LOS ANGELES — Founded in 2010, the Grammy® Award-winning Omnivore Recordings — a record label not bound by genre, era, or style, but dedicated to the discovery and preservation of music old and new — is proud to announce the acquisition of both the reggae label Nighthawk Records and soul/R&B label Ru-Jac Records. Omnivore has acquired rights to the master catalogs, as well as the respective publishing catalogs of each. Omnivore co-founder/partner Cheryl Pawelski said, “We are so pleased to be the custodians of these wonderful recordings and songs. It is deeply meaningful to all at Omnivore to be entrusted with the preservation of these labels so we may introduce new audiences to the music they hold.”
Initial releases from these acquisitions include Full Time by Gladiators and the previously unissued Ethiopian & His All Stars album The Return of Jack Sparrow, both via Nighthawk, on December 15, 2017, and Something Got a Hold on Me: The Ru-Jac Records Story Vol. 1, 1963–1964, on January 19, 2018.
Nighthawk Records
St. Louis reggae label Nighthawk Records was co-founded in 1976 by Robert Schoenfeld in a close partnership with musician and producer Leroy Jodie Pierson. Originally a label dedicated to post-World War II blues compilations, Nighthawk shifted its focus solely to reggae by 1980, issuing albums by genre greats like Justin Hinds, The Gladiators, The Itals, Albert Griffiths, Winston Jarrett and the Ethiopian. Nighthawk nearly made it into the 21st century, but ran out of steam in the late ’90s.
Omnivore will reissue the Nighthawk catalog, adding bonus tracks where available and remastering from original master tapes starting in December and continuing until the entire catalog has been restored, including previously unissued albums. All releases are being co-produced by Grammy® Award-winning producer Cheryl Pawelski and Nighthawk co-founder Leroy Jodie Pierson. Pierson, who often contributed liners notes to the original releases, will update or supplement his original notes with new information and will share photos and ephemera from his archive. Grammy® Award-winning engineer Michael Graves will handle mastering and restoration.
Says Pierson, “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.”
In addition to the master catalog for Nighthawk Records, Omnivore Music Publishing has also acquired the accompanying Blackheart Music Publishing catalog.
“Band Your Belly” by Ethiopian & His All Stars, and the Bob Marley cover “Fussing And Fighting” by Gladiators, are streaming now. Full albums available December 15.
Ru-Jac Records
The Baltimore soul/R&B label Ru-Jac Records was founded in 1963 by local promoter Rufus Mitchell and investor partner Jack Bennett (their names forming the Ru-Jac name). The label primarily released regional soul/R&B singles from 1963 until the mid 1970s, when Mitchell stepped away to focus on another business venture. Omnivore has already released albums by two of the label’s biggest names, 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.
In January, Omnivore will roll out four various-artists volumes, collecting for the very first time anywhere the audio history of Ru-Jac Records. Kevin Coombe, series co-producer and East Coast soul historian, provides liner notes detailing the rise and eventual closure of the label, and its close ties to the then-segregated beaches and performance spaces of the region. Rare photos and ephemera will be included in each volume to help illustrate and trace the history of the label.
January 19:
Various Artists – Something Got a Hold on Me: The Ru-Jac Records Story Volume 1, 1963–1964 (CD/Digital)
Various Artists – Get Right: The Ru-Jac Records Story Volume 2, 1964–1966 (CD/Digital)
February 2:
Various Artists – Finally Together: The Ru-Jac Records Story Volume 3, 1966–1967 (CD/Digital)
Various Artists – Changes: The Ru-Jac Records Story Volume 4, 1967–1980 (CD/Digital)
Omnivore Music Publishing has also acquired the accompanying publishing catalogs for Ditty Bop and Ru-Jac Publishing.
All releases have been produced and compiled by Pawelski and Coombe, with mastering and restoration by Graves. Ru-Jac artist Winfield Parker, serves as the consulting producer and is helping oversee the projects.
Streaming now, tracks from the four Ru-Jac Records releases: “Crying Won’t Help You” by The Teardrops Band featuring Marie Allen (from Volume 1), “Chicken Wings” by Mask Man & the Cap-Tans (from Volume 2), “Do the Roller” by Leon Gibson (from Volume 3) and “Keep Off the Grass” by Dynamic Corvettes (from Volume 4). Full albums available January 19 and February 2, 2018.
Track Lists:
December 15:
Gladiators – Full Time (CD/Digital)
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
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
Ethiopian & His All Stars – The Return Of Jack Sparrow (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED) (CD/Digital)
1. Slender Thread
2. Your Vow
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 Scaville
9. Mother’s Tender Care
10. Gonna Take Over Now
11. Take Over Version
12. Flirty Flirty Guys
13. Live Good
14. Live Good Dub
15. Band Your Belly
16. Beggars No Choosers
17. Do It Sweet
18. Together Now
19. Heavenly Father
20. Heavenly Father Interlude
January 19:
Various Artists – Something Got A Hold On Me: The Ru-Jac Records Story Volume 1, 1963-1964 (CD/Digital)
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 Shyndel’s Band
5) I’m Through With You – Little Sonny Daye with Shyndel’s 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*
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 – The Fruitland Harmonizers
19) Take Care Of Me – The 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 Monkey Cha Cha – The Jolly Jax
28) Joe (Take 5) – The Jolly Jax*
* Previously Unissed
Various Artists – Get Right: The Ru-Jac Records Story Volume 2, 1964-1966 (CD/Digital)
1. It Must Be Love – Brenda Jones
2. I’m So Afraid – Brenda Jones
3. So Alone (Take 3) – Brenda Jones*
4. It Must Be Love (Backing Track) – Brenda Jones*
5. What More (Can Anyone Want) – Shirley of The Soul Sisters & Brother
6. You Don’t Really Care – Shirley of The Soul Sisters & Brother
7. Goose Pimples – Butch Cornell’s Trio
8. Here ’Tis Now – Butch Cornell’s Trio
9. Goose Pimples (Alternate Version) – Butch Cornell’s Trio*
10. Where You Lead Me – Harold Holt
11. I’m A Stranger – Harold Holt
12. Where You Lead Me (Alternate Take) – 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 La 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 & 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 (Demo) – Arthur Conley*
* Previously Unissued
February 2:
Various Artists – Finally Together: The Ru-Jac Records Story Volume 3, 1966-1967 (CD/Digital)
1. Wait Til Then – Rita Doryse (The Shyndells Band)
2. When I’m Alone – Rita Doryse (The Shyndells Band)
3. Please Let Me Love You – Rita Doryse & The Bob Craig Combo
4. Goodie Goodie – Rita Doryse & The Bob Craig Combo
5. Born To Be Loved – Rita Doryse*
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 (Demo) – 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. Do The Roller – Leon Gibson
21. Working Hard – Leon Gibson
22. Nobody Beats My Love – Sir Joe
29) I Can’t Stay Away – The Caressors
30) Who Can It Be – The Caressors
* Previously Unissued
Various Artists – Changes: The Ru-Jac Records Story Volume 4, 1967-1980 (CD/Digital)
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) – Gene & Eddie
11. Take Me Back Again – Fred Martin Review
12. I Know It’s Going To Happen – Fred Martin Review
13. Contagious – The 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 Unissued
