Review of The Gladiators' BACK TO ROOTS

The oldest of Virgin's un-re-released catalog of music by The Gladiators, Back to Roots is an excellent collection of roots reggae recorded in 1982 released in 2000 by Tabou1. Having started their careers with Studio One, The Gladiators (Albert Griffiths, Clinton Fearon, and Gallimore Sutherland) are one of reggae's most respected trios, even if they remain relatively unknown to the masses.

While earlier releases with Virgin relied on the talents of Sly & Robbie and other for-hire musicians, Back to Roots was the Gladiators' first release with only their own band providing the vibes. As much as I appreciate the seemingly-infinite skills of the backing musicians like Sly & Robbie, there's nothing like hearing a raw, wicked vibe provided by lesser-known musicians. The band provides a quality musical backdrop roughout the album, showing deft musicianship.

Where this disc really rocks, though, is vocally. Imagine the sound of Bob Marley (especially notabe on their cover of "Talking Blues"), Michael Rose, and Yabby You combined with the lyricism of Bob Marley (always go back to Marley, right?) and Burning Spear. If I were to form the ultimate reggae trio, I would use the Gladiators as a reference.

One of my personal favorite tracks is "Guts," a slow, grooving riddim topped with lyrics about difficulties being a Rasta in Jamaica:

You got to have guts to be a natty dreadlocks
I said you got to stand up and fight for what you want
Persecution is what we will got to bear
They will even give your basket
Oh yes to carry water when they donut like you

Another favorite is the outstanding "Rich Man Poor Man." The similarity to Michael Rose is apparent here (think "I Love King Selassie").

The rich man poor man beggar man thief
Everyone claim that them are the chief
The rich man buy the poor man's life
The poor man take away the beggar man's wife
Don't cry my brothers
Don't cry my sisters
Tears won't change the situation
It's just a form, a form of reaction

"The Warriors" is also worth mentioning. Musically and lyrically, it reminds me of Yabby You and is definitely a highlight of the disc:

Stand at the gate well ready
But we ain't showing no bombs and we ain't shooting no guns
Jah protect us so we tough, tougher than tough
We are the warriors, I said we are the warriors
We are fighting against the wrong fighting against the wrong
To bring rights into the light bring rights into the light

The album, as a whole, provides a glimpse into the quality of roots reggae at the time. Even though much reggae of the era was geared towards "going pop" (including some of the Gladiators' own work with Virgin), this aptly titled album was a return to the sound that made the Gladiators so well-respected in the first place. They must have had a spectacular live show.

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