Black Uhuru

With Red, Black Uhuru pressed on the accelerator a little harder while blazing down that new road. Sinsemilla is when the band first turned off unto this new road. Sinsemilla might of obeyed the speed limit, but Red was going places, fast. Kinda like, Sly and Robbie were now using Black Uhuru to drive out their musical demons. Best part is Micheal Rose, Puma and Duckie never turned this dirrection into a dead end. Black Uhuru was a great band that was getting even better. A must own

Black Uhuru is one of the best reggae groups since Bob Marley, and in fact were the first group to win an Grammy for reggae when the new category for Reggae was created in 1984. Nationally acclaimed, the group has a reggae beat all their own.
I highly recommend any of their albums (or CD's)

I like Black Uhuru's Red just like the next person but I think this album gets a little too much credit for an album that doesn't even match them in their prime. Rumor has it that after Bob Marley died, everyone began turning their heads towards Black Uhuru ironically at the time they were making Red. I say they started turning their heads a year late. Unlike their previous album Sinsemilla, this album tends to lack a change of mood for each song, they all pretty much sound the same! Now don't get me wrong, Youth Of Elington, Sponji Reggae, Utterance, and the two songs that never get the respect they deserve Sistren and Puff She Puff are great. Over all though, the album really doesn't do any justice, but it is, however, worth having in your Reggae collection. Overall I'll give it a B+.

-D.J.

I bought this album not having heard much by Black Uhuru because: a) I read all the 5 star reviews and was convinced, and b) it has Sly and Robbie as the rhythm section. Wow, was I disappointed. This album, to me, is 2.5 stars at best, and if you like Sly and Robbie or want to hear some great stuff by them, get Peter Tosh's "Equal Rights" or "Bush Doctor" before you get this. Don't get me wrong. Some of the songs are enjoyable, like "Sponji Reggae," "Sistren," and "Utterance." These songs aren't essential reggae, however, and the rest of the songs really disappoint me. They are very long (most reaching the 5-6 minute mark) and they are extremely repititious.

I love good reggae (Bob Marley, Burning Spear, Steel Pulse, Bunny Wailer, and Peter Tosh), but the sound of Black Uhuru on this album doesn't sound like beautiful reggae to me. It has a lot of synths and weird sound effects, which could be cool if used right, but on this album it just sounds like any other reggae from the 80's - overproduced. I don't really like the vocals or the lyrics either. I've tried to let it grow on me, but I just don't like the sound of this album. I'll stay away from anything else by Black Uhuru.

Just thought I'd throw my 2 cents in - this is one of my favorite reggae bands and RED is one of their best. What puts this reggae above many others is the masterful pop craftsmanship and the first-rate melodies. If you're looking for some raw roots reggae, you might want to look elsewhere. Not only is RED great reggae, it's expertly produced pop music. The standout tracks are clearly "Sponji Reggae" and "Utterance," but the whole record is most worthy.

An interesting side note: "uhuru" is Swahili for "freedom," so the band's name means "black freedom."

As usual, I am very pleased with my cd. It is in mint condition and I will always order my music this way.
Thank you
Louella Alebiosu

I purchased this album strickly for "Guess Who's Comming To Dinner." However, upon hearing it in its entirety, I was impressed with the quality sound that these artists have developed. The lead singer and background vocals are awsome, and the music is spine tingling. This is a CD that makes for good listening. Put it on and just mellow out, yah no? "Guess Who" seems to be the signature song on this one for me, but you'll find the other songs interesting too. Black Uhuru has definitely joined the ranks of my favorite reggae artists! Enjoy!

