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Full Time: Omnivore Acquires Nighthawk Reggae Catalogue, Celebrates Ru-Jac R&B

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Omnivore Recordings continues to grow with news of the acquisition of the Nighthawk Records label, joining Ru-Jac Records as part of the Omnivore family.  Omnivore has acquired rights to the master catalogues of both labels, as well as the respective publishing catalogues of each.  Upcoming releases include Full Time by Gladiators and Ethiopian & His All Stars' previously unissued album The Return of Jack Sparrow, both via Nighthawk, due this Friday, December 15, 2017, and Something Got a Hold on Me: The Ru-Jac Records Story Vol. 1, 1963-1964, due on January 19, 2018.

Nighthawk Records, established by 1976 by Robert Schoenfeld and Leroy Jodie Pierson, began life as a blues label, but by 1980 had shifted its focus exclusively to reggae.  The company survived through the late 1990s, and now, Omnivore is beginning an excavation of its entire catalogue.  Bonus tracks will be added where possible, and remastering will occur from the original tapes.  Omnivore's reissue series will continue until the entire Nighthawk catalogue is reissued, including previously unreleased albums.  All titles in the series are being co-produced by Omnivore's Cheryl Pawelski and Leroy Jodie Pierson, while Michael Graves will handle the remastering.

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Pierson states in the press release, "I'm thrilled to be involved in the revival of Nighthawk Records and in the production of forthcoming Omnivore Recordings issues and reissues from Nighthawk's small, but important reggae and blues catalogs. In the early 1980s I supervised studio sessions, compiled albums, wrote liner notes and took photographs for the label. My time spent in Kingston, Jamaica with legendary artists like The Gladiators, Culture, the Ethiopian, The Itals and Justin Hinds remains the source of enduring inspiration and personal pride."  The first two releases will be available on CD and digitally.

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Omnivore previously tackled the Ru-Jac catalogue on two past releases, Winfield Parker - Mr. Clean:   Winfield Parker at Ru-Jac (Parker also serves as the consulting producer for all of Omnivore's Ru-Jac releases) and Gene & Eddie - True Enough: Gene & Eddie With Sir Joe at Ru-Jac.  The Baltimore R&B label will next be celebrated on a four-volume series of various-artists anthologies.  These four volumes of The Ru-Jac Records Story span the period 1963-1980, and will be available on CD and digitally.  Volumes 1 and 2 roll out from Omnivore on January 19, while Volumes 3 and 4 arrive shortly thereafter, on February 2.  Kevin Coombes, co-producer with Cheryl Pawelski, provides the new liner notes.  Remastering and sonic restoration has again been handled by Michael Graves.

Track listings for all titles are available at Omnivore's website.  The two Nighthawk releases and all four volumes of The Ru-Jac Records Story are available for pre-order on Amazon.  You can find links below!

Gladiators, Full Time (Nighthawk NHCD-315, 1992 - reissued Omnivore/Nighthawk, 2017) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

  1. Bongo Red
  2. Red Version
  3. Ship Without a Captain
  4. Run Them
  5. Fussing and Fighting
  6. Fussing Version
  7. You Little Rat (a.k.a. Prince Tony's Head)
  8. I'm Not Crying
  9. Rocking Vibration
  10. Vibration Version
  11. Reggae Jamboree
  12. Boy in Long Pants
  13. Full Time
  14. One Love

Ethopian and His All-Stars, The Return of Jack Sparrow (Omnivore/Nighthawk, 2017) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

  1. Slender Thread
  2. Your Promise
  3. Straight on Rastafari
  4. Straight on Version
  5. I Need Someone
  6. I Need Someone Dub
  7. Are You Loving Me
  8. Train to Skaville
  9. Mother's Tender Care
  10. I'm Gonna Take Over
  11. Take Over Version
  12. Flirty Flirty Guys
  13. Live Good
  14. Live Good Dub
  15. Band Your Belly
  16. Beggars Have No Choice
  17. Do It Sweet
  18. Let's Get Together Now
  19. Heavenly Father
  20. Heavenly Father Interlude

All tracks previously unreleased.

