Freddie McGregor - True To My Roots (VPal/Big Ship Music)

For 'True To My Roots ' 'Di Captain' collaborated with a host of producers (Dalton Browne, Lloyd Campbell and Cleveland 'Clevie' Browne) and as we've come to expect from him, the track list contains both conscious and lovers tunes. 'True To My Roots' opens with title track 'True To My Roots', a version over the classic Heavenless riddim. Over that same riddim, Freddie also recorded a version of Dennis Brown's 'Your Love's Got A Hold On Me' for the tribute album 'We Remember Dennis Brown', and that song is also included on 'True To My Roots'. For riddim fanatics there are even more treasures to be found in the track list: there's 'Calling', a delicious version over the Weather Balloon riddim, and then there's the more obscure 'What You Gonna Do' over Doreen Schaffer's 'Try A Little Smile'. That last song was already part of Freddie's 2001 'Signature' album. With The Beatles' 'I'll Be Back' and Little Anthony & The Imperials' 'I'm Falling In Love With You', McGregor also signs for two excellent cover versions, but of course the album also contains a number of brand new productions. In that category, we were most taken with 'I'm A Soldier' and the excellent lovers tune 'I Pledge My Love'. On Thursday 28 July, Freddie McGregor will be presenting 'True To My Roots ' live at the Sfinks Mixed festival in Boechout!