Reggae Regular

Reggae Regular

Reggae Regular is a UK reggae group from London, active from 1976 to the present. The band is also known briefly as The Regulars, and early releases appear under that name.

Formation and early years

The group forms in south London in 1977 after starting out unnamed. Inspired by Jamaican rhythms, it begins rehearsing and then backs other acts on live shows, including The Morwells and the British girl group 15,16,17. As the band develops its British reggae sound, George Clarke writes its songs. The first credited Reggae Regular performance takes place in 1977 at a community venue in Battersea, South London.

Greensleeves period

In 1978 the band records Black Star Liner and Where Is Jah?. After being introduced to A&R man Chris Cracknell at the newly formed Greensleeves Records in west London, it signs to the label. Where Is Jah? becomes Greensleeves’ first release, with catalogue number GRED 001, and reaches number four in the reggae charts. Black Star Liner then reaches number one in the reggae charts.

The Regulars and CBS

In 1979 the group secures a recording deal with CBS Records and records its debut album Victim under the name The Regulars. The album includes songs about social injustice in Britain as well as love and personal experience. The band also tours with mainstream acts including Siouxsie and the Banshees, Peter Tosh and The Jam.

Later work and collaborations

After extensive touring in Europe, the band splits and its members pursue other musical projects. Reggae Regular reforms in 1982 and spends its first year touring and working with Greensleeves artists as backing and recording musicians. Those artists include Frankie Paul, Pato Banton, Barrington Levy and Wailing Souls.

In 1984 the band achieves Greensleeves’ first national chart hit through a collaboration with Tippa Irie on Hello Darling. It later records the album Ghetto Rock and releases the singles Jah Love and House Party, the latter featuring Clint Eastwood and General Saint. After that, the group stops recording as Reggae Regular.

Style and significance

The band is identified with UK reggae and roots reggae, with a sound shaped by Jamaican influences and by British reggae songwriting. Its early catalogue includes songs that become notable in the reggae charts, and its work under both Reggae Regular and The Regulars remains part of its recorded history.