Something Got a Hold On Me: The Ru-Jac Records Story, Volume One - 1963-1964 (Omnivore/Ru-Jac OV-254, 2018) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

 

  1. Fatback (Take 1) - Lamont Esquires *
  2. Please Don't Go - Jessie Crawford with Kay Keys Band
  3. I Love You So - Jessie Crawford with Kay Keys Band
  4. A Woman Like You - Little Sonny Daye with The Shyndells Band
  5. I'm Through With You - Little Sonny Daye with The Shyndells Band
  6. Every Day I Have The Blues (Take 2) - Jeanne Dee *
  7. Saving All My Loving - (Mr. T) Tiny Tim
  8. It's Everything To Me - (Mr. T) Tiny Tim
  9. I Want To Be Sure - Celestine *
  10. You Won - Celestine *
  11. Cross Track (Take 2) - Flattop Bobby & The Soul Twisters (Bobby Kinchen) *
  12. When I'm Alone - Winfield Parker
  13. Can't You See - Brenda Jones
  14. Let's Go Back To School - Brenda Jones
  15. That's All You Have To Do - Brenda Jones
  16. One Of These Mornings (Take 3) - Winfield Parker *
  17. Put A Light In The Window - Charles Johnson
  18. My Father Watches Over Me - Fruitland Harmonizers
  19. Take Care Of Me - Fruitland Harmonizers
  20. Something Got A Hold On Me - unknown artist *
  21. All Over Again - The Teardrops Band featuring Marie Allen
  22. Crying Won't Help You - The Teardrops Band featuring Marie Allen
  23. Trash Can - unknown artist *
  24. Don't Bit Mo - Rockin' Robin *
  25. Foolish To Try - James Hill
  26. Meadow Of Love - The Jolly Jax
  27. The Money Cha Cha - The Jolly Jax
  28. Joe (Take 5) - The Jolly Jax *

* previously unreleased

 

Get Right: The Ru-Jac Records Story, Volume Two - 1964-1966 (Omnivore/Ru-Jac OV-255, 2018) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

  1. Goose Pimples - Butch Cornell's Trio
  2. Here 'Tis Now - Butch Cornell's Trio
  3. Goose Pimples (Alternate Version) - Butch Cornell's Trio *
  4. It Must Be Love - Brenda Jones
  5. I'm So Afraid - Brenda Jones
  6. So Alone (Take 3) - Brenda Jones *
  7. It Must Be Love (Backing Track) - Brenda Jones *
  8. What More (Can Anyone Want) - Shirley of The Soul Sisters & Brother
  9. You Don't Really Care - Shirley of The Soul Sisters & Brother
  10. Where You Lead Me - Harold Holt
  11. I'm A Stranger - Harold Holt
  12. Where You Lead Me (Alternate Version 2) - Harold Holt *
  13. Whole Lotta Woman (Demo) - Arthur Conley *
  14. Get Right - Bobby Sax & His House Keepers
  15. Soul At Last - Bobby Sax & His House Keepers
  16. Come On Over - The Neltones
  17. C'est Le Vie (That's Life) - The Neltones
  18. I Love You Just The Same (Demo) - Winfield Parker *
  19. I Love You Just The Same (Version 1, Take 5) - Winfield Parker with The Shyndells Band *
  20. Love Can Do Wonders - The Mask Man & The Cap-Tans
  21. Chicken Wings - The Mask Man & The Cap-Tans
  22. Hiding Out In Blue Shadows - Arthur Conley *

* previously unreleased

Finally Together: The Ru-Jac Records Story Volume Three - 1966-1967 (Omnivore/Ru-Jac OV-256, 2018) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

 