This is a solid, one-disk compilation, but the "ultimate" title goes to the 1993 release "Liberation," a two-disk set that contains the original versions of the songs on the trio of Michael Rose-Puma Jones-Duckie Simpson's last album together as Black Uhuru, "Anthem." The album version was a poorly remixed affair, with most, if not all, the horns removed, and stripped down into a commercial mess and bad editing.
This compilation gets three stars because it's Black Uhuru, and a step above the low-price best-of previously issued. If you're looking for a one-disk best-of, perhaps "Ultimate Collection" is your bag of songs, but any time you have Junior Reid songs on a "Black Uhuru" best-of, that just means that many more less Michael Rose songs you have at your reach. The Island Record albums were recently rereleased and are a good choice if you want to have a more complete look at the band. "Liberation" has the essentials, but if you're a completist, then go for the Island Record catalog and get, most importantly, "Sensemilla," and "Red" -- and if you're still wanting more, get "Chill Out", "Dub Factor," and then "Liberation," which in comparison to "Ultimate Collection" gets a five-star.

There are not many CDs that I can let play without skipping through some songs. This one however is one that I love every song on. It's great!

Black Uhuru have got to be the best reggae group ever. I have most of their albums but couldn't resist buying this collection. It has my absolute favorite track "Endurance". Overall a pretty good choice of tracks to represent Black Uhuru at their finest, but why include the Junior Reid tracks, "Dread in the Mountain" and "Brutal"? They stick out a mile, Black Uhuru was Michael Rose as far as I'm concerned, Reid's voice sounds weak next to Rose. Sly & Robbie have never bettered the work they did with Black Uhuru, they are awesome here. I'd encourage anyone who wants to sample their work to try this, but as others have said, buy the albums.. Sinsemilla and Chill Out particularly are essentials.

I am finicky as hell when it come to buying cd's. I mean that I am not necessarily some kinda rich folk. I took a chance on this particular album and am pleased confess that I STILL own it, after 5 years. Need I say more?

Anybody who tells you that it's worth 5 stars must be slobbering though, not to knock their over-enthusiasm, nonetheless the album is worth mentioning.

This is no formula dub. Each song is it's own inspired creation from the opening beat to the end.

Smykle puts his soul into every echo, vocal drop, and snippet... meshing everything together so it "feels" just right.

Dub Factor will never get dated. You could pop this on twenty years from now and it'll still sound fresh. Because it still sounds fresh today evoking curiosity from anyone I turn it on to.

Next to Aswad's "A New Chapter Of Dub" Black Uhuru's "The Dub Factor" is another one of the greatest Dub albums of all time. Two words "Puffed Out", the Dub version of "Puff She Puff" from their classical album "Red"! Hopefully you're upgrading to the version with the bonus tracks, and if so "Destination Unknown" is the way to go!

This dub album is truly unique and very magical- anytime I want to change my mind-state I put this on. A natural way to alter your mind without even smoking any of the gange!
I took a car trip to the Florida Keys last week and put this album on as we drove past lush tropical greenery, Carribean-blue waters and tiny tropical islands out at sea. Pure magic!

For many dub fans, nothing can match the music that came out of those mythic times at King Tubby's, with that wonderful cast of characters that included master producer Bunny Lee, the Aggrovators (Chinna, Santa et al), Tubby's disciples Prince Jammy and Scientist, and singers Johnny Clarke, Linval Thompson, and Cornell Campbell. However, when it comes to a truly original dub creation, the music on this CD is hard to beat. It's a whole new take on dub, akin to what Sergeant Peppers was for rock. These tracks do not sound like "versions" of songs but rather fit together in a symphony-like whole created from scratch. The Dub Factor is not just a great dub CD but a truly singular work that transcends popular genres.

I'm hooked - Reggae is my life! The BLACK UHURU collection is a must, older version take me back to the time of the original LP's, but I needed to update my collection. The mix of studio and live is great!!
JAH Rastafari

Great Black Uhuru CD. This has all the favorites hits from Black Uhuru. Easy reggae.

Not a greatest hits anthology, or even a collection of their best material.

This compiliation relies heavily on two of their later (and inferior Island albums) "Anthem" and "Chill Out", which is just fine...

because it cherry picks the best tunes from those albums, features some previously unreleased tracks, b-sides, remixes and such that aren't readily availlable elsewhere...

and you should own "Red" and "Sinsemilla" in their entirety any way. I think the compilers might have had that in mind when the put it together.

