Chill Out

Calm down or relax, as in Don't let it bother you--just chill out, or Rex decided to come home and chill out for a while. [Slang; 1970s.] Also see cool it.

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• Artist: Black Uhuru
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1982 12
• Total Time: 35:44
• Genre: Reggae

Review

Arguably the best of Black Uhuru's electrofied albums, even if its predecessor Red was the bigger sell, Chill Out is a seminal blend of styles and cultures. Produced by Sly & Robbie at Channel One Studio in Jamaica, and again backed by the Revolutionaries, ironically the album's greatest beneficiaries were the Riddim Twins, who were rocketed to international fame upon this record's release. They deserved it though, and Chill Out remains as much a tribute to their talent as the vocal trio's. Shakespeare lays down the sinuous bass which provides the foundation for the record's rootsy sound. The four guitarists, three leads, plus Ranchie McLean's reggae riffing, flit across the grooves and genres, touching down on funk, blues, R&B, and rock along the way. The pianists and Wally Badarou's synth add atmosphere, with Dunbar's heavy beats, combining drums with electro syndrums, add a throbbing pulse to the proceedings. The sound is extremely dense, but the producers still found plenty of space for Black Uhuru's sublime vocals. Over, under, and around the band, the electronic effects whoosh, pulling the album from its island roots, and planting it firmly in an international environment. This is most notable on the title track, which blends rootsy rhythms with a dance beat, and urban stylings with a tinge of world music. "Darkness" is an equally adept meld of roots with new wave touches. If the album's A-side is weighted more towards the crossover crowd, the flip is rootsier in orientation, even if it, too, is awash in electronics. Several of the songs, minus the studio wizardry, would slot nicely into the group's late-'70s repertoire, particularly "Mondays" and "Wicked Act." The most affecting and effective track, however, is the ghetto misery of "Emotional Slaughter," which Sly & Robbie sympathetically arrange as a showcase for Michael Rose's superbly heartfelt vocal performance. On Chill Out, the vocalists, band, and producers came together as one, and created more than a masterpiece; the album remains a stunning legacy for all involved. ~ Jo-Ann Greene, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Chill Out	Sly Dunbar, Michael Rose, Robbie Shakespeare, Derrick Simpson	Black Uhuru	(4:54)
Darkness	Michael Rose	Black Uhuru	(4:43)
Eye Market	Michael Rose	Black Uhuru	(4:09)
Right Stuff	Michael Rose	Black Uhuru	(4:30)
Mondays	Michael Rose	Black Uhuru	(3:55)
Fleety Foot	Michael Rose	Black Uhuru	(4:02)
Wicked Act	Michael Rose	Black Uhuru	(4:35)
Moya (Queen of I Jungle)	Duckie Simpson	Black Uhuru	(3:16)
Emotional Slaughter	Duckie Simpson	Black Uhuru	(3:44)

Credits

Wally Badarou (Synthesizer), Wally Badarou (Vocoder), Black Uhuru (Main Performer), Barry Reynolds (Guitar), Ansel Collins (Piano), Ansel Collins (Keyboards), Dougie Bryan (Guitar), Radcliffe Bryan (Guitar), Mikey Chung (Guitar), Sly Dunbar (Arranger), Sly Dunbar (Drums), Sly Dunbar (Producer), Sly Dunbar (Mixing), Sly Dunbar (Syndrum), Frank Gibson (Assistant Engineer), Lynn Goldsmith (Photography), Bruce Hamilton (Engineer), Puma Jones (Vocals), Puma Jones (Vocals (Background)), Puma Jones (Harmony Vocals), Sky Juice (Percussion), Robert Lyn (Piano), Ranchie McLean (Guitar (