The first line-up of the group was Garth Dennis, Don Carlos, and Derrick "Duckie" Simpson. The group has undergone several lineup changes: Carlos left, replaced by Michael Rose; then Dennis left to play with The Wailing Souls, and was replaced by Errol Nelson. During this early period, the band's most famous recording is the album entitled Love Crisis, later rereleased as Black Sounds Of Freedom. In 1979 the group was joined by Sandra "Puma" Jones, a social worker from North Carolina, USA. Under this lineup, (Rose, Simpson and Jones), with Sly & Robbie as producers (and also permanently employed on drum and bass), they released the band's most popular albums: Sinsemilla, Red, Chill Out, and the Grammy-winning Anthem¹, as well as others. During this period, Black Uhuru became one of the most popular reggae groups in the world, regularly touring with the likes of The Police and The Rolling Stones. Live 1984 (a concert at the Rockpalast in Germany, but was actually recorded on October 18, 1981) captures the band at the height of its powers.
After Rose went solo in 1985, Junior Reid joined for a few records and also left; Puma Jones left in 1987 (and died of cancer three years later, in 1990). In 1990, Simpson reunited with Dennis and Carlos in the original line-up of the group. They recorded several albums and toured extensively. By the end of the 90's, Dennis and Carlos left the band and fought a legal battle against Simpson over the name Black Uhuru. Simpson won the lawsuit and formed yet another incarnation of Black Uhuru with Andrew Bees as lead singer. Only one album, Dynasty, was released before Bees left the group.
In February 2004, it was announced in the Jamaican press that Simpson and Michael Rose had re-united under the name "Black Uhuru feat. Michael Rose". Together with a female backing singer named Kay Starr, they released a single, "Dollars" and performed at several concerts including "Western Consciousness 2004" on April 28 in Jamaica, of which a live video was released shortly thereafter. A new album has been reported to be in progress.
== Discography ==
'Group: Derrick "Duckie" Simpson, Michael Rose, Errol "Tarzan" Nelson'
*1977 - 'Love Crisis'
*1981 - 'Black Sounds of Freedom' ("Love Crisis" reedition)
'Group: Derrick "Duckie" Simpson, Michael Rose, Sandra "Puma" Jones'
*1979 - 'Showcase'
*1980 - 'Black Uhuru'
*1980 - 'Sinsemilia'
*1981 - 'Red'
*1982 - 'Chill Out'
*1983 - 'Guess Who's Coming To Dinner' ("Black Uhuru" reedition)
*1983 - 'Anthem'
'Group: Derrick Simpson, Delroy "Junior" Reid, Sandra "Puma" Jones'
*1986 - 'Brutal'
*1987 - 'Positive' (Puma Jones replaced Olafunke)
'Group: Derrick "Duckie" Simpson, Garth Dennis, Don Carlos'
*1990 - 'Now'
*1991 - 'Iron Storm'
*1993 - 'Mystical truth'
*1994 - 'Strongg'
'Group: Derrick "Duckie" Simpson, Jenifah Nyah, Andrew Bees'
*1998 - 'Unification'
*2001 - 'Dynasty'
'Live / Dub albums:'
*1982 - 'Uhuru in Dub'
*1982 - 'Tear It Up - Live' (album and video)
*1983 - 'The Dub Factor'
*1986 - 'Brutal Dub'
*1987 - 'The Positive Dub'
*1988 - 'Live'
*1988 - 'Live In New York City'
*1990 - 'Now Dub'
*1990 - 'Love Dub' ("Uhuru In Dub" reedition)
*1992 - 'Iron Storm Dub'
*1993 - 'Mystical Truth Dub'
*1994 - 'Strongg Dubb'
*2000 - 'Live 1984'
*2001 - 'In Dub'
*2001 – 'Dubbin'It Live' (summer 2001, at Paléo Festival)
Youth Of Eglington
Black Uhuru Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Won't put down their Remington
The youth of Brixton
They bave their 45 Smith and
Wesson pistol pistol
The youth of Utica Avenue
They just can't keep cool
So much gun shot some
They are responsible for a lot
of children
And they need food
And they want to go to school
I say the youth of Eglington
Won't put down their Remington
I say the youth of Kingston
Won't leave their Magnum
pistol pistol
A very thin line to start the crime
Who will be the first to
volunteer
You love you love your fuckery
Get up and get yourself together
You hear the words of Jah Jah
coming from the hill top of
Dabra Dabra
Keep you strength
The youth of Eglington
Won't put down their Remington
I say the youth of Brixton
They put down their 45 Smith
and Wesson pistol pistol
Stop and listen
They want you to fight the good fight
But save you strength
For strength of life
The youths in Africa
All a dem a thriller
I say the youth of Eglington
Won't put down their Remington
The youth of Kingston
Won't leave their Magnum
pistol pistol
Poor Jill she was a spill
she got hit by a stray shot
The youths of Eglington
Won't put down their Remington
The youths of Brixton
They put down their 45 Smith
and Wesson pistol pistol
The lyrics to Black Uhuru's song Youth Of Eglington speak about the prevalence of guns and violence among youth in various neighborhoods. Eglinton, Kingston, Brixton, and Utica Avenue are all mentioned as areas where youth are carrying weapons, and the chorus emphasizes that the youth in Eglinton and Kingston specifically are unwilling to put down their weapons. The lyrics point out that the violence caused by these weapons is responsible for harming and killing innocent children, and that the youth are desperately in need of basic resources like food and education.