If you can get the Black Uhuru albums, do. This is a near perfect sampling of their work.

This is real reggae, hard stuff. For people who only know Bob Marley this will be a real awakening. Black Uhuru were the absolute. Sly and Robbie are simply magicians.

I'd recommend this to anyone who likes reggae. This band changed my life!

the Black Uhuru are one of reggae's greatest vocal trio's, the Wailers of the 80's if you will. This set covers a time period of their greatest popularity. All the songs on these 2 discs have a good groove to them, although some find that disc 2 seems to be repetitive. Sly and Robbie throw down some great "riddims" that will leave you awe struck. I highly reccommend this for people who just can't get past Bob Marley and the Wailers, it is a must have for any music fan, espicially a reggae fan.

This album should be read as a sign of things to come. Maybe even a warning. Black Uhuru were no longer content being just any old "roots" rockers. They were about to become sonic explorers.

Although this album never gets paid as much homage as Red, don't think for a second that makes this album a dud. I believe this is the best album Black Uhuru made while signed with Island Records. Yes, Red I'm calling you out and saying Sinsemilla has got you beat. I can't recall a day without me listening to this classical masterpiece. The first two songs (Happiness and World Is Africa) are quite different being that Michale Rose is singing solo, no Puma, no Duckie, just Michale. We all know the smash hits Happiness, World Is Africa, Sinsemilla, & Endurance, but there's much more to hear. For instance Push Push & No Loafing (Sit And Wonder), I truly feel these songs could've made it on some compilation albums. There's A Fire and Vampire are also classics, so you can really pop the CD in and just let it play. DON'T STALL ANY LONGER AND BUY THIS ALBUM! If you have Red and didn't even bother to listen to Sinsemilla's samples, shame on you! This album is 10 times better than Red and the two bonus track Sinsemilla (Dicsco Mix) & Guess Who's Coming To Dinner (Disco Mix), is the the sprinkles on the cake. The album is already the cake and icing, so who wants sprinkles???

...reggae albums of all time. Black Uhuru sound darker, more ghostly on this album. Bass is a little more up-front in the mix. The songs are almost as good as "Red". Not quite as quick or hyped up as that album though. Extra tracks are 2 dub versions.

This compilation of their greatest hits, never gets old. If you like Reggae, you WILL like this CD.
Black Uhuru was the first group to win a Grammy for Reggae, and will go down in history as the best reggae music since Bob Marley.

This CD is great! If you like Bob then you would like Black Uhuru! Great addition to any rasta collection.. can listen over and over...

I picked up this album after buying the Millennium Collection albums for Steel Pulse and Third World. Both were outstanding, so I ordered Black Uhuru. It has quickly become my favorite of the three, although they are all outstanding. The production quality is great and there isn't a single song that I dislike. My favorites are "Sponji Reggae" and "Darkness" but I really dig every single track. When I put this CD on, at home, at work, or driving, I uncontrollably move my body and bob my head to the beat. Although some of the lyrical content is dark, describing the struggle against and under the oppression of Babylon, the music nevertheless fills me with joy.

This is great album of Uhuru's ... Mikal Rose is at his best.. and so is Rankin....Peace..out:):)

I believe if you spin this record once a day, you should be able to keep the Doctor away.

After the slight downfall of Red they recouped their GOD given talent and created Chill Out, an album dedicated to those who were living the life of hoodlums at the time in New York. I wonder if the song Chill Out was inspired by the movie The Warriors since Michael stated in the song "Now they're crying out Riff" (the Riffs was the biggest gang in New York in the movie). No need for me to name tracks, because all of them are worth listening to, and if you're familiar with their compilation Liberation then you've basically heard over half of the album. Even though this album was great on it's original release, the re-release was a HUGE disappointment when it came to giving up the extra goods. This is the only re-release that stiff you on any bonus tracks what so ever (as you can see from the track listing), when there so many mixes to the original takes. If everything went as planned there would of been at least 13 tracks including Chill Out (12" Version), Darkness/Dubbness, Right Stuff (10" Version), & Mondays/Killer Tuesday. These tracks are on Liberation, so if you want your bonus tracks, there you go.

