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Black Uhuru

Profile:Formed : 1974 // Kingston, Jamaica
One of the most popular reggae acts ever and the first one to win a grammy . They were the most successful act from Jamaica besides Bob Marley and had an enormous cross-over success duirng the early to mid 80ies , mainly beause of two facts : the fantastic rhythm section consisting of the ever present drum&bass twins Sly Dunbar & Robbie Shakespeare who were actually a part of Black Uhuru during their most successful period . Secondly :Their sound was different - more accessible to Rock fans with uncompromising lyrics and their militant appearance . Especially their live shows were enigmatic .
Black Uhuru was founded in the late seventies by the then already established singer Don Carlos and Duckie Simpson ; after a while Michael Rose , who sang in hotels on the north coast of jamaica for tourists joined the group and the trio was complete. It was Michael Rose's rockstone gruff voice and his phrasing of syllables and consonants that made the sound of this vocal trio so distinguishly different from the multitude of other Reggae Trios . They had a local hit with the Prince Jammy produced "I Love King Selassie" . 'Puma' Jones , who was raised in New York heard this song and fell in love with this tune immediately . So she joined the group in time for their first international distributed album 'Sinsemillia' (Island Records 1980) on TAXI - Productions/Jamaica . This album was a huge success already and some of these songs are still played in bars , coffeeshops and Hippie hang-outs worldwide . The strength of songs like "World Is Africa"; "Push Push";"Every Dreadlocks";"Sinsemillia" and "Fire" make them timeless anthems . They toured and recorded with Michael Rose as Lead vocalist and further releasing the powerful RED album with more militant songs like 'Youth Of Eglington' or 'Sponjie Reggae' (maybe their best song) , A Live album from 1981 called "Tear It Up" , the still solid "Chill Out" and their 1983 album "anthem", that was repackaged and re-mixed for their international market with a different cover in 1984 (for no apparent reason) . Quarrels about the status of Duckie Simpson (the Founder) and Michael Rose (the voice of Black Uhuru) lead to internal problems and Michael Rose left and Junior Reid another singer from the Waterhouse neighbarhood in Kingston replaced him . This lead to a rejuvinated sound and another highlight in the career of Black Uhuru . They even had a Top Ten Hit with "The Great Train Robbery" in the Uk and other european countries , their first song written and sung by Junior Reid . The albums 'Brutal' and 'Positive' with good and advanced dub albums to follow were both very successfull and their tours were (nearly) as successful as before . The same problem occurred again . Junior Reid was the voice and wrote the hit songs , while Duckie Simpson stayed out of focus , his songs were no hits - but he was the head of Black Uhuru . So Junior Reid left as well to pursue a sucessful solo carreer . To make matters worse 'Puma' Jones died of cancer in 1990 . So Duckie Simpson contacted his old buddy Don Carlos , who was still a respected and always recording and releasing Solo artist with a nice voice and talent for songwriting . Still this duo didn't have the potential to perform the anthems , that made Black Uhuru the giants they were , so they recruted young singers , who loked good and had the ability to reproduce the songs from both Michael Rose and even Junior Reid for the bread & butter earning live tours . This was a little bit ridicilous . Still - They got paid and released albums every few years and toured regularily . In recent years Sly & Robbie reunited with them as Black Uhuru and toured the big Reggae Festivals with Don Carlos ,Duckie Simpson and numberous young lead singers and female background - vocalists. On some festivals they even performed with Michael Rose as one act (while he sang some of his penned Black Uhuru anthems and some of his solo works) and as Black Uhuru !!! Michael Rose and Duckie Simpson finally found an agreement ..............
