Customer Reviews

Liberation: Island Anthology

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
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I am not one to recommend "greatest hits" packages- I'd rather the listener go back and find the original lps and hear all they have to offer...

BUT..if you feel the need to not invest in the Simpson/Rose/Jones era (1979-1986) Black Uhuru's classic lps "Sinsemilla," "Red," or "Brutal," then this anthology is as good as you will find for all of their big hits, a few live, rare, and unreleased tracks, and the like.

This linup of Black uhuru was as good as it got for 2nd generation reggae, with Rose and Simpson's vocals perfectly harmonized by Jones' gorgeous voice. Sly and Robbie, who helped record and produce many of their hits, remained their constant drum and bass section, which added a very stable, phat reggae groove that is difficult to not dance to.

Everything about this lineup of Black Uhuru had greatness written all over it... that greatness never quite came to them, and, with the sad passing of Sandra "Puma' Jones in 1990, that magic will never be captured..

If you can, get the lps first, but if a greatest hits collection is your thing, then this anthology is all you will need for this lineup of Black Uhuru.

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.

Although not as well received as Bob Marley, Black Uhuru have harnessed reggae's important magic and vibe with a unique sound. I have to admit that I am not a huge fan of Mykal Rose as a soloist, but the Mykal Rose/Puma Jones mix works perfect. I sure wish she were alive to continue what she started, but then again she is alive in the music which I'm sure will not dissapoint. Sly and Robbie, as always, can stand alone or in a crowd and serve up some of reggaes most solid beats and rhythms. I highly recommend this anthology for all interested reggae fans who just can't seem to venture past Bob Marley.

I was a huge fan of Black Uhuru back in the 1980s when they were at the peak of their game with albums like "Red", "Chill Out" and "Anthem", the latter being my favorite album of them, but all of them featuring Sly and Robbie, the incomparable drums-and-bass duo that drove so much of their music. There are lots and lots of compilation albums of Black Uhuru, but this one stands the test of time better than any of them.

"Liberation: The Island Anthology" (1993 release; 2 CDs; 28 tracks; 153 min.) brings an unsurpassed synthesis of what Black Uhuru was all about. Starting off with the title track from "Chill Out", these 2 CDs bring a non-stop reggae party. There's no point in reviewing all the tracks, there's no weak one here. What makes this compilation so compelling to Black Uhuru enthousiasts is that it brings all 9 tracks from the "Anthem" album, but in the original, Sly-and-Robbie focused and dub heavier mix (which was deemed to daring/too non-commercial for the original US release, which then promptly won the first-ever "Reggae Album of the Year" Grammy, back in 1984). Just check out the 1-2 punch of "Try It" and "Bull In the Pen", late in the second CD, you'll see what I mean. Just superb. There are several other hard to find castaway and live tracks on here. So many nuggets! A fabulous (and at over 2 1/2 hours of music, a generous) compilation from start to end.

I've seen Back Uhuru twice in concert, the first time in 1990 here in Cincinnati, at Bogart's, a fairly small venue, and what a fabulous evening of music that was. Seeing the band, including the infamous Sly and Robbie, bringing many of these songs live was an unforgettable experience. I saw them again a decade later in Boston, but by then I really wasn't so much into them anymore and for whatever reason, I don't have any great memories from that evening. All that aside, "Liberation" is one fantastic collection, a must for any Black Uhuru fan, but for that matter also for any reggae enthousiast.

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.

..."Shine Eye Girl", "Sinsemella" and "I Love Haile Selaisse" Live are my favorites. Its players include Sly and Robbie, Badarou, Sticky, Bernie Worrell from p-Funk--with the originals Michael Rose and expatriot Puma on vocals. Michael, when I last heard from him, did a solo cut "Short Temper(ed)", that I'd like to get ahold of...this CD here is great for those who don't mind grooving Island style. Sheer groovin' brilliance.

this is one of the best cds iman iver felt. reel rootical, bring one big up---seen? irie album!!! if the i buys reggae, BUY THIS

one perfect love---RASTAFARI!!!