Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
Language available : english
Portraits culls a dozen tracks from Black Uhuru's two RAS albums, 1986's Brutal and the following year's Positive, and their dub companions, all cut during the most chaotic period in the group's career. The trio had survived a musical shift from deep roots reggae to a more electro-driven raga style, and even picked up a Grammy along the way. What was far more difficult to overcome, however, was the departure of founding member Michael Rose. Junior Reid was brought in and the new lineup signed to RAS, only for Puma Jones' serious health problems to force her departure after the recording of Brutal. She was replaced by Olafunke, with whom the group recorded Positive -- at which point Reid and Duckie Simpson fell out, and Black Uhuru fell apart. Little of these upheavals are noticeable on Portraits, which showcases the best of the band from this two-year period. The compilation pulls four of the strongest tracks from each of their two albums, and two apiece from the dub versions, including both album's title tracks, the hit singles "Fit You Haffe Fit" and "Great Train Robbery," and Arthur Baker's exhilarating remix "Robbery Dub." Black Uhuru's '70s roots output has always received the lion's share of attention by fans and critics alike. However, with the rise of dancehall and its crossover into hip-hop, the group's mid-'80s output is due for serious re-evaluation. Dance-friendly with great whooshing synths and those ever-perfect vocals combine for an enchanting blend of reggae wave. As an intro to this era, one couldn't do better than this.
© Jo-Ann Greene /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From 13,50€/month
Black Uhuru, Performance, MainArtist
© 1997 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1986 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
Black Uhuru, Performance, MainArtist
© 1997 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1987 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
Junior Reid, Composer, Lyricist - Black Uhuru, Performance, MainArtist
© 1997 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1986 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
Black Uhuru, Performance, MainArtist
© 1997 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1986 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
Black Uhuru, Producer, MainArtist
© 1997 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1987 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
Black Uhuru, Performance, MainArtist
© 1997 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1986 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
Black Uhuru, Performance, MainArtist
© 1997 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1986 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
Black Uhuru, Performance, MainArtist
© 1997 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1986 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
Black Uhuru, Performance, MainArtist
© 1997 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1986 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
Black Uhuru, Performance, MainArtist
© 1997 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1986 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
Black Uhuru, Performance, MainArtist
© 1997 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1986 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
Black Uhuru, Performance, MainArtist
© 1997 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1987 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
Albumbeschreibung
Portraits culls a dozen tracks from Black Uhuru's two RAS albums, 1986's Brutal and the following year's Positive, and their dub companions, all cut during the most chaotic period in the group's career. The trio had survived a musical shift from deep roots reggae to a more electro-driven raga style, and even picked up a Grammy along the way. What was far more difficult to overcome, however, was the departure of founding member Michael Rose. Junior Reid was brought in and the new lineup signed to RAS, only for Puma Jones' serious health problems to force her departure after the recording of Brutal. She was replaced by Olafunke, with whom the group recorded Positive -- at which point Reid and Duckie Simpson fell out, and Black Uhuru fell apart. Little of these upheavals are noticeable on Portraits, which showcases the best of the band from this two-year period. The compilation pulls four of the strongest tracks from each of their two albums, and two apiece from the dub versions, including both album's title tracks, the hit singles "Fit You Haffe Fit" and "Great Train Robbery," and Arthur Baker's exhilarating remix "Robbery Dub." Black Uhuru's '70s roots output has always received the lion's share of attention by fans and critics alike. However, with the rise of dancehall and its crossover into hip-hop, the group's mid-'80s output is due for serious re-evaluation. Dance-friendly with great whooshing synths and those ever-perfect vocals combine for an enchanting blend of reggae wave. As an intro to this era, one couldn't do better than this.
© Jo-Ann Greene /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 12 track(s)
- Total length: 00:53:38
- Main artists: Black Uhuru
- Composer: Junior Reid
- Label: Trojan Records
- Genre: Reggae
© 1997 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1997 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
Improve album informationWhy buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.