Members:Andrew Bees, Don Carlos (2), Duckie Simpson, Junior Reid, Lowell Dunbar, Michael Rose, Puma Jones, Robbie Shakespeare
Name Variations: All | Black Uhuru | Black Sounds Uhro | Black Uhro | Black Uhurie | Black Uhuro | Black Uhuru Band | Uhuru
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Releases:
Love Crisis (LP, Album)   Third World 1977
Natural Mystic / Sorry For That Man (12")   Third World 1977
Plastic Smile (7")   Gorgon Records 1978
General Penitentiary (7")   Taxi 1979
Plastic Smile / Guess Who's Coming To Dinner? (12")   D-Roy Records 1979
Rent Man (7")   D.E.B. Music 1979
Shine Eye / Licking Stick (12")   D-Roy Records 1979
Showcase (Album) ◄ (3 versions)   Taxi ... 1979
Vital Selection (LP)   Virgin 1979
Black Uhuru (Album) ◄ (4 versions)   Virgin ... 1980
Sinsemilla (12")   Island Records 1980
Sinsemilla (Album) ◄ (9 versions)   Taxi ... 1980
Black Sounds Of Freedom (LP, Album)   Greensleeves Records 1981
Red (Album) ◄ (9 versions)   Island Records ... 1981
Sponji Reggae ◄ (2 versions)   Mango ... 1981
Chill Out (Album) ◄ (7 versions)   Island Records (US) ... 1982
Chill Out ◄ (2 versions)   Island Records (US) 1982
Darkness (10")   Island Records 1982
Mondays / Killer Tuesdays / Right Stuff (10")   Island Records 1982
Tear It Up - Live (Comp) ◄ (7 versions)   Mango ... 1982
Uhuru In Dub (LP)   CSA Records 1982
Anthem (Album) ◄ (11 versions)   Island Records ... 1983
Party Next Door / Party In Session ◄ (3 versions)   Island Records 1983
Solidarity (7")   Island Records 1983
The Dub Factor (Album) ◄ (7 versions)   Mango ... 1983
What Is Life? ◄ (4 versions)   Island Records ... 1983
Youth / Big Spliff / Sodom / Slaughter (12", Promo)   Mango 1983
Black Uhuru (LP, Comp)   Island Records 1985
Conviction Or Fine (12")   RAS Records Inc. 1985
Fit You Haffe Fit ◄ (3 versions)   Taxi 1985
Reggae Greats (Comp) ◄ (2 versions)   Island Records ... 1985
Brutal (Album) ◄ (6 versions)   RAS Records Inc. ... 1986
Brutal Dub ◄ (2 versions)   RAS Records Inc. 1986
The Great Train Robbery ◄ (4 versions)   RAS Records Inc. ... 1986
Guess Who's Coming To Dinner (Album) ◄ (3 versions)   Heartbeat Records (2) ... 1987
Positive (Album) ◄ (3 versions)   RAS Records Inc. ... 1987
Positive Dub (Album) ◄ (2 versions)   RAS Records Inc. ... 1987
Live In New York City (CD)   Rohit International Records 1988
Now (Album) ◄ (2 versions)   Rhino Records (2) ... 1990
Reggae Rock ◄ (2 versions)   Antler-Subway ... 1990
Iron Storm (Album) ◄ (2 versions)   Mesa Recordings 1991
Iron Storm Dub (CD, Album)   Mesa Recordings 1992
Mystical Truth (CD)   Mesa Recordings 1992
Tip Of The Iceberg (12")   Mesa Recordings 1992
Liberation: The Island Anthology (Comp) ◄ (2 versions)   Mango ... 1993
Strongg (CD, Album)   Mesa Recordings 1994
Love Dub (Album) ◄ (3 versions)   Culture Press ... 1997
Ras Portraits (CD)   RAS Records Inc. 1997
Reggae Greats (CD, Album)   Spectrum Music (2) 1997
Brutal / Dread 3 Beat & Riddims (CD, Album + CD, Comp)   RAS Records Inc., Continental Record Services 1999
Black Sounds Of Freedom (CD, Album)   Greensleeves Records 2000
Classic (CD, RM)   Island Records 2000
In Dub (CD, Album)   Dressed To Kill 2000
Live84 (CD, Album)   Tabou 1 2000
Black Uhuru (CD, Album)   Dressed To Kill 2001
Zion High (CD)   Blood & Fire 2003
Brutal (2xCD, Comp)   RAS Records Inc. 2004
Black Sounds Of Freedom (2xCD, RM)   Greensleeves Records 2006
One Love / I Love King Selassie (12", Promo)   Greensleeves Records 2006
The Dub Album (CD, Album, Sli)   Brook 2006
Abortion (7")   Taxi  
General Penitentary (7")   Taxi  
Get Rich & Switch (12")   JR All Stars  
Guess Who Is Comming To Dinner (7")   Taxi  
Reggae Rock (12")   Antler-Subway  
Rent Man / Tennanent (7")   Joe Gibbs Music  
Shine Eye / Plastic Smile (7")   Taxi  