  1. Wait Til Then - Rita Dorsey (The Shyndells Band)
  2. When I'm Alone - Rita Dorsey (The Shyndells Band)
  3. Please Let Me Love You - Rita Dorsey & The Bob Craig Combo
  4. Goodie Goodie - Rita Dorsey & The Bob Craig Combo
  5. Born To Be Loved - Rita Dorsey *
  6. It's Love I Need - Kitty Lane
  7. Sweetheart - Kitty Lane
  8. The Feeling Is Gone - Kitty Lane *
  9. Finally Together - unknown artist *
  10. Searching - unknown artist *
  11. Go Away Playgirl (Take 5) - Winfield Parker *
  12. I Would Cry - Gene & Eddie
  13. I Tell You - Gene & Eddie
  14. Sweet Little Girl - unknown artist *
  15. Sweet Little Girl - Winfield Parker with The Shyndells Band
  16. My Love (Demo With Background Vocals) - Winfield Parker *
  17. She's My Girl (Demo) - Winfield Parker *
  18. Lightning (Part 1) - The Shyndells *
  19. Ooby Gooby - The Shyndells *
  20. Never Never Leave Me - unknown artist *
  21. Do The Roller - Leon Gibson
  22. Working Hard - Leon Gibson
  23. Nobody Beats My Love - Sir Joe
  24. I Can't Stay Away - The Caressors
  25. Who Can It Be - The Caressors

* previously unreleased

Changes: The Ru-Jac Records Story, Volume Four - 1967-1980 (Omnivore/Ru-Jac OV-256, 2018) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

 

  1. She's So Pretty - Winfield Parker
  2. Nothing - Winfield Parker *
  3. She's So Pretty (Backing Track) - The Upsetters *
  4. Tighten Up - unknown artist *
  5. You Don't Fool Me - Gene & Eddie *
  6. Let Me Go Easy (Alternate Version) - Gene & Eddie
  7. I'm The One (Who Loves You) - Fred Martin Review
  8. Sweet Little Girl - Gene & Eddie
  9. It's No Sin - Gene & Eddie
  10. Every Day (I'll Be Needing You) - Sir Joe
  11. Take Me Back Again - Fred Martin Review
  12. I Know It's Going To Happen - Fred Martin Review
  13. Contagious - Fred Martin Review
  14. Love Don't Leave Me Now - Fred Martin Jr. & The Exciters
  15. Changes Part 1 - Saturday
  16. Sugar - Fred Martin & Revue
  17. When I'm Alone - Fred Martin & Revue
  18. Keep Off The Grass - Dynamic Corvettes
  19. It's A Trap - Dynamic Corvettes
  20. Days May Come, Days May Go - Francine Long
  21. Days May Come, Days May Go - Utopian Concept
  22. I Loved You Once - Willie Mason with The Fredie Martin Review
  23. Go On Back - Willie Mason with The Fredie Martin Review
  24. Think Of Me As Your Soldier - Jimmy Dotson & Rhythm By Inner Light Band
  25. To Be Your Lover - Jimmy Dotson & Rhythm By Inner Light Band

* previously unreleased

 

 

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Joe Marchese

JOE MARCHESE (Editor) joined The Second Disc shortly after its launch in early 2010, and has since penned daily news and reviews about classic music of all genres. In 2015, Joe formed the Second Disc Records label. Celebrating the great songwriters, producers and artists who created the sound of American popular song, Second Disc Records, in conjunction with Real Gone Music, has released newly-curated collections produced by Joe from iconic artists such as Johnny Mathis, Bobby Darin, Laura Nyro, Melissa Manchester, Chet Atkins, and many others. He has contributed liner notes to reissues from a diverse array of artists, among them Nat "King" Cole, Paul Williams, Lesley Gore, Dusty Springfield, B.J. Thomas, The 5th Dimension, Burt Bacharach, The Mamas and the Papas, Carpenters, Perry Como, Rod McKuen, Doris Day, Jackie DeShannon, and Andy Williams, and has compiled releases for talents including Robert Goulet and Keith Allison of Paul Revere and the Raiders. Over the past two decades, Joe has also worked in a variety of capacities on and off Broadway as well as at some of the premier theatres in the U.S., including Lincoln Center Theater, George Street Playhouse, Paper Mill Playhouse, Long Wharf Theatre, and the York Theatre Company. He has felt privileged to work on productions alongside artists such as the late Jack Klugman, Eli Wallach, Arthur Laurents, Betty Comden and Adolph Green. In 2009, Joe began contributing theatre and music reviews to the print publication The Sondheim Review, and in 2012, he joined the staff of The Digital Bits as a regular contributor writing about film and television on DVD and Blu-ray. Joe currently resides in the suburbs of New York City.

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