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Albert Griffiths & the Gladiators' On the Right Track is a bit of a disappointment, especially considering that the excellent In Store for You had thrilled fans a mere year before. Perhaps part of the problem was due to the splitting of recording between Jamaica and the U.S. with two entirely different bands.
More likely though, the Gladiators, now dwindled down to the duo of Albert Griffiths and Gallimore Sutherland, needed more time to regroup and gestate these songs. There's a tinge of uncertainty to much of the set, a number of the arrangements are ill-considered, with the rhythms marred by over-reliance on repetitive drum programming thumping over the live beats. And something's out of whack when Griffiths is reaching back not just into his own songbook but that of others for help. The album reaches a nadir with a cover of the limpid old Elvis Presley standard "It's Now or Never." The Italianate-flavored arrangement at least is interesting, although not quite clever enough to salvage the song. An overly thrashy remake of "Stick a Bush," retitled "Big or Small," is just unwelcome, not least for the over-the-top rock licks littering the song. Better is "Must Come True," a brass-fired version of "Bongo Red"/"Mix-Up," although it's weakened by Griffiths' far-from-crystalline falsetto. The title track should have been the album's centerpiece, and features the strongest lyrics, but astonishingly Griffiths virtually sleepwalks through the song, musing over his words, instead of delivering them with the power they demand. "Getty Getty," in contrast, is a thoroughly infectious number, but here it's the lyrics that let down the side. "Cool Breeze," however, is a fine blending of old adages, with an arrangement as upbeat as its title, and those that refuse to listen run the risk of a thrashing with Griffiths' "Proverbial Stick," while the brass fire off directions on "Right Turn." These three are the highlights on an otherwise inconsequential set. The Gladiators are capable of much more than this.
© Jo-Ann Greene /TiVo
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Tony Asher, Strings, AssociatedPerformer - James Reid, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Coyne, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chris Wilson , Producer, Recording Producer - Bongo Herman, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Bobby Ellis, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Albert Griffiths, Producer, Vocals, Background Vocalist, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Duncan Browne, Producer, Executive Producer - Winston Wright, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Vin Gordon, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Gallimore Sutherland, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Uziah Thompson, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Headly Bennett, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Brian Silverman, Guitar, Keyboards, Strings, AssociatedPerformer - Albert Griffiths & the Gladiators, MainArtist - Bill Nowlin, Producer, Executive Producer - Donovan Phillips, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Trevor Lyn, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bertram "Ranchie" McLean, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Basil "Benbow" Creary, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Zoot Scully Sims, Conga, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1989 Rounder Records, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
A. Wilson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dow Brain, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Coyne, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chris Wilson , Producer, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Albert Griffiths, Producer, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Percussion, Vocals, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Duncan Browne, Producer, Executive Producer - Chris Janssen, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - K. Simon, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Shirt, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Brian Silverman, Guitar, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Albert Griffiths & the Gladiators, MainArtist - Bill Nowlin, Producer, Executive Producer - Henley Douglas, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Jon Gorr, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Junior Doc, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - James McDaniels, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1989 Rounder Records, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Tony Asher, Strings, AssociatedPerformer - James Reid, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Coyne, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - AARON SCHROEDER, ComposerLyricist - Wally Gold, ComposerLyricist - Eduardo Di Capua, ComposerLyricist - Chris Wilson , Producer, Recording Producer - Bongo Herman, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Bobby Ellis, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Albert Griffiths, Producer, Vocals, Background Vocalist, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Duncan Browne, Producer, Executive Producer - Winston Wright, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Vin Gordon, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Gallimore Sutherland, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Uziah Thompson, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Headly Bennett, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Brian Silverman, Guitar, Keyboards, Strings, AssociatedPerformer - Albert Griffiths & the Gladiators, MainArtist - Bill Nowlin, Producer, Executive Producer - Donovan Phillips, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Trevor Lyn, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bertram "Ranchie" McLean, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Basil "Benbow" Creary, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Zoot Scully Sims, Conga, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1989 Rounder Records, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
