29th August 2022

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PRESENTING THE GLADIATORS1
The Gladiators (1977)

Studio One
matrix: SOL 1133 A // SOL 1133 B

PRESENTING THE GLADIATORS2
The Gladiators (2000)

Studio One
matrix: SOL 1133 A // SOL 1133 - B

PRESENTING THE GLADIATORS3
The Gladiators

Studio One CD

PRESENTING THE GLADIATORS4
The Gladiators (2018)

Studio One SOR-017
matrix: LP-SOR-017 174402E1/A

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Hello Carol; Rainy Night In Georgia; Jah Almighty; Love And Meditation; On The Other Side // Jah Jah Go Before Us; Stop This Fussing (Peace Truce); My Thoughts; Easy Squeeze; Uptown Rebel (Downtown Rebel)

Original Jamaican issue and various represses. The track list above is correct, as taken from the original label rather than the sleeve or subsequent labels. ((Click sleeve to enlarge.))

Albert Griffiths formed The Gladiators in 1966 with David Webber and Errol Grandison. The first single they recorded for Studio One was Hello Carol, released in 1968. In the early 1970s Webber and Grandison were replaced by Clinton Fearon and Gallimore Sutherlands, and it is the trio of Griffiths, Fearon and Sutherland who can be heard on the remainder of the tracks collected here.

It would seem that the LP was hastily put together to cash in on the group's recent international success with the Trenchtown Mix Up album, released on the Virgin label in 1976. There is no catalogue number, the titles on the sleeve are incorrect, there are no sleeve notes and the album is housed in a rather rudimentary monochrome sleeve. But none of this can detract from the quality of the music.

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Hello Carol; Rainy Night In Georgia; Jah Almighty; Love And Meditation; On The Other Side // My Thoughts; Downtown Rebel; Stop This Fussing (Peace Truce); My Thoughts; Downtown Rebel; Re-Arrange

Side 1 is a repress of the original issue, Side 2 is an unfortunate remix with added instrumenation. My Thoughts and Downtown Rebel are repeated, with the consequence that we lose Jah Jah Go Before Us and Easy Squeeze. And surely the sleeve is only a second generation photocopy of the original black & white cover. The only way to tell the difference between the two issues is the added hyphen in the B side matrix.
((Click sleeve to enlarge.))

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compactdisc

Hello Carol; Rainy Night In Georgia; Jah Almighty; Love And Meditation; On The Other Side;Tribulation; Jah Jah Go Before Us; Roots Natty Roots; Peace Truce; My Thoughts; Down Town Rebel; Re-Arrange

Studio One CD with 12 tracks, including Roots Natty Roots (listed but not included on the original vinyl issue), Tribulation and Re-Arrange, but omitting Easy Squeeze.

Sides 1 & 2: Hello Carol; Rainy Night In Georgia; Easy Squeeze; Love And Meditation; On The Other Side // Jah Jah Go Before Us; Roots Natty; Peace Truce (aka Peace); My Thoughts; Downtown Rebel

Sides 3 & 4: Jah Almighty; Serious Thing; Serious Version; Jah Jah (Vers.); Culture; Rearrange (Disco Mix) // Peace Truce (Disco Mix); Roots Natty/Natty Chalawa (The Gladiators & Lone Ranger) (Disco Mix)

Remastered Deluxe Edition, number 17 in the series of releases from Studio One's collaboration with Yep Roc Records. Available on double vinyl, CD and digital formats.

Sides 1 & 2 feature the tracks from the first Jamaican vinyl release, which play according to the order printed on the original sleeve. Sides 3 & 4 collect various extra tracks, together with their version sides, and 3 extended discomixes, most of which were previously unreleased on LP. The comprensive sleeve notes are written by Chris Wilson, who was also responsible for supervising this very welcome reissue.

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