The album Freedom Sound (Live New York '81) (often titled as Live at the Ritz, NY or simply Oct. '81) captures the classic Black Uhuru lineup during the peak of their "Red" tour.
The musicians featured on this 1981 recording are:
Core Vocal Trio
Michael Rose: Lead Vocals
Sandra "Puma" Jones: Harmony Vocals
Derrick "Duckie" Simpson: Harmony Vocals and Percussion
The Backing Band (Taxi Gang)
The group was famously backed by the "Riddim Twins" and a high-caliber set of Jamaican session players:
Sly Dunbar: Drums
Robbie Shakespeare: Bass
Darryl Thompson: Lead Guitar
Billy Johnson: Rhythm Guitar
Franklyn "Bubbler" Waul: Keyboards
Christopher "Sky Juice" Burth: Percussion
This specific performance was originally broadcast on WBLS-FM and features an introduction by legendary DJ Frankie Crocker.
The tracklist for Freedom Sound (Live New York '81)—most famously known as the performance at The Ritz on October 27, 1981—features some of the band's most iconic songs from the Red and Sinsemilla era.
Freedom Sound (Live New York '81) Tracklist
Introduction by Frankie Crocker
Shine Eye Gal / Plastic Smile
Puff She Puff
I Love King Selassie
Youths of Eglington
Push Push
General Penitentiary
Happiness Is / The Whole World Is Africa
Sponji Reggae
Sinsemilla
Crowd / MC
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner / Abortion
Comparison: Live at Rockpalast (Essen, 1981)
While the New York set focuses on the energy of the NYC club scene, the Rockpalast recording (October 17, 1981) is often considered the definitive audio-visual document of this lineup.
Key Differences: The Rockpalast set is slightly more streamlined and lacks the specific New York radio intro and "Interval Chat" found on the Ritz recording.
Musicians: Both feature the legendary Sly & Robbie rhythm section.
For the legendary Freedom Sound (Live New York '81) performance at The Ritz, Black Uhuru was backed by an elite version of the Taxi Gang.
The Taxi Gang Backing Musicians
While the core vocal trio featured Michael Rose, Puma Jones, and Duckie Simpson, the instrumental power came from these maestros:
Sly Dunbar: Drums and syndrums (the rhythmic engine of the band).
Robbie Shakespeare: Bass and piano (providing the signature deep "Red" era grooves).
Ranchie McLean: Rhythm and lead guitar (a staple of the Taxi Gang sessions).
Darryl Thompson: Lead guitar (known for adding rock-influenced flash to their live sound).
Franklyn "Bubbler" Waul: Keyboards.
Christopher "Sky Juice" Burth: Percussion.
Show Details & Set Times
The recording captures a high-energy performance originally broadcast live on WBLS-FM by the famous Frankie Crocker.
Date: October 27, 1981 (though some archival releases list it as Oct 13).
Total Runtime: Approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Estimated Set Timing:
Introduction (Crocker): 0:00 – 1:00
Core Set: 1:00 – 1:05:00 (Includes hits like "Sponji Reggae" and "Sinsemilla").
Encore / Final Medley: 1:05:00 – End (Typically concluding with "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner / Abortion").
This performance occurred just months after the death of Bob Marley, and the intensity of the set reflects Black Uhuru taking on the mantle of reggae's global ambassadors at that time.
