The ever-eclectic Omnivore Recordings has announced a new reggae retrospective that puts the spotlight on the indie label Nighthawk Records.  Send I A Lion: A Nighthawk Reggae Joint is due November 15 as a CD, 2-LP or digital collection.

The 20-track compilation was compiled and annotated by Nighthawk founder Leroy Jodie Pierson, who had initially envisioned it as a blues label.  In 1979, five years after Nighthawk began, Leroy was instead in Kingston producing local talent.  Nighthawk would go on to release albums by Culture, The Gladiators, Ethiopian, Junior Byles, Justin Hinds, Winston Jarrett, Itals, Ronnie Davis, and others.  Those acts and more are represented on Send I A Lion which spotlight material from the label’s acclaimed albums alongside non-LP stray tracks and even an unreleased audition tape of The Mighty Diamonds’ “4,000 Years.”  In addition to the music, the collection includes new notes by Leroy Jodie Pierson, who also provided rare photos from his personal archive for the booklet.

So mark your calendars, reggae aficionados, for this Friday, November 15 and place your pre-orders direct from Omnivore!

Various Artists, Send I A Lion (Omnivore Recordings, 2019) (Omnivore Online Store)