VIA PRESS RELEASE | Returning to vinyl for the first time in decades, LP will be available in gatefold jacket, with liner notes by Nighthawk Records founder and producer Leroy Jodie Pierson.
Jamaican singer Albert Griffiths founded the Gladiators in 1966 after some success on his own. The group scored their first hit, produced by legendary producer Coxsone Dodd, with “Hello Carol” in 1968. During the ’70s the Gladiators made their way through releases on labels like Studio One, Upsetter, Virgin and Groovemaster. In 1980 the Gladiators worked with producer — and pre-“Electric Avenue” hit-maker — Eddy Grant on the album Gladiators, which also featured members of the band Aswad lending a hand.
After 1982’s Symbol of Reality, their first for the Nighthawk Records label, the Gladiators added more cultural commentary in their song choices for 1984’s follow-up, Serious Thing. Topical songs dominate the album, from the title track, “Serious Thing,” to “Freedom Train” and “My Thoughts.” Once again, the group revisited their own catalog of songs, re-recording “Rearrange” (originally cut with Coxsone Dodd in the early ’70s) and “Fling It Gimme” (originally a single for the group dating back to 1969). Even though reggae as a style of music was changing in the mid-’80s, the Gladiators played to their strengths and made another classic roots album.
This newly remastered version of the album, due out April 10, 2020 on Omnivore Recordings, features the original LP’s ten tracks in a beautiful gatefold jacket. Lyrics and liner notes from original Nighthawk Records’ producer Leroy Jodie Pierson are also included. Like all of the Nighthawk reissues, this has been overseen by Leroy and Grammy® Award-winning producer Cheryl Pawelski, and has been remastered from the original tapes by Grammy® Award-winning engineer Michael Graves, with lacquers cut by Jeff Powell at Take Out Vinyl/Sam Phillips Recording Service in Memphis, Tenn.
Also coming from Omnivore via Nighthawk Records in 2020: Ethiopian & Gladiators’ Dread Prophecy (May 22) and Junior Byles’ Rasta No Pickpocket (June 12).
TRACK LIST
SIDE ONE
1. Serious Thing
2. My Thoughts
3. My Thoughts Version
4. Fling It Gimme
5. Rearrange
SIDE TWO
1. Mid-Range
2. Mid-Range Version
3. Freedom Train
4. Good Foundation
5. After You