A. Wilson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dow Brain, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Coyne, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chris Wilson , Producer, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Albert Griffiths, Producer, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Percussion, Vocals, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Duncan Browne, Producer, Executive Producer - Chris Janssen, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - K. Simon, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Shirt, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Brian Silverman, Guitar, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Albert Griffiths & the Gladiators, MainArtist - Bill Nowlin, Producer, Executive Producer - Henley Douglas, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Jon Gorr, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Junior Doc, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - James McDaniels, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1989 Rounder Records, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Tony Asher, Strings, AssociatedPerformer - James Reid, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Coyne, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chris Wilson , Producer, Recording Producer - Bongo Herman, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Bobby Ellis, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Albert Griffiths, Producer, Vocals, Background Vocalist, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Duncan Browne, Producer, Executive Producer - Winston Wright, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Vin Gordon, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Gallimore Sutherland, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Uziah Thompson, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Headly Bennett, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Brian Silverman, Guitar, Keyboards, Strings, AssociatedPerformer - Albert Griffiths & the Gladiators, MainArtist - Bill Nowlin, Producer, Executive Producer - Donovan Phillips, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Trevor Lyn, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bertram "Ranchie" McLean, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Basil "Benbow" Creary, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Zoot Scully Sims, Conga, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1989 Rounder Records, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Tony Asher, Strings, AssociatedPerformer - James Reid, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Coyne, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chris Wilson , Producer, Recording Producer - Bongo Herman, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Bobby Ellis, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Albert Griffiths, Producer, Vocals, Background Vocalist, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Duncan Browne, Producer, Executive Producer - Winston Wright, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Vin Gordon, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Gallimore Sutherland, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Uziah Thompson, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Headly Bennett, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Brian Silverman, Guitar, Keyboards, Strings, AssociatedPerformer - Albert Griffiths & the Gladiators, MainArtist - Bill Nowlin, Producer, Executive Producer - Donovan Phillips, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Trevor Lyn, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bertram "Ranchie" McLean, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Basil "Benbow" Creary, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Zoot Scully Sims, Conga, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1989 Rounder Records, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Tony Asher, Strings, AssociatedPerformer - James Reid, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Coyne, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chris Wilson , Producer, Recording Producer - Bongo Herman, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Bobby Ellis, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Albert Griffiths, Producer, Vocals, Background Vocalist, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Duncan Browne, Producer, Executive Producer - Winston Wright, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Vin Gordon, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Gallimore Sutherland, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Uziah Thompson, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Headly Bennett, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Brian Silverman, Guitar, Keyboards, Strings, AssociatedPerformer - Albert Griffiths & the Gladiators, MainArtist - Bill Nowlin, Producer, Executive Producer - Donovan Phillips, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Trevor Lyn, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bertram "Ranchie" McLean, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Basil "Benbow" Creary, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Zoot Scully Sims, Conga, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1989 Rounder Records, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Tony Asher, Strings, AssociatedPerformer - James Reid, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Coyne, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chris Wilson , Producer, Recording Producer - Bongo Herman, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Bobby Ellis, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Albert Griffiths, Producer, Vocals, Background Vocalist, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Duncan Browne, Producer, Executive Producer - Winston Wright, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Vin Gordon, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Gallimore Sutherland, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Uziah Thompson, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Headly Bennett, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Brian Silverman, Guitar, Keyboards, Strings, AssociatedPerformer - Albert Griffiths & the Gladiators, MainArtist - Bill Nowlin, Producer, Executive Producer - Donovan Phillips, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Trevor Lyn, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bertram "Ranchie" McLean, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Basil "Benbow" Creary, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Zoot Scully Sims, Conga, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1989 Rounder Records, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
