Send I A Lion: A Nighthawk Reggae Joint (2019) CD Review

Our country seems more divided than ever before, and the line is clear. There are racists and imbeciles on one side, and everyone else on the other. The problem is the racists are in power, and are brazenly flaunting their disregard for the laws. Things look dire for democracy, and a portion of the country’s citizens seem to not care at all. To keep from going completely mad from anger, we turn to music to raise our spirits, to give us hope, to unite us, and also to make us dance. And what better genre of music for that is there than reggae? Send A Lion: A Nighthawk Reggae Joint is a compilation of great music from the Nighthawk Records label, featuring artists like Culture, Gladiators, Ethiopian & His All Stars, and Winston Jarrett And The Righteous Flames. This collection includes liner notes by Leroy Jodie Pierson, with thoughts and memories about these artists and the recordings. There is also one previously unreleased track by The Mighty Diamonds.

The collection opens with Culture’s “Calling Rastafari,” the song that was also the lead track from Culture’s The Nighthawk Recordings, which was released earlier this year. It is a delightful and positive song, with a groove that should bring a smile to your face. And, hey, maybe all significant change begins with a smile rather than a scowl. By the way, this is the song that gives this disc its title. This collection also features Culture’s “Dem A Payaka,” a positive-sounding song that was also included on The Nighthawk Recordings. “Give the youth a try.” I love this song.

Gladiators’ “Bongo Red” has more of a solemn aspect, but of course still with a groove to keep you moving. The percussion is prominent, and is what I tend to latch onto. And I dig that work on keys. “So I take a walk from 6th Street/Trying to prove something/Going to the bottom of 8th Street/From corner to corner you can hear/Yes, the youths dem a shout.” Ethiopian & Gladiators together give us “I’m Ready,” an effective song with some nice stuff on horns. “Yes, I’m ready/I know my culture/Yes, I know/I know who I am.” This collection also includes the wonderfully uplifting “Bless Our Soul” from Gladiators. Ah, those horns sound so good. I wish this music could somehow be pumped into the Senate chamber and work its magic on the ghouls and scoundrels that nest there. “Bless Our Soul” is from Serious Thing, Gladiators’ 1984 LP, which was re-issued last year. We also get “Serious Thing,” the title track from that album, and “Streets Of Gold” from Symbol Of Reality, which was also re-issued last year. “Is there any difference between black and white?/Oh no.”

“Weeping Eyes,” from Justin Hinds And The Dominoes, has an uplifting and comforting vibe, with a friendly, gentle and beautiful vocal performance. “Walk with the wise/Then you shall be wiser/Walk with the proud/Then you shall be scornful/Walk with the meek/You shall inherit this earth/Wipe your weeping eyes/Consider your ways.” I love those sweet backing vocals too. This song is also known as “Wipe Your Weeping Eyes,” which is  how it was listed on the single. This disc also includes Justin Hinds’ “Want More.” “You give ‘em this, you give ‘em that/Give them every little thing that their hearts desire/They want more.” And what song is more perfect and needed these days than Justin Hinds And The Dominoes’ “Travel With Love”? Here is a taste of the lyrics: “Most of these men are so hard to understand/Everywhere I go, I’ve got to travel with love.”

The Mighty Diamonds’ “4000 Years” is another effective and powerful song, and lines like “Poor can stand no more/They can take it no longer/Poor can stand no more/Now the wicked get stronger” certainly stand out. Still, there is an optimistic bent to this track that I appreciate. “The youths of tomorrow/They won't be like them shadow/The youths of tomorrow/They won't beg, steal or borrow.” Really, all this music seems to have an inherent optimism, something it seems we all need. The album’s final track – its previously unreleased track – is a different version of this song. It was recorded at a hotel, performed on a guitar with only four strings and a telephone directory as the only percussion instrument. It’s a treat to have this very cool recording.

Junior Byles’ “Thanks And Praise” has such a cheerful and positive sound, both to the music and the vocals, that it becomes a highlight of this collection for me. The Wailing Souls’ “Harbor Shark” is a song I don’t recall hearing before. But who knows? My memory has some gaps. I’m surprised its title hasn’t been used for one of those numerous low-budget shark movies that I love so much. I mean, hell, we have Swamp Shark, Snow Shark, Ice Sharks, Avalanche Sharks, Sand Sharks, Ozark Sharks, Mississippi River Sharks, Dam Sharks, House Shark and Trailer Park Shark, so it seems that Harbor Shark would have been made already. Well, I bet we’ll have a Harbor Shark in the next few months, once those filmmakers become aware of that oversight.

From Ethiopian & His All Stars, we get the totally enjoyable and wonderful “Train To Skaville,” from The Return Of Jack Sparrow, released a couple of years ago. The song is, however, quite a bit older, and was included on The Ethiopians’ 1968 LP, Engine 54, and also released as a single.  It is a fun song guaranteed to lift your spirits and loosen your body. There isn’t a whole lot going on here, but what this song delivers might be just what you’re looking for. Goodbye, stress; hello, dance floor.  Also included on this disc is Ethiopian & His All Stars’ “Straight On Rastafari,” which feels like a call to rise from our seats and take to the streets to dance and spread some good cheer. The Morwells are represented on this disc by “Young Lover,” an appealing and sweet love song. “Young lover/My sweet, sweet young lover/Please come on home with me tonight/And everything will be all right.”

There is something really catchy and fun about the vocal line to “Babylon Broke Dung Me House” by Winston Jarrett And The Righteous Flames, and the horns add to the song’s celebratory air, though the lyrics are about some serious troubles. This song is from the 1989 album Jonestown, which was re-issued last year. Also from Winston Jarrett And The Righteous Flames, we are treated to the bouncy and bright “Bad Boy,” another track from Jonestown. “Move On Oppressor,” by Ronnie Davis And Idren, is one of my favorite tracks from this compilation. It comes from Come Straight, another LP that was re-issued last year. And lines like “Every time we learn the game, you change the rules” certainly stand out, and seem to apply to our current political situation. From what I’ve been reading, the Republicans have simply ditched the entire set of rules (but will certainly try to apply them to Democrats once they regain power).

CD Track List

1. Calling Rastafari – Culture
2. Bongo Red – Gladiators
3. Weeping Eyes – Justin Hinds And The Dominoes
4. I’m Ready – Ethiopian & Gladiators
5. 4000 Years – The Mighty Diamonds
6. Thanks And Praise – Junior Byles
7. Bless Our Soul – Gladiators
8. Harbor Shark – Wailing Souls
9. Want More – Justin Hinds
10. Train To Skaville – Ethiopian & His All Stars
11. Young Lover – Morwells
12. Serious Thing – Gladiators
13. Babylon Broke Dung Me House – Winston Jarrett And The Righteous Flames
14. Move On Oppressor – Ronnie Davis And Idren
15. Dem A Payaka – Culture
16. Straight On Rastafari – Ethiopian & His All Stars
17. Streets Of Gold – Gladiators
18. Bad Boy – Winston Jarrett And The Righteous Flames
19. Travel With Love – Justin Hinds And The Dominoes
20. 4000 Years (Audition) – The Mighty Diamonds

Send I A Lion: A Nighthawk Reggae Joint was released on November 15, 2019 through Omnivore Recordings, and is available on both CD and vinyl.