Time To Unite / African Love (10")   King Jammy's Gold  
Remixes:
Playground Vol. 3 (CD) A Sea Of Faces (Uhuru ... Ecco.Chamber 2001
Production:
Pumping Iron II: The Women (LP) What Is Life Island Records 1985
Trojan Eighties Box Set (3xCD, Comp, Ltd + Box) Positive Trojan Records 2005
Appears On:
Simple Sly Man (LP, Album) Sun Is Shining Front Line Records 1978
Sly, Wicked And Slick - Extra Version (CD, Comp, RM)   Front Line Records, Virgin 1991
Locked In A Dutch Coffeeshop (CD) Dawn Of The Living Dread Fundamental 1995
Keep It Like A Secret (Album) ◄ (3 versions) Broken Chairs City Slang 1999
Sly And Robbie's Taxi Sound - Marking 30 Years Of Taxi Records ◄ (2 versions) Let Him Go Auralux Recordings 2005
Tracks Appear On:
Creation Rockers Volume 3 (LP) Born Free Trojan Records 1979
Raiders Of The Lost Dub (LP) The Monkey Is A Spy, W... Island Records 1981
Sly And Robbie Presents: Taxi (LP) World Is Africa Island Records 1981
Untitled (12", Promo) Youth Of Eglington, Ca... Island Records 1981
Jive Wire (Cass) Happiness New Musical Express 1982
The CSA Collection Volume 2 Or Feel Like Dancing (LP, Comp) Eden Dub CSA Records 1984
Popular Roots (2xLP, Comp) Plastic Smile Virgin Records (New Zealand) 1985
Pumping Iron II - The Women - Original Soundtrack ◄ (2 versions) What Is Life Island Records (US) ... 1985
The Tube (LP, Comp) What Is Life Starblend Records Ltd. 1985
Hot Summer Hits '86 (Cass, Comp) The Great Train Robbery K-Tel (Holland) B.V., K-Tel (Holland) B.V. 1986
In Concert - 391 Featuring The Wailers And Black Uhuru (LP, Comp) Chocolate Rock, What I... BBC Transcription 1986
Island Life (Cass, Smplr, Promo) Solidarity Island Records 1986
Greensleeves Sampler (Comp) ◄ (3 versions) I Love King Selassie Greensleeves Records 1987
The Island Story 1962-1987 25th Anniversary (Comp) ◄ (2 versions) Sinse Milla Island Records (US) 1987
The Real Authentic Sampler (LP) Positive RAS Records Inc. 1988
Groove Yard ◄ (2 versions) Solidarity 4th & B'way Records ... 1989
Hit Bound! The Revolutionary Sound Of Channel One (LP) Sun Is Shining Heartbeat Records (2) 1989
If This Were A Radio It Would Sound Like The Future: NMS '89 (3xCD, Promo) Solidarity Island Records (US) 1989
Jammin' (Comp) ◄ (3 versions) Somebody's Watching You PolyGram ... 1989
The Reggae Album (2xLP) Great Train Robbery Arcade 1989
Possetively 4th Street (LP) Darkness 4th & B'way Records 1990
Rewind! - Part Two - Singers (LP, Comp) Dread In The Mountain RAS Records Inc. 1990
June 91 - Three (12") Push Push DMC 1991
King Jammy: A Man & His Music, Volume 3 - Hits Style (Cass) I Love Selassie RAS Records Inc. 1991
Planète Reggae (CD) Positive Déclic Communication 1991
On A Reggae Trip (CD) Great Train Robbery Arcade 1992
The Mighty Two: Joe Gibbs And Errol Thompson (CD, Album, Comp) Rent Man / Resident Area Heartbeat Records (2) 1992
Planète Reggae Vol. 1 & 2 (2xCD) Positive Déclic Communication 1993
Time Warp - Dub Clash (Old School Vs. New School) (2xLP) The Monkey Is A Spy, W... Mango 1993
Time Warp Dub Clash - Old School vs. New School (CD) The Monkey Is A Spy (S... Mango 1993
Time Warp Dub Clash - Old School vs. New School (CD) The Monkey Is A Spy (S... Island Jamaica 1993
Tougher Than Tough - The Story Of Jamaican Music (Box + 4xCD, Comp) Guess Who' Coming To D... Mango 1993
Tougher Than Tough - The Story Of Jamaican Music (4xCD, Comp + Box, Ltd) Guess Who's Coming To ... Mango 1993
Spliff Relief - Reggae From The Yard (CD, Album, Comp) Big Bad Bully (Version... Mesa Recordings 1994
A History Of Dub - The Golden Age (CD) Shine Eye Dub Munich Records 1995
Reggae's Greatest Hits Volume 4 (CD) Sun Is Shining Heartbeat Records (2) 1995
Dubmission (CD) Ion Storm, Boof N’ B... Quango Records 1996
Dubmission (CD) Ion Storm, Boof N’ B... Island Records (US) 1996
