FREDDIE MCKAY Vinyl & CDs

Review: Freddie McKay's Creation album, produced by Ossie Hibbert, presents a masterful fusion of original compositions and inspired covers, showcasing McKay's talent alongside reggae legends like Burning Spear and Dennis Brown. Hibbert's production expertise shines through, creating a seamless blend of classic reggae sound with subtle dub elements. The album's strength lies in its ability to breathe new life into familiar classics while maintaining the integrity of the originals. McKay's performances exude authenticity and passion, supported by skilled musicians who excel in the 'rockers' style of the seventies.

Review: The Top Ranking crew has pulled another doozy out of the bag here. Freddie McKay's 'Mope & Cry' finds the vocalist at his most vulnerable and expressive. It was originally released in 1974 during the golden era of Jamaican music and is steeped in rich harmonies with a rolling bassline with gently skanking guitar that cushions McKay's aching vocals. With a voice that effortlessly conveys sorrow and resilience, he delivers a timeless tale of love lost and emotional survival. The killer dub on the flip makes this one a no-brainer.

Review: Sunset's reissue series of Harry J releases continues with this gem from the late, great Freddie McKay's 1986 collaboration with The Jah Apostles, one of the last productions to feature the singer - who seamlessly navigated from the early ska days right up to the digital era - before his untimely death in November of the same year. McKay's soulful vocals ride effortlessly over the Apostles' mesmerising rhythms here, meaning that it is impossible not to be transported listeners to the golden shores of Jamaica at sundown. As is so often with the case with reggae, there's a dubbed out version on the flip - we wouldn't have it any other way.