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6 Degrees Entertainment

Title - One Love: The Best Of Their Nighthawk Recordings
Artist - Gladiators

For those of you not in the know, formed by singer and guitarist Albert Griffiths in the mid-‘60s, Gladiators soon became a force in the genres of Ska and reggae. As Reggae moved toward Ragga (synthesized drums, sampling, etc.) Gladiators’ recordings for the Nighthawk Records label in the ‘80s stayed true to their roots reggae sound.

One Love: The Best Of Their Nighthawk Recordings (out now via Omnivore Recordings) collects 20 tracks from their tenure at the label, including tracks from the albums Symbol Of Reality (1982) and Serious Thing (1984), as well as the 1992 collection of previously unissued tracks Full Time, the 1983 U.S. Tour EP, and Dread Prophecy (recorded with Ethiopian) from 1986.

It traces the direction of Jamaican music, coupling Griffith’s originals with covers of Bob Marley and more. It is the perfect introduction to the band’s pivotal period, and also stands as document of how as the genre had evolved, the need for true roots reggae never wavered.

Packaging contains photos and new liner notes from Dana Smart outlining Gladiators’ story. One Love: The Best Of Their Nighthawk Recordings presents an integral piece into the roots and soul of reggae music.

1. Symbol Of Reality
2. Fling It Gimme
3. Mister Goose
4. One Love
5. Reggae Jamboree
6. Cheater
7. Full Time
8. My Thoughts
9. Fussing And Fighting
10. Serious Thing
11. Bless Our Soul
12. Streets Of Gold
13. Boy In Long Pants
14. Dread Prophecy
15. Small Axe
16. Mid-Range
17. Stand Alone
18. Bongo Red
19. You Little Rat (aka Prince Tony’s Head)
20. After You

For many, many decades, Albert Griffiths and his Gladiators have been a major force within Jamaican music. Born in 1946, in St. Elizabeth parish, he grew up in poverty in Trench Town, and trained as a mason. However, music beckoned, and linking with David Webber, brother of the popular Webber Sisters, the pair auditioned around the studios, but to no avail.

Thus it was back to masonry, where Griffiths was now working alongside the Ethiopians’ Leonard Dillon under a foreman, Leebert Robinson, also looking to enter the music industry. Griffiths convinced Robinson to fund a recording session; with the Supersonics providing accompaniment, the Ethiopians cut Train to Skaville, backed by Griffiths’ You Are the Girl, credited to Al & the Ethiopians. Train was a smash, while Girl confirmed Griffiths’ own potential.

On this superb set, the Gladiators revisit the past and take note of the present, while simultaneously looking to the future, opening with the Rastaman roots and nyabhingi bongo beat of Symbol Of Reality and the reggae-pop bounce of Fling It Gimme and then come the cool vibes of Mister Goose, the joyous One Love, the sterner rhythms of Reggae Jamboree, then come the Jamaican blues of Cheater, the free flowing Full Time, the sunshine within the gorgeous My Thoughts, before we are given the euphorically-charged Fussing And Fighting and the pure reggae jam Serious Thing.

Next up is the forthright Bless Our Soul and the dutiful reggae melodies within Streets Of Gold and they are backed by the beautiful hipsway of Boy In Long Pants, the reggae-pop bounce flow of Dread Prophecy, the Gospel-tinged, Hammond-imbued Small Axe, the ’60s-embued colors and tones of Mid-Range are next, and then comes the tantalizing reggae-pop-rock flow of Stand Alone, the album rounding out with the big Rastafarian tune Bongo Red, the drum-led rhythms of You Little Rat (aka Prince Tony’s Head), coming to a close on the strident message contained with After You.

Official Purchase Link

www.omnivorerecordings.com





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