Homeward Bound; Little Girl (Love Me Girl); When I'm Ready/Jacklyn (Freddie & Lone Ranger) (extended mix) (A Love I Can Feel); Come Now Sister (extended 12" mix) (Get In The Groove); I Man A Rasta (original 7" mix); Rastaman Camp (extended mix); Bobby Bobylon/One Step Beyond (Freddie & Jackie Mittoo) (extended mix)

Available as a double vinyl album, CD or digital download. The label is a reproduction of the 1979 first press that carries the Coxson's Musik City, Long Island address. ((Click sleeve to enlarge.))

A very welcome (remastered) reissue of the 2006 Heartbeat compilation, and another fine example of Studio One's fruitful collaboration with Yep Roc Records.