17 North Parade (Comp) ◄ (2 versions) Going to Zion Pressure Sounds 1997
Dancehall Queen - Original Motion Soundtrack (CD) Boof'N'Baff'N'Biff (Fi... Island Jamaica 1997
Dancehall Queen - Original Motion Soundtrack (LP) Boof'N'Baff'N'Biff (Fi... Island Jamaica 1997
Dubmission 2: The Remixes (CD) Boof N' Baff N' Biff (... Quango Records 1997
Dubmission 2: The Remixes (2x12") Boof N' Baff N' Biff (... Quango Records 1997
Dubmission 2: The Remixes (12", Promo) Boof N' Baff N' Biff (... Island Records (US) 1997
In The Red Zone: The Essential Collection of Classic Dub (CD) Who's In the Tomb? Shanachie 1997
Reggae - Music Box Collection (2xCD) The Great Train Robbery Mecado 1997
Adam Freeland's Coastal Breaks II ◄ (2 versions) Boof'n'Baff'n'Biff (Fi... React 1998
Coastal Breaks II (2xCD, Mixed, Comp) Boof'n'Baff'n'Biff (Fi... React 1998
Revolutionary Sounds (CD) Natural Mystic Shanachie 1998
Abductions And Reconstructions (Comp) ◄ (3 versions) Boof N' Baff N' Biff Eighteenth Street Lounge Music ... 1999
Brazilification ◄ (2 versions) Boof 'n' Baff 'n' Biff... Kudos 1999
The Crowning Of Prince Jammy (2xLP, Comp) King Selassie Pressure Sounds 1999
The Crowning Of Prince Jammy (CD) King Salassie I Pressure Sounds 1999
Unconditionally Guaranteed Volume 4 (CD) What Is Life Uncut Magazine 1999
Volume 5 • 1972-1995 • Reggae Roots (CD, Comp) Sinsemilla Island Records 1999
Dub Reggae Essentials (CD) Boof n' Baff n' Biff (... Hip-O Records 2000
Le World... Reggae Dub (CD) Willow Weep Dub Suave Records (3) 2001
Reggae: I Am King (Classics From The Rockers Era) (Comp) ◄ (2 versions) What Is Life Ocho 2001
Mega Ragga (4xCD, Comp) Bling ! Bling ! Party ! Wagram 2002
Trojan Ras Reggae Box Set (3xCD, Comp, Ltd + Box) Great Train Robbery Trojan Records 2003
Grand Theft Auto San Andreas Official Soundtrack Box Set (8xCD, Comp) Great Train Robbery Interscope Records, Rockstar Games 2004
Rare Grooves Reggae 02 (CD, Dig) Guess Who’s Coming T... Nova Records 2004
Reggae Classics (3xCD + Box) What Is Life Crimson 2004
This Is Crucial Reggae (CD, Comp, Pro) Brutal Trojan Records 2004
Unmetered Taxi: Sly & Robbie's Taxi Productions (2xLP) Shine Eye Girl Pressure Sounds 2004
Unmetered Taxi: Sly & Robbie's Taxi Productions (CD, Sli) Shine Eye Girl Pressure Sounds 2004
Get Up, Stand Up! Jamaican Protest Songs (CD) Solidarity Ras Records Inc. 2005
Reggae Gold (2xCD) Mondays (US 12" Mix), ... Universal Music (Netherlands) 2005
Trojan Eighties Box Set (3xCD, Comp, Ltd + Box) Positive Trojan Records 2005
More Pressure Volume 1 - Straight To The Head (2xLP) Folk Song Pressure Sounds 2006
More Pressure Volume 1 - Straight To The Head (CD, Comp) Folk Song Pressure Sounds 2006
Confidential: Uptempo Social Dining (CD, Mixed) Guess Who’s Coming T... Sleeping Giant Music 2007
Rewind & Come Again (7x7", Ltd, Comp, Box) I Love King Selassie Greensleeves Records, Greensleeves Records 2007
Riddim CD #32 (CD, Comp, Car) I Love King Selassie Riddim Magazine 2007
Singerman! (CD) Rent Man Blood & Fire 2007
Sun Is Shining (CD) What Is Life Mojo Magazine 2007
Trojan Selecta Vol. 5 (CD, Comp) Fit U Haffi Fit Trojan Records 2007
Wardrum Machine Dub (CDr, Album) Jah Movements Dub 777 Beats 2007
Mix#5 (File, MP3) Fit Yu Haffi Fit Autres Directions In Music 2008
Nova En 25 CD (La Boite Bleue) (25xCD, Comp + Box) Sun Is Shining Nova Records 2008
One Step Beyond - The Unstoppable Rhythm Of Reggae & Ska (CD, Comp) Sponji Reggae Universal Music Special Markets, Starbucks Entertainment 2008
Ziggy Marley In Jamaica (CD, Comp, Promo) Guess Who's Coming To ... District 6, Tuff Gong Worldwide 2008
Reggae Para Fazer A Cabeça (CD) Space Within Your Hear... Top Tape  
Unofficial Releases:
Radikal Roots Re-Edits Volume 11 (12")   Roots Radics 2005
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