Gladiators: “One Love: The Best Of Their Nighthawk Recordings” (2022) CD Review

In 2018, Omnivore Recordings re-issued a couple of Gladiators albums, Symbol Of Reality and Serious Thing, in expanded versions. Now that label is giving us a new compilation titled One Love: The Best Of Their Nighthawk Recordings. It contains twenty tracks, taken from several different releases. It is more than an hour of music. And this is perhaps just what we need right now, uplifting music with a good groove and some meaningful lyrics to keep us from going too mad. Most of these songs are originals, written by Albert Griffiths, but there are also a few Bob Marley covers.

The compilation opens with the title track from Symbol Of Reality, a good choice in these days when reality in this country is somehow getting uglier. Weren’t we at least implicitly promised things would improve once the previous administration was gone? We need reminders that this isn’t the full reality. And besides, this tune offers a good, easygoing rhythm, and I love that work on organ in the track’s second half. “Where there’s reality, there is dignity.” That’s followed by “Fling It Gimme,” one of my personal favorite tracks from Serious Thing. Its sound immediately helps to lift my spirits. This track contains plenty of positive vibes. “Anywhere at all, girl, you can fling it gimme.” The first time I put on this disc was the morning when the so-called Supreme Court handed down its latest disastrous ruling, putting women across the country in danger, and I thought nothing could make me smile. But this song did the trick.

We return to Symbol Of Reality for “Mister Goose,” which has a rather playful vibe. “You see, when the cat is away, you know the mouse will begin to play/But what good is a song/That has no meaning.” Then “One Love,” this compilation’s title track, comes from a 1992 compilation titled Full Time, where it was the closing track. If the group asked, “But what good is a song that has no meaning?” in the previous song, on this one they deliver some meaningful lyrics, as well as a great groove. “Where is equal rights and justice?/It’s nowhere to be found, it’s nowhere to be found.” This is one of the disc’s best tracks. Clinton Fearon sings lead on it. “One love/Hear the children sing it/One love/They are singing in the background/One love/Hear the children shout it/One love/They are shouting in the background.”

“Reggae Jamboree” comes from a 1983 six-song EP titled 1983 U.S. Tour E.P. This is one I don’t recall hearing before, and am glad to have this song included here. “Come and dance to your favorite songs/The drum and the bass just mash it up.” Two other tracks from that EP are also included on this compilation. But next we go back to Symbol Of Reality for “Cheater,” a song that was originally titled “Big Boo Boo Dey” when it was recorded and released as a single in the 1970s. It’s a song about a woman who cares about money, going from man to man to get it. These lines stand out, and mean something a bit different in these days of the internet and social media: “I found you out, people will too/Your name soon be around from post to post.” That’s followed by “Full Time,” the title track from that 1992 release. This is a delightful, sweet song. Then from Serious Thing comes “My Thoughts,” this one also having a wonderfully positive and uplifting sound. The religious aspect of reggae music doesn’t hold much appeal for me, but the sound is so good, and this one features some nice work on organ in the second half.

“Fussing And Fighting” is the second of three songs from that 1983 EP, and it’s another good one, the first of three Bob Marley covers on this compilation. “Why is this fussing and fighting/I want to know, lord, I want to know.” That’s followed by the title track from Serious Thing, a strong song with, of course, a good groove. “Too much confusion goin’ on.” Indeed. Then “Bless Our Soul” comes from the 2018 expanded edition of Serious Thing. It was written by Clinton Fearon, who sings lead on this track. This one also features a horn section. It is a completely enjoyable track. It is followed by “Streets Of Gold,” from Symbol Of Reality. And again thinking about the Supreme Court, this line stands out: “Stand up, fight for your rights.” I hope those five justices aren’t allowed a moment’s rest. I hope people protest outside their homes around the clock, follow them wherever they go, and make their lives miserable. “Boy In Long Pants” comes from Full Time, and is another enjoyable number.

Another of this compilation’s highlights is “Dread Prophecy,” the title track from a 1986 release from Ethiopian & Gladiators. It was written by Leonard Dillon, who also provides vocals on this track. It has such a positive vibe. That is followed by the second of the Bob Marley covers, “Small Axe,” which comes from Symbol Of Reality. “If you are a big tree, let me tell you that I am the small axe/Ready to cut you down, ready to cut you down.” Oh, there are so many people I can think of right now who should hear those lines, but I would especially love to sing those lyrics to five Supreme Court justices. Then in “Mid-Range,” they sing, “Wake up everyone, now/Open your eyes and look within/Can’t you see the arrow/Pointing straight at you, my friend.” This one is from Serious Thing. And these lines especially stand out in these crazy times: “Can’t you see the time that we’re living in/Say you’ve got to be on your guard.”

The last of this compilation’s tracks to come from Symbol Of Reality is “Stand Alone,” which is also the final of the Bob Marley covers. “How could I be so wrong/Thinking we could get along.” I feel that way about those folks who say Democrats and Republicans should work together on solutions to the nation’s problems. How can you still think that is possible, particularly when many of the problems are caused by the Republicans?  That is followed by the last track to come from Full Time, “Bongo Red,” and then the final of three tracks from the 1983 EP, “You Little Rat.” “You Little Rat” was originally titled “Prince Tony’s Head” (or, “Prince Toney’s Head,” as it was spelled on the EP), and it is fantastic. It is another of the disc’s highlights. “You little rat/You’ll soon get chased by a cat/You little rat/You’ll soon get caught in a trap.” This compilation closes with “After You,” a song from Serious Thing, a wonderful track that includes some delightful work from the brass section. This music is certainly helping.

CD Track List

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
20. After You

One Love was released on June 10, 2022 through Omnivore Recordings.