Candidate for finest rocksteady release but who were they?

[cloudy]

'She Said She Loves Me' - The Sealmakers
Included on Lynn Taitt & The Jets 'Hold Me Tight' Trojan Anthology
Done in one take (if the false start is anything to go by)
Beautiful vocals, perfect rocksteady beat
Lyrically refreshing (this is not a love song as John Lydon said)

Only other track I know of by them is 'Pretty Face Girl' on Trojan's 'Socking Good Time' (Rare And Unreleased Gems From The Trojan Vaults)

Who were they? Anyone know anything about them?

[Bellyman]

To quote from the liner notes of 'Socking Good Time':
Albert Griffiths, Clinton Fearon and David Webber formed THE GLADIATORS in the mid-sixties and first made their mark on the local music scene in 1967 with "The Train is coming back" for Leebert Robinson, who operated the obscure Rob's Record label. "Socking Good Time" and "I'll take you to the Movies" (both on that comp; adm. by writer) were recorded for the producer a little later and although neither track sparked enough interest in Jamaica to warrant UK release, both are superb Rocksteady pieces. It is extremely likely that the group also cut "Pretty Face Girl" and the wonderful "She said she loved me", which Robinson issued as being by the (sic!) SEALMATES in later years.
End quote.

So these songs were done by the Gladiators and this might be confirmed by the fact that "She said she loved me" on the Lyn Taitt compilation is credited to be written by Griffiths.

Sealmakers = Sealmates = Gladiators.

[Jah Glu]

So the gladiators have very different names. Sealmates, Prophets, Gladiators. Dont think there is a band who had that many synonyms.

[cloudy]

Thanks for the reply Bellyman but I'd already read the liner notes and noted the wording 'it is extremely likely' - personally not convinced - does the singer sound like one of the Gladiators to you?

[McCool]

On the subject of different recording names - [Gladiator] Albert Griffiths recorded "You Are The Girl" with Leonard Dillon for WIRL in 1966. The single was credited to *Al & The Ethiopians*.

[rasdragon]

The Tartans with Tommy McCook & The Supersonics - Far Beyond The Sunset on Treasure Isle.... I think this track needs to be put into the running!

[cloudy]

Rasdragon - I think you missed the last four words in the Subject box

Is there a serious Gladiators fan out there who recognises who the lead vocalist is on 'She Said She Loves Me'?

[MightyZ]

Rasdragon may have missed the point of the subject box, but it would certainly be a worthwhile thread - I will certainly put some candidates forward for the 'best rocksteady' release if someone starts it!

I'm intrigued by this thread though - I would like to hear this track as I love RockSteady and The Gladiators - If you could tell me a url where I can listen to the track, I would love to compare the vocals with Gladiators stuff I have.

MightyZ

Listen to my rocksteady selection in the Duke Reid Golden Hour on www.live365.com/stations/leggorocker

or for some roots dub of my own making visit

www.myspace.com/mightyzallstars

[cloudy]

Hi MightyZ
I started an equivalent thread in the Mainly JA Music forum at www.trojanrecords.co.uk - titled 'Gladiators = Sealmakers?' - got a really interesting response from Crazy Baldhead in Sweden which goes some of the way to answering my question but yet to identify the lead singer of The Sealmakers - possibly one of the other Gladiators but doesn't sound like Griffiths - on the thread on the Mainly JA Music forum Crazy Baldhead has posted links (at media.putfile.com)that enable you to listen to both of The Sealmakers tracks and two Gladiators ones that it's likely were cut at the same session. Otherwise pm me to hear The Sealmakers.

Cloudy
P.S Chance I'll meet you at Leggo's Buddha Bar mash up?