-D.J.

...of all time. Just behind "Red", ahead of "Sinsemilla". The bass lines are excellent. Robbie Shakespeare is at his best. "Emotional Slaughter" is so very...emotionally wrenching. Singer Michael Rose pours out his heart on that one.

"Eye Market"? "Fleety Foot"?!? What the heck does it all mean? Not a clue, but you feel like you know in your heart what he's going on about, in some way, when you hear that guy sing. His tortured, plaintive phrasing...Wow! I hate to be hyperbolic, but, er...the Jamaican Bach, maybe?

Sly plays Syndrums again on this one, but they still manage to sound real and pure, not silly or overly synthetic. The band is a little more electronic. But the mood is maybe more relaxed and atmospheric than "Red". Still very hypnotic and tight. In comparison, Uhuru start to lose focus and fall apart by "Anthem, at least in terms of the togetherness of the song structures.

I'd also add that these Uhuru albums are some of the very few reggae records that sound even more groovy and hypnotically cool to me than the dub versions.

This is sort of the prequel to Anthem, at least by how it sounds. Some pretty good tracks, others really just not interesting.. a lot of very interesting instrumentation on this album though, with that electric vibe that Black Uhuru has which to me sounds so awesome - Because its not overwhelming, and it still sounds so much like roots even with electronics in it, thats what I love about this band. I think the track "Right Stuff" has to be one of the few (if only) reggae songs actually featuring a vocoder! The one real stand-out track for me is "Darkness", which has a really awesome guitar riff throughout. A pretty good album but you might as well just get Anthem or Red first.

Not only best among the best reggae albums, but among my favorite albums of all.

The mp3 download is corrupt half the songs are missing they are titled wrong. Shine Eye Gal plays into Leaving To Zion and General Penitentiary. Half way through General Penitentiary it changes into Leaving To Zion then that continues into Guess Who's Coming To Dinner at the end of this track it changes into General Penitentiary and that continues into Abortion, and so on. Amazon your tracks are screwed up!!!Fix them or give me credit to download A Black Uhuru mp3 that works.Don't waste your time and money trying to download this.

Depending on what mood I'm in, I may think Sensimilla, Red, or even Brutal, Positive, or Mystical Truth (don't hate) are what the doctor ordered. But more often than not, what I'm after is this one, Guess Who's Coming To Dinner. I just find it combines all of what makes early Uhuru great. Start with the heaviest rhythm section you can imagine with Sly and Robbie, throw in perfect backing harmonies with Puma and Duckie (plus give Duckie ups for writing some of the lyrics), and then top it off with what may be Michael Rose's best lyrical and singing effort on balance in his career. Sure, he had other great songs all over the place, but cuts like shine eye gal, plastic smile, abortion, and the title track are serious social commentary, not just endless praise to weed and jah (though we get a little of that too, natch :)) Some of the lines he delivers still send shivers down my spine, like in Leaving to Zion, when he says "I&I the happy warrior stay / returning with good news today / from my Jamaican people / To my AAAfrican Nation, whoooaaoaaoa yeaahhh." And you get free dubs at the end of each track, basically the whole song over again minus the lead lyrics. You can provide your own, use the music as an irie backdrop for some project (with permission, of course), or do what I do and just sit back with the headphones on and chiiiiillllll to those sections. You know what I'm talking about. This album is short but has not a single bad track. 5 stars without a single doubt.

I was playing this CD on my way home from a road trip and I musta let it run 3 times straight before popping in something else. This CD is soooooooooooooooooooooo on point it's not even funny. Every song on this CD is a perfectly perfect masterpiece. I can't even pick a favorite. If you even like reggae a little bit, this CD should be in your collection.

