The Gladiators

All of this classic Front Line album apart from the tracks Know Yourself Mankind and Thief In The Knight can be found on the 19 track compilation Dreadlocks, The Time Is Now. This also includes the single Pocket Money and tracks from Proverbial Reggae, Naturality and Sweet So Till.

This is a seminal album one that transferred well to the punk scene in London and helped influence the Clash the pistols and others. Its pure roots reggae but alittle slicker and shorter- and includes the stunner Soul Rebel. This album is quick and propulsive- with most songs dancing around the 3 minute mark at true Jamaican pace but seems to blow by despite being 11 or 12 tracks. Im not implying that the songs are fast at all- its the spirit and the mixing of the songs down to an almost poplike form instead of six minute mantras. Great vocals great tunes and relevant lyrics make this a must own for all reggae fans especially considering this is a classic among the last dying days of the height of reggae-Bom MArley excluded. The cover captures the mood at the time not only in Kingston but in London as well. A must have!

excellent album to add to any collection. sweet tunes and heavy rhythms. always a steady reggae beat and strong rhthym 'chink'. everyone likes this album, no cheese anywhere on it.

At times I just laugh at the harmony these guys lay down, at first listen it sounds downright out of key. So you wonder why I would rate it so high? This album is soulfull, sweet reggae at its best, the more you listen the more you groove. You cant help but love it for its sincerity and innocence. HIGH on my list of must haves.

Great album, my only complaint is that it's a little short. Excellent beats, catchy tunes, great vocals... i definitely recommend this one. Even if you haven't heard of the Gladiators before, their sound is right up there with other much more famous reggae bands.

This a a modern roots classic from a band (one of many, actually-- CULTURE, ISRAEL VIBES, ORIGINAL INNER CIRCLE to name a few) that doesn't get as much press or exposure as SPEAR or MARLEY, but has been around for just as long (and still kicking!).
Check out some earlier titles for even more powerful roots (ITES) music!

I've been listening to reggae for over 20 years and this album has been in my CD player for over 10 of those years. Albert Giffiths vocals are strongly under-rated. The structural integrity of this album is outstanding with a variety of mellow yet happy tracks. If you have most of Bob's albums and a few other reggae greats but feel the need to experience a new group of reggae specialists, I highly recommend this one. It's as serious as reggae gets.

I'm really glad made a choice....In fact, it is since some time I bought a CD album of GLADIATORS.... But, Time was too long I waited nevertheless justify my decision...I got many more collection of Gladiators - A Premier Band and Artists who are really at peak of performance and transforms A Real Reaggae Rhythms I'm Quite Glad...I expect similar compilations would flow in the future....Till then...JAH LOVE...ONE LOVE

One of the greatest roots reggae bands brings forth a whole disc full of strong tracks. No weak moments here. Solid backing from some of the best musicians reggae has to offer, this album will appeal to fans of Israel Vibration, Burning Spear and Culture. Respect to Albert Griffiths and sons for releasing The Gladiators best album in ages. Highly recommended. Give Thanks.

This is a phenomonal collection of the Gladiators in one place. It is missing some of my favorites, but you need to get deep into old LPs to really get their greats ("On the Other Side of the Mountain"). I think the real gem of this album is "Tribulation." Haunting and euphoric. This album made me dig a lot deeper into Gladiator roots and I will always cherish it for that.

not a bad album.the one to get is virgins frontline. DREADLOCKS THE TIME IS NOW a seriously wicked album

Personally I was slightly disappointed in this CD. You might be too......if you've been spoiled by later Albert Griffiths and Gladiators recordings.

The material here isn't bad, it just isn't outstanding. If you keep in mind that this disc represents a rawer, less defined Gladiators sound........and that the band was obviously still feeling it's way through these Studio One recordings, then you might consider adding this one to your reggae collection. You'll find the recordings inconsistent. For example, there are rootsy tracks like "Bongo Red" and "Tribulation" (my favorite)......side-by-side with an odd remake of "So Fine," which was a 1959 tune by an R&B group, The Fiestas!

