Root's Rock!, 07 Aug 2008
If you're new to reggae and you find that Bob Marley has finally wore away his novelty then you can't go wrong with this album - it has to be the best, most comprehensive Roots reggae album i've heard - it is quite simply brilliant. If, on the other hand, you're a bit more "tuned in" then why the hell don't you have this album already? stop reading this and buy it now!

my favorite tracks on this album range from "chatty chatty mouth", "mix up" and "rude boy ska" but in all honesty i never find myself listening to anything less than the whole album - start finish and back again!

this album showed me that their was more to reaggae and Jamaican music than bob marley and peter tosh - you dont have top be high to like this album you dont have to like reggae its jus a brilliant pop album

buy it and enjoy it!

High and Mighty , 13 Jan 2008
Even 30 years later every single Gladiators 70's albums still sound fresh and scorching. Whether it be the absolutely impeccable music or the perfect harmonies of those 3 singers, every single tune of this crucial roots reggae album will beat you down. Its brilliant lyrics offer common sense reminders that nowadays still prove unheeded by most people ("Pick sense out of nonsense - you'll get the answer") so it's still relevant.

For anyone wanting to know a little more about Reggae than Bob this is the right buy - and it will make you want to dig ever deeper. For anyone already into Reggae, well you already know this.

Vital sounds.

Essential, 31 Aug 2007
At this stage in their career, the Gladiators had freed themselves (temporarily, as they were to return triumphantly four years later) from the contractual shackles of Clement "Coxsone" Dodd, had cut a series of driving skank tracks for Lee Perry, and were branching out into a new direction with "Prince" Tony Robinson. As always, their trademark vocal harmonies can be traced back to the Impressions, while their lyrical influences were, as with most Jamaican groups of the time, snapshots of ghetto life filtered through a Biblical morality.

In common with most of their contemporaries, it was easier to escape the walls of Coxsone's Brentford Road studio than it was to avoid it in their music; thus "Mix Up" was a re-recording of "Bongo Red", and "Hello Carol" followed the original arrangement closely, while "Rude Boy Ska" was a cover of an old Wailers tune. On the other hand, "Looks is Deceiving" and "Eli Eli" saw them stretching out from their previous style, and while their harmonic influences are obvious, their distinctively Jamaican outlook on life, coupled with the proto-rockers rhythms (on which they played the bulk of the guitar and bass parts themselves, and some stunning vocals, render this an essential purchase.

Gladiatorial irie!, 18 Aug 2005
One of the very best roots reggae albums of all time. Righteous spiritual militancy, swooning harmonies, irresistible rhythms, magnificent melodies and a fine line in philosophical nuggets - "Cow never know the use of his tail, till the butcher cut it off" - seen!

One of the best ever., 18 Dec 2004
I think Jools B about sums fantastic album up. Awesome stuff, classic, classic, CLASSIC - the vocal harmonies are spine tingling and powerful. Its such a deep piece of work, deserves pride of place in anyone's music collection.

Root's Rock!, 07 Aug 2008
If you're new to reggae and you find that Bob Marley has finally wore away his novelty then you can't go wrong with this album - it has to be the best, most comprehensive Roots reggae album i've heard - it is quite simply brilliant. If, on the other hand, you're a bit more "tuned in" then why the hell don't you have this album already? stop reading this and buy it now!

my favorite tracks on this album range from "chatty chatty mouth", "mix up" and "rude boy ska" but in all honesty i never find myself listening to anything less than the whole album - start finish and back again!

this album showed me that their was more to reaggae and Jamaican music than bob marley and peter tosh - you dont have top be high to like this album you dont have to like reggae its jus a brilliant pop album

buy it and enjoy it!

High and Mighty , 13 Jan 2008
Even 30 years later every single Gladiators 70's albums still sound fresh and scorching. Whether it be the absolutely impeccable music or the perfect harmonies of those 3 singers, every single tune of this crucial roots reggae album will beat you down. Its brilliant lyrics offer common sense reminders that nowadays still prove unheeded by most people ("Pick sense out of nonsense - you'll get the answer") so it's still relevant.

For anyone wanting to know a little more about Reggae than Bob this is the right buy - and it will make you want to dig ever deeper. For anyone already into Reggae, well you already know this.

Vital sounds.

Essential, 31 Aug 2007
At this stage in their career, the Gladiators had freed themselves (temporarily, as they were to return triumphantly four years later) from the contractual shackles of Clement "Coxsone" Dodd, had cut a series of driving skank tracks for Lee Perry, and were branching out into a new direction with "Prince" Tony Robinson. As always, their trademark vocal harmonies can be traced back to the Impressions, while their lyrical influences were, as with most Jamaican groups of the time, snapshots of ghetto life filtered through a Biblical morality.