This album, along with Sinsemilla and Red, is one of the best of the Michael-Duckie-Puma glory years....the first four songs in particular are wonderful, they set a mood that gets you outta whatever lame one you were in prior....soulful vocals augmented by Sly and Robbie's great riddims! Fans of real reggae must have!

No Sly and Robbie here (I believe I am correct on this); I've been listening to Uhuru since, the early 80s with "Red", "Tear it up" and "Anthem"; these releases, along with "Sinsemmilla" and even the "Dub Factor" are some of the finest Reggae ever recorded. I mean, "Red" is one of those releases, I had on cassette, made sure, it was one of my first CDs, now, I may get the latest edition of it, with Bonus Tracks. Way back then, I preffered them, over Bob Marley's or the Wailers music.

Please also, take my advice with a grain of salt, however, 4 stars, is still like giving a "B" grade and I would say, it is about an 85 at that.

The release date of this CD is 1990; so I wish to be highly respectful, of their then, recently losing Puma Jones; of the fact that often one need understand the chronology of a groups history, how helpful was the reviewer who mentioned that some of these songs, are from the "Black Sounds of Freedom" release, Black Uhuru's first;

Take for example, this seems to me, the first time, I have seen a Love song from this group; that is track 6; "Thinking about you", and it is a good love song, and I mean folks, the mushy kind of love songs, Jah knows, Uhuru sings "Love Crisis"; an all-star song in itself, but more of a "love your neighbor" type of theme. It is co-written, along with D. Simpson, by Frank Stepanek; the guitarist on the album, and it has some nice acoustic guitar. I think, this song, is very interesting, because it is a good song, without being totally reggae-liked, could be rock like, even has soulful system. Nice storyline to it as well.

I honestly, hope I am not flawed, nor offend, when I say one or two of these songs almost sound like generic reggae or ordinary reggae; not with the same imprint of what you might find with Michael Rose or the very good release with Junior Reed instead of Rose called "Brutal." But even that small number, still have redeeming features to them.

Like Uhuru doing Hendrix's "Hey Joe", good opening guitar riffs again, nice drums, but the reggae keyboards, which I love on say, "Dub Factor" almost become a bit hokie to me in this case. Also, just for record, listen to the refrain closely, does it not differ a bit from the original? I think, this song, started out as a good idea that they needed to work on in the studio a bit longer. The vocals over all; are still very well done.

Though, not Uhuru's top songs, which I consider second to none, most of the songs, still hold their own and some are outstanding, "Heathen", "Army Band", "Imposter" "Freedom Fighter"( which is about South Africa, in the same vein as Tosh's "Apartheid") and "Word Sound" (with excellent keyboarding and an opening) make this release very rewarding.

I read one review saying "Reggae Rock" is catchy, yes, and probably the closest Black Uhuru will ever get to any sound reminiscent to Yellowman or Eek a Mouse.

Biggest asset, is there are 10 songs and the album is about 45 minutes long, so a nice long listen.

I'd say, 3.5 stars, but the very next album with the same trio of Simpson, Garth Dennis and Don Carlos, Black Uhuru comes up with a classic in "Iron Storm." Derrick Gong Simpson, G. Dennis and Don Carlos are the founding members of Black Uhuru (we may be told; groups evolve, there nucleuses so much really) and on this album, they may be becoming reacquainted with each other and do not seem as solid as could be. "Iron Storm" however, is probably the CD to purchase before this one and "Iron Storm" lives up to the high Black Uhuru standards.