A. Wilson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dow Brain, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Coyne, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chris Wilson , Producer, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Albert Griffiths, Producer, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Percussion, Vocals, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Duncan Browne, Producer, Executive Producer - Chris Janssen, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - K. Simon, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Shirt, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Brian Silverman, Guitar, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Albert Griffiths & the Gladiators, MainArtist - Bill Nowlin, Producer, Executive Producer - Henley Douglas, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Jon Gorr, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Junior Doc, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - James McDaniels, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1989 Rounder Records, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Tony Asher, Strings, AssociatedPerformer - James Reid, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Coyne, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chris Wilson , Producer, Recording Producer - Bongo Herman, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Bobby Ellis, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Albert Griffiths, Producer, Vocals, Background Vocalist, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Duncan Browne, Producer, Executive Producer - Winston Wright, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Vin Gordon, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Gallimore Sutherland, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Uziah Thompson, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Headly Bennett, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Brian Silverman, Guitar, Keyboards, Strings, AssociatedPerformer - Albert Griffiths & the Gladiators, MainArtist - Bill Nowlin, Producer, Executive Producer - Donovan Phillips, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Trevor Lyn, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bertram "Ranchie" McLean, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Basil "Benbow" Creary, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Zoot Scully Sims, Conga, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1989 Rounder Records, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Tony Asher, Strings, AssociatedPerformer - James Reid, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Coyne, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chris Wilson , Producer, Recording Producer, ComposerLyricist - Bongo Herman, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Bobby Ellis, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Albert Griffiths, Producer, Vocals, Background Vocalist, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Duncan Browne, Producer, Executive Producer - Winston Wright, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Vin Gordon, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Gallimore Sutherland, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Uziah Thompson, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Headly Bennett, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Brian Silverman, Guitar, Keyboards, Strings, AssociatedPerformer - Albert Griffiths & the Gladiators, MainArtist - Bill Nowlin, Producer, Executive Producer - Donovan Phillips, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Trevor Lyn, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bertram "Ranchie" McLean, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Basil "Benbow" Creary, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Zoot Scully Sims, Conga, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1989 Rounder Records, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Album review
Albert Griffiths & the Gladiators' On the Right Track is a bit of a disappointment, especially considering that the excellent In Store for You had thrilled fans a mere year before. Perhaps part of the problem was due to the splitting of recording between Jamaica and the U.S. with two entirely different bands.
More likely though, the Gladiators, now dwindled down to the duo of Albert Griffiths and Gallimore Sutherland, needed more time to regroup and gestate these songs. There's a tinge of uncertainty to much of the set, a number of the arrangements are ill-considered, with the rhythms marred by over-reliance on repetitive drum programming thumping over the live beats. And something's out of whack when Griffiths is reaching back not just into his own songbook but that of others for help. The album reaches a nadir with a cover of the limpid old Elvis Presley standard "It's Now or Never." The Italianate-flavored arrangement at least is interesting, although not quite clever enough to salvage the song. An overly thrashy remake of "Stick a Bush," retitled "Big or Small," is just unwelcome, not least for the over-the-top rock licks littering the song. Better is "Must Come True," a brass-fired version of "Bongo Red"/"Mix-Up," although it's weakened by Griffiths' far-from-crystalline falsetto. The title track should have been the album's centerpiece, and features the strongest lyrics, but astonishingly Griffiths virtually sleepwalks through the song, musing over his words, instead of delivering them with the power they demand. "Getty Getty," in contrast, is a thoroughly infectious number, but here it's the lyrics that let down the side. "Cool Breeze," however, is a fine blending of old adages, with an arrangement as upbeat as its title, and those that refuse to listen run the risk of a thrashing with Griffiths' "Proverbial Stick," while the brass fire off directions on "Right Turn." These three are the highlights on an otherwise inconsequential set. The Gladiators are capable of much more than this.
© Jo-Ann Greene /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 11 track(s)
- Total length: 00:42:08
- Main artists: Albert Griffiths & the Gladiators
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Heartbeat
- Genre: Reggae
© 1989 Rounder Records, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc. ℗ 1989 Rounder Records, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
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