Back when Virgin Records was a pioneering label pushing back boundaries in the mid-Seventies, Richard Branson challenged Chris Blackwell’s Island in finding and signing the best reggae bands out of Jamaica.

 

The Gladiators – Albert Griffiths, Clinton Fearon and Gallimore Sutherland – were, like The Wailers, a band of musicians as well as a vocal harmony trio, making them less dependent than most of their contemporaries on their producers.

 

They were also one of the best. They had already had a string of Studio One hits when Virgin put them in the studio to make Trenchtown Mix Up in 1976. The set included some reworkings of their old tunes and a couple of Marley covers.

 

I was going to post Looks Is Deceiving, my favourite from the album, until I remembered this 12-inch of another memorable tune, produced by Prince Tony. They made a trio of excellent albums for Virgin in the late Seventies, featuring Griffiths’ conscious lyrics and his bandmates’ delicious harmonies.

 

I now learn that Griffiths made his recorded debut singing the B-side of the Ethiopians’ big hit Train To Skaville (credited to Al & The Ethiopians) back in 1966. He has bowed out now and bequeathed the Gladiators name to his sons Al and Anthony, who continue to perform under the name.