The song also alludes to the idea that there is a thin line between crime and volunteering or fighting for a cause, and that the youth need to use their strength and energy for positive change rather than destructive behavior. The lyrics mention the words of Jah Jah, which suggests a spiritual or religious aspect to the youth's struggle.
Overall, the song paints a bleak picture of the reality facing many urban youth, but also offers a message of hope that they can choose to channel their energy in a more positive direction.
Line by Line Meaning
The youths of Eglinton Won't put down their Remington
The young people in Eglinton refuse to give up their Remington guns.
The youth of Brixton They bave their 45 Smith and Wesson pistol pistol
The young people in Brixton have 45 Smith and Wesson pistols.
The youth of Utica Avenue They just can't keep cool So much gun shot some cripple some turn fool
The young people in Utica Avenue can't stay calm due to the amount of gunfire, causing some to become injured and others to act foolishly.
They are responsible for a lot of children And they need food And they want to go to school
These youths are taking care of many children but are struggling with basic needs such as food and education.
I say the youth of Eglington Won't put down their Remington
Once again, the song emphasizes that the youth in Eglinton are still holding on to their Remington guns.
I say the youth of Kingston Won't leave their Magnum pistol pistol
The young people in Kingston are also refusing to give up their Magnum pistols.
A very thin line to start the crime Who will be the first to volunteer
The song notes how easily someone could commit a crime with a gun, and wonders who would be the first to take that step.
You love you love your fuckery Get up and get yourself together
The song encourages people to stop engaging in negative behavior and to gather their strength.
You hear the words of Jah Jah coming from the hill top of Dabra Dabra Keep you strength
The song references the words of Jah Jah coming from a hill and encourages people to hold on to their strength during difficult times.
Stop and listen They want you to fight the good fight But save you strength For strength of life
The song advises people to fight for what's right but to also conserve their energy for the battles that really matter.
The youths in Africa All a dem a thriller
The song references the young people in Africa, who are always active and exciting.
Poor Jill she was a spill she got hit by a stray shot
The song mentions someone named Jill who got hurt by a stray bullet, highlighting the dangers of violence.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@rootsreggaemusic7219
See blood, we mean no harm blood
The youths of Eglinton
Won't put down their Remington
The youth of Brixton
They have their 45 Smith and
Wesson pistol, pistol!
The youth of Utica Avenue
They just can't keep cool
So much gun shot, some cripple, some turn fool
They are responsible for a lot of children
And they need food
And they want to go to school
I say the youth of Eglington
Won't put down their Remington
I say the youth of Kingston
Won't leave their Magnum
Pistol, pistol..
A very thin line to start the crime
Who will be the first to volunteer?
You love, you love your mockery
Get up and get yourself together
You hear the words of Jah Jah
Coming from the hill top, of Dabra Dabra
Keep you strength
The youth of Eglington
Won't put down their Remington
I say the youth of Brixton
They put down their 45 Smith
And Wesson pistol pistol
(..)
Stop and listen
They want you to fight the good fight
But save you strength
For strength of life
The youths in Africa
All a dem a thriller
I say the youth of Eglington
Won't put down their Remington
The youth of Kingston
Won't leave their Magnum
Pistol, pistol..
Poor Jill she was a spill
She got hit by a stray shot
The youths of Eglington
Won't put down their Remington
The youths of Brixton
They put down their 45 Smith
And Wesson pistol, pistol..
@ackaspech
Rest in peace Robbie Bassman!
One love.
Big UP!
@haroldwalton932
I saw them with The Clash at Exhibition Stadium in the mid-eighties....the days of committed brilliant music
@ianaj
Man I was there too... you never forget how you felt at that time during the concert which at the time was amazing but now I thank myself then for going then as now so many life times later I realize what a gift it was in being there!
@SonyVor
What a great show that was. Tremendous performance.
@chrisd8458
I like Bob Marley, but I LOVE Black Uhuru. These guys are beyond underrated. They should have been huge.
I agree.
@annvalentine-pryce7572
@ I second that
@traceycawood965
Black Uhuru and steel pulce are the best reggae outfits to date!
@tenshandihyenaentertainmen9827
Underrated is not the word more like underpromoted
@worngimimajosplaynholmes6907
Well said