"Generally acknowledged to be Black Uhuru's masterpiece as well as one of the defining documents of roots reggae, "Guess Who's Coming To Dinner" (originally released on the Taxi label under the title "Showcase" in 1979, then reissued as "Black Uhuru" in 1980) was the first album to feature singer Puma Jones as a member of the group's vocal trio lineup, and it was also their first with Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare. These additions gave the group a tremendous lift: Jones' keening, almost North African-inflected voice became an instantly identifiable part of Black Uhuru's sound, and the chugging rhythms supplied by Dunbar and Shakespeare were the perfect instrumental accompaniment. True to its original title, this collection of singles and new tracks is presented in "showcase" style; each track is followed without pause by a dub version. Highly recommended." (Rick Anderson, Allmusic; 4,5 uit 5 sterren)
"This 1980 release, named after a type of marijuana, was Black Uhuru's first album to be issued internationally, their third overall. Although the group was nominally a trio at this point -- consisting of Derrick "Duckie" Simpson, Michael Rose, and Sandra "Puma" Jones -- in effect, it was a solo album by Rose, who wrote all the songs and sang lead vocals. In addition to his writing and singing duties, Rose can be credited for bringing in the production team and rhythm section of Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare, whose Taxi Gang provides the distinctive musical tracks. Rose's lyrical vision is revolutionary and radical, extolling the primacy of Africa, opposing apartheid, and praising the virtues of marijuana. But his sweet tenor and Simpson's harmonies soothe the message, and the music has a spare, rhythmic appeal that is distinctive and forward-looking, suggesting a hard, stripped-down direction for reggae." (William Ruhlmann, Allmusic; 5 uit 5 sterren)
"Arguably the best of Black Uhuru's electrofied albums - a seminal blend of styles and cultures. The trio is once again backed by The Revolutionaries and produced by Sly & Robbie, who were rocketed to international fame upon this record's release. They deserved it, and Chill Out remains as much a tribute to Sly & Robbie's talent as the vocal trio's. Shakespeare lays down the sinuous bass which provides the foundation for the record's rootsy sound. The four guitarists, three leads, plus Ranchie McLean's reggae riffing, flit across the grooves and genres, touching down on funk, blues, R&B, and rock along the way. The pianists and Wally Badarou's synth add atmosphere, with Dunbar's heavy beats, combining drums with electro syndrums, add a throbbing pulse to the proceedings. The sound is extremely dense, but the producers still found plenty of space for Black Uhuru's sublime vocals. The album remains a stunning legacy for all involved." (Jo-Ann Greene, Allmusic)
Only a few months after the death of Bob Marley, Rockpalast presented a reggae act in the Grugahalle in Essen for the very first time, a statement against the opinion that reggae was in the final stages. Black Uhuru was selected; the most innovative that Jamaica had to offer apart from dancehall which was gaining more and more momentum. Sly Dunbars varied drum patterns, Robbie Schakespeares bass drive, the straight offbeat and Thompsons warped guitar licks were a combination that never had been heard like this in reggae before, a hypnotic wall of sound as basis for the revolutionary Rastafarian lyrics of Michael Rose, Puma Jones and Duckie Simpson, now and then interrupted by surprising echo effects. After their performance at Rockpalast, Black Uhuru enjoyed worldwide success.(bron: MIG)\n"Uiterst energieke show. Niet in de laatste plaats dankzij de opzwepende frontman Michael Rose. Fijne liveregistratie!" (Stefan Sjoers, Lust For Life; 4 uit 5 sterren)
Uit 1981. Door velen het beste album genoemd van dit reggea-trio, begeleid door Sly & Robbie's band. Hun mix van rootsreggae en moderne snufjes (o.a. synths) is een aanstekelijke ondergrond voor de sterk gezongen vaak sociaal bewogen teksten.
Geremasterde heruitgave uit 2004 van album uit 1987. Na een succesvolle samenwerking met producersduo/ritmesectie Sly & Robbie produceerde het reggaetrio dit album zélf, al verzorgen Sly & Robbie wel de ritmepartijen. De sound is electronischer, met o.a. typische jaren '80 syn-drumsounds, wat dit album wellicht wat gedateerder van klank maakt dan de directe voorgangers. Bij deze remaster zijn als bonus enige tracks van de onvermijdelijke dub-tegenhanger "Positive Dub" toegevoegd. Dit album, met spacy, bijna geheel instrumentale dub-remixen van het "Positive"-album, hebben we trouwens ook in z'n geheel in onze collectie.
Uitgebreid dubbel-cd-overzicht van deze Jamaicaanse reggeaband.
Een-CD-Compilatie uit 2000 met voornamelijk werk uit de jaren 1981-1983. Als je de CD-box 'Liberation' wat al te uitgebreid vindt. Het reggaetrio produceerd prachtige samenzang over de riddims van Sly & Robbie.
Album uit 1984 waarop de Jamaicaanse groep haar reggae-sound begon te mixen met toen hippe elektronica, die volop gebruikt werden in de synthipop uit die dagen. Denk daarbij aan diverse synthesizer-sounds en syn-drums. Commercieel was het een gouden zet. Niet alleen won de groep met dit album de eerste reggae-Grammy in 1984, er werden ook meerdere (Amerikaanse en Jamaicaanse) hitsingles vanaf getrokken. Veel oude fans en critici vonden de aloude reggaesound teveel verwaterd.
Klik hier om cookies te accepteren zodat de vertaalmodule kan worden geladen. Het kan zijn dat je de pagina moet herladen.
