Deserved Presentation of a Groundbreaker
Dee Sharp | Long Beach, CA United States | 02/08/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The day of the 2006 Grammy awards seems an a propos time to address Black Uhuru's 'Anthem,' the album to win the inaugural Best Reggae Album award.
Black Uhuru, the heirs apparent to Bob Marley following his passing in 1981, recorded their sixth (and what would be their last) album for Island Records in Jamaica. A terse, stripped-down mix of the album was issued on the island. In the intervening time between issuing the album in Jamaica and delivering it to Island in the UK, the group was garnering attention with their cover of Little Steven's "Solidarity." In response, Island remixed 'Anthem' for the UK. An enitrely different remix was prepared for the US following the response to "Solidarity" here.
This box set gathers all the mixes - including a clutch of unreleased ones - in one place.
Disc One is the original Jamaican mixes, unedited (each track ran for 5+ minutes, but had to be faded to fit on vinyl. Not so here, thanks to the capacity of a CD).
Disc Two is an unreleased dub mix of the album - the perfect companion to 'The Dub Factor,' and for those of you who can't get enough Sly & Robbie dubs.
Disc Three is the UK remix.
Disc Four is the US remix.
Each disc is appended with single mixes that spun off from this album.
And it's stunningly packaged in canvas covered hardbound book with the band and album names stamped on the cover, alluding to the original Jamaican artwork.
All in all a magnificent piece."
Only diehard "Anthem" fans need apply...
Dave K. | Rocky River, OH U.S.A. | 06/17/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Box set release of Black Uhuru's Grammy-winning "Anthem" album (from 1983-84). This release is only for diehard fans of "Anthem," as it offers up 4 discs of the album, from its earlier version in 1983 to its 1984 US & UK releases. Included also is a CD of previously unreleased dub mixes of the album. The packaging is in book-bound form with 40 pages of pics & info pertaining to the group's breakthrough album to a mass audience. Well worth the money if your interests run deeper into the various different incarnations of this great album! Disc One solidifies this box set with its original full length mixes of the album, most of which were released on "Liberation (The Island Anthology)". "Anthem" was a triumph for Black Uhuru as well as Sly & Robbie, who produced it!! Check it out, y'all!!"
A true anthem
Basbeest | Holland | 02/25/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"when I was just exploring the world of reggae back in the 1980's I had a copy of the UK remix album of Anthem (the one with the yellow sleeve). it was one of my favorites. i didn't know then that it was a remix version. I never heard the originals untill the Island Collection came out and I was happily surprised , this was so much better than my remix album.... ! This complete sessions combines it all. disc number two is the dub album. beautifull mixed but with a tighter time schedule I think than there was for the DUB FACTOR, still the best dub album of all time. nevertheless just buy this box and be amazed what mixing can do (and destroy).
Sadly it ended with this album for the three original singers. Puma died of cancer a couple of years ago.
enjoy this !"