Don't let my title fool ya! I love this cd. I also love Black Sounds of Freedom. But the thing I love most about this cd (NOW) is Don Carlos. I prefer his solo releases, but his voice is one of reggae's best. There are quite a bit of remakes of Black Sounds of Freedom on this cd only this time sung by Don Carlos who, by the way, is one of the founding members of Black Uhuru. Included on this release is a strange, but nice remake of Jimi Hendrix's "HEY JOE". Don't expect the same Black Uhuru from the Michael Rose/Puma Jones era, but do expect good solid reggae upon delivery. I also HIGHLY recommend Don Carlos's JUST A PASSING GLANCE and DEEPLY CONCERNED (in that order) if you like this release.

I am a huge fan of Black Uhuru and even though this album hasn't gotten much publicity it is worth every penny. If you like to sit down and let the bass shake your bones this is the CD for you. Grab a Beer and your credit card and start shattering your neighbors windows with some of the best roots on the market.

Black Uhuru (Uhuru meaning freedom in Swahili), was formed in 1974 by Derrick "Duckie" Simpson and was initially named 'Black Sounds Uhuru'. The original configuration of the band was Derrick Simpson, Don Carlos and Rudolph "Garth" Dennis. The band released a few singles in Jamaica but the lack of record company interest led Don Carlos to leave and go solo, and for Garth Dennis to join The Wailing Souls. They were replaced by Errol Nelson and the "reggae-cantor" vocalist Michael Rose.
With the new line-up established, and a stellar backing band of Robbie Shakespear on bass; Sly Dunbar on drums and Earl "Chinna" Smith on guitar, the band released its first album "Love Crisis" in 1977. This would be re-mixed by Prince Jammy and released as "Black Sounds Of Freedom" in 1981.
The music on this album is an interesting collaboration of roots-rock, dub, dance hall, and funk. This conglomeration of styles sounds daunting but the band is able to, as Tim Gunn likes to say - make it work. The innovative and revolutionary bass stylings of Robbie Shakespear and drumming by Sly Dunbar really propel the music of the album. "I Love King Selassie" was a hit in Jamaica, and it is straight roots-rock. "Satan Army Band" is another roots-rock tune with a nice horn arrangement driving the melody. "Time To Unite" has a disco horn opening which segues into another hypnotic, roots, grooving rhythm. The singing by Michael Rose is gravely and intoxicating. The band then does a pretty faithful rendition of "Natural Mystic" by Bob Marley. "Eden Out Deh" has a clavinet playng a predominant role in establishing the melody, while Robbie and Sly lay down a dub style backbeat. "Love Crisis" follows and it is a pop-reggae song made for radio play, with nice harmonica playing by Johnny Osbourne (Ozzie's brodha - sort of). "African Love" has a dance hall, disco, dub vibe with Michael Rose sounding great. "Hard Ground" is another mixture of roots and dub making a hypnotic offspring that enables Michael Roses voice to sound even more awesome. "Willow Tree" has a fantastic dub beat by Robbie Shakespear while Michael laments about the hardships of ghetto life. "Sorry For The Man" ends the album in an appropriate and interesting mixture of dub, roots and electronic music with Michael singing about the travails of love.
While the message of unity, love, ghetto life and military violence is nothing new, the motley crue mixture of the different reggae music styles (dub, roots, dance hall) was somewhat groundbreaking at the time. The band would expand on this interesting mixture and achieve its greatest success in the early 1980s won they won a grammy; the first reggae band to do so. Peace and love.

Mykal Rose left the group after they won a grammy, first for Reggae, due to creative disputes with Duckie Simpson, he was replaced thereafter by Junior Reid.

This album was originally called "Love Crisis" when it was first released in Jamaica in the 1970's. Re-packaged and re-released as "Black Sounds Of Freedom" for the U.S. market, this album featured a singer named Michael Rose who left the band immediately after recording this album. Too bad, because this is one of finest reggae albums I have heard and Black Uhuru haven't released anything as high quality since.

Great reissue of 2 lps produced by Prince Jammy. This is right before they were picked up by Island, therefore it is not as slick as those releases.

Great late 70's roots reggae: great rhythms, great singing, great songs, and great sound.

A real nice piece that helps see Uhuru in a less commercial light. Very Enjoyable.