In common with most of their contemporaries, it was easier to escape the walls of Coxsone's Brentford Road studio than it was to avoid it in their music; thus "Mix Up" was a re-recording of "Bongo Red", and "Hello Carol" followed the original arrangement closely, while "Rude Boy Ska" was a cover of an old Wailers tune. On the other hand, "Looks is Deceiving" and "Eli Eli" saw them stretching out from their previous style, and while their harmonic influences are obvious, their distinctively Jamaican outlook on life, coupled with the proto-rockers rhythms (on which they played the bulk of the guitar and bass parts themselves, and some stunning vocals, render this an essential purchase.

Gladiatorial irie!, 18 Aug 2005
One of the very best roots reggae albums of all time. Righteous spiritual militancy, swooning harmonies, irresistible rhythms, magnificent melodies and a fine line in philosophical nuggets - "Cow never know the use of his tail, till the butcher cut it off" - seen!

One of the best ever., 18 Dec 2004
I think Jools B about sums fantastic album up. Awesome stuff, classic, classic, CLASSIC - the vocal harmonies are spine tingling and powerful. Its such a deep piece of work, deserves pride of place in anyone's music collection.

Front Line period, 23 Aug 2008
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.

Root's Rock!, 07 Aug 2008
If you're new to reggae and you find that Bob Marley has finally wore away his novelty then you can't go wrong with this album - it has to be the best, most comprehensive Roots reggae album i've heard - it is quite simply brilliant. If, on the other hand, you're a bit more "tuned in" then why the hell don't you have this album already? stop reading this and buy it now!

my favorite tracks on this album range from "chatty chatty mouth", "mix up" and "rude boy ska" but in all honesty i never find myself listening to anything less than the whole album - start finish and back again!

this album showed me that their was more to reaggae and Jamaican music than bob marley and peter tosh - you dont have top be high to like this album you dont have to like reggae its jus a brilliant pop album

buy it and enjoy it!

High and Mighty , 13 Jan 2008
Even 30 years later every single Gladiators 70's albums still sound fresh and scorching. Whether it be the absolutely impeccable music or the perfect harmonies of those 3 singers, every single tune of this crucial roots reggae album will beat you down. Its brilliant lyrics offer common sense reminders that nowadays still prove unheeded by most people ("Pick sense out of nonsense - you'll get the answer") so it's still relevant.

For anyone wanting to know a little more about Reggae than Bob this is the right buy - and it will make you want to dig ever deeper. For anyone already into Reggae, well you already know this.

Vital sounds.

Essential, 31 Aug 2007
At this stage in their career, the Gladiators had freed themselves (temporarily, as they were to return triumphantly four years later) from the contractual shackles of Clement "Coxsone" Dodd, had cut a series of driving skank tracks for Lee Perry, and were branching out into a new direction with "Prince" Tony Robinson. As always, their trademark vocal harmonies can be traced back to the Impressions, while their lyrical influences were, as with most Jamaican groups of the time, snapshots of ghetto life filtered through a Biblical morality.

In common with most of their contemporaries, it was easier to escape the walls of Coxsone's Brentford Road studio than it was to avoid it in their music; thus "Mix Up" was a re-recording of "Bongo Red", and "Hello Carol" followed the original arrangement closely, while "Rude Boy Ska" was a cover of an old Wailers tune. On the other hand, "Looks is Deceiving" and "Eli Eli" saw them stretching out from their previous style, and while their harmonic influences are obvious, their distinctively Jamaican outlook on life, coupled with the proto-rockers rhythms (on which they played the bulk of the guitar and bass parts themselves, and some stunning vocals, render this an essential purchase.

Gladiatorial irie!, 18 Aug 2005
One of the very best roots reggae albums of all time. Righteous spiritual militancy, swooning harmonies, irresistible rhythms, magnificent melodies and a fine line in philosophical nuggets - "Cow never know the use of his tail, till the butcher cut it off" - seen!

One of the best ever., 18 Dec 2004
I think Jools B about sums fantastic album up. Awesome stuff, classic, classic, CLASSIC - the vocal harmonies are spine tingling and powerful. Its such a deep piece of work, deserves pride of place in anyone's music collection.

Front Line period, 23 Aug 2008
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.

The Music makers from Jamaica, 04 Oct 2006
The Gladiators are a fantastic reggae group who have had me hooked on their soulful and rootsy music ever since i heard their first album 'Trenchtown mix up'. This follow up album is even better with brilliant songs beautifully sung and produced. If you liked the first album you will love this one and i strongly recommend it to anyone (Reggae fan or not!}