B-side Jamaica Bag Label Studio1 | Released 1971 | |
"OK Fred" is a song and single by Jamaican singer-songwriter, John Holt. It was first released in 1971.
Contents
Background
Errol Dunkley states that the song is about an up-town girl who falls for a down-town guy who is a non-conformist in the way he dresses and wants to become care-free like him. Jamaican parents might tell their unkempt children, "Fix up youself, put you shirt in you trousers, you look like a yaga yaga" [sic]. AllMusic gave a different version, saying the song describes the singer's prowess and technique with the opposite sex.
Holt's version features Vin Gordon on trombone. It was produced by Coxsone Dodd. The song was covered with greater chart success by Dunkley.
Chart success
Holt's version did not chart in the UK. Dunkley's version reached 11 in the UK Singles Chart in 1979, staying therein for 11 weeks.