For from a pure collection standpoint, it's definitely worth having along side the rest of your reggae classics. But if you expect it to be up to the level of "Serious Thing" or "Trench Town Mix Up," you might be in for a let down.

This must be the best gladiators disc and one of the best reggae albums ever, the sound is so easy and simply , so good and harmonious. The voice of Albert Griffiths is impressive, songs like: "Roots Natty" "Bongo Red" "Fling It Gimme" and "A Prayer to Thee"(the sickest one) made this album necessary to owned for all reggae fans.

I'm not going to pretend that I was around when the Gladiators made their debut, so I have no idea how ground-breaking or revolutionary this music was. What I DO know is that it's damn good roots reggae that's easy to listen to.

Albert Griffiths and the Gladiators have a nice sound, reminiscent of the way Bob and the Wailers sounded in the beginning of their careers. Several voices singing at once, in simple, effective harmonies. But the band incorporates a lot of sounds indicative of later, rock-steady reggae. It's a good sound, amplified by some of reggae's hey-day producers.

My favorite songs have to be "Roots Natty," "Watch Out," and "Mr. Sweet." All the songs but one found on "Studio 1" have never been released on CD before, so this will be an interesting introduction to the Gladiators for those who've never heard of them, and a welcome treasury for those who have.

There may be some who disagree with the idea of this album being a bonafide classic, but I feel it ranks among the best of the Gladiators work. Just to listen to a song like 'Let Jah Be Praised' feels good. The title track is hot, as is 'Red Green and Gold'. Really there's nothing on the album I don't like, just some more than others. Excellent reggae, on par with 'Trenchtown Mix Up' or 'Proverbial Reggae'.

"Proverbial Reggae" is every bit the masterpiece that "Trenchtown Mixup" is. It is a rare feat for a group to deliver 2 killers in a row, but the Gladiators did it!

This 19-tracker is compiled from the period 1976-1979 when the Gladiators were recording at Joe Gibbs, Harry J and Channel One in Jamaica for the UK label Front Line, and includes singles such as Chatty Chatty Mouth, Dreadlocks The Time Is Now, Pocket Money and Stick A Bush. All the tracks were produced by Prince Tony Robinson or the Gladiators themselves using the best session musicians (Sly Dunbar, Ansell Collins, Earl "Wire" Lindo, Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace etc. etc.) of the day.

All of their classic Front Line album debut Trench Town Mix Up, apart from the tracks Know Yourself Mankind and Thief In The Night, is included, along with key tracks from Proverbial Reggae, Naturality and Sweet So Till.

The only disappointment is the single Pocket Money, as it is not the lengthy 12" mix featuring U-Roy but a short single edit that was on the UK B-side of Dreadlocks The Time Is Now, and also is the only mono mix on the album.

Traditional roots at its best. Albert Griffiths voice shines brighter than the morning sun, with songs like "Looks Is Decieving" and "Bellyfull", this album remains at the top of my list and is a must have for any reggae fan. Surely the Gladiators have made Jah Proud.

I will save you valuable time by just saying you should buy this album.

For those of you who prefer longer reviews :

Wonderful music; excellent emotion; brilliant lyrics.

A nice cd of live material from the largely unknown Gladiators showcases their unique vocal trio style in the rocksteady and reggae traditions.

Featuring many of their great hits made with Coxsone Dodd, including the superb "Bongo Red," "Naturality," "Roots Natty," and their 1st smash, "Hello Carol," this concert was obviously a greatest hits show of some sort. I don't have much more information on where this was recorded- perhaps at a Reggae Sunsplash show.

Like many of the late 60's and early 70's the Gladiators are lost in the maze of numerous roots reggae acts, but unlike most of them, they are still at it today, and have made great lps with Israel Vibration, as well as crddible studio efforts on their own.