17 North Parade Releases

Reggae Anthology – Niney The Observer: Roots With Quality
&
Reggae Rewind –Freddie McGregor: Mr. McGregor

on January 13, 2009

17 North Parade is proud to announce the release of Reggae Anthology – Niney The Observer: Roots With Quality and Reggae Rewind –Freddie McGregor: Mr. McGregor on January 13, 2009. Remastered and featuring extended liner notes and bonus tracks, the vintage imprint brings these hits and hit-makers back to life for dedicated collectors looking to improve their collection and casual fans interested in experiencing the authentic reggae vibe.

Reggae Anthology -Niney The Observer: Roots With Quality is a ‘best of’ collection that captures some of the greatest material and encapsulates momentous history and achievement from one of the most inventive creators in Jamaican music.

Winston Holness aka Niney The Observer began producing with Joe Gibbs and supervising sessions for both Lee Perry and Bunny Lee during the late 60’s. The 1970 hit track “Blood And Fire” got his own Observer label off the ground in a major way and over the past three decades he has produced high quality records featuring an amazing array of reggae’s biggest superstars.
This retrospective features the who’s who of roots reggae legends – Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs, Freddie McGregor, Michael Rose, Junior Byles, Delroy Wilson, Sugar Minott, Leroy Smart and many others who were inspired to cut some of their best music for The Observer. Deejay versions and amazing King Tubby’s mixes are also in this package featuring the full story of one of the most inventive producers in Jamaican music.

Debuting on CD for the first time and coming fully restored with original album artwork, digitally re-mastered sound and extensive liner notes, Freddie McGregor: Mr. McGregor of the Reggae Rewind series has been re-issued and brought back to life for your listening pleasure.

This premier LP is a premium sampling of the quality reggae music that was being churned out in Jamaica in the late 1970's. The album's stalwart selections established the rootsy mix of reality, Rasta, lovers and cover tunes that Freddie's fans have come to expect from his releases throughout his lengthy career.

While Bobby Bobylon is rightfully regarded as a Studio One gem and has long been considered an essential part of any respectable reggae collection, the more obscure Mr. McGregor is a diamond in the rough waiting to be discovered. Produced by the innovative Winston Holness aka Niney the Observer, Mr. McGregor has a raw, gritty edge in contrast to Coxsone's carefully polished production on Bobby Bobylon. The original 10 track LP did hit #2 on the UK reggae album charts in June 1979, but in the following years it has not received the accolades nor the wide distribution it deserves. This super deluxe edition features 7 bonus tracks and includes 4 showcase disco mixes. With the additional tunes, this CD encompasses virtually all the output yielded from Freddie's association with Niney.

ABOUT 17 NORTH PARADE

Launched in 2007 by VP Records, the 17 North Parade imprint pays homage to the historic location of Randy's Record Mart, the premier recording studio and record shop in Kingston and mecca for Reggae music between the late 60's and 70's. 17 North Parade is dedicated to preserving and reintroducing the recordings of the Caribbean’s most influential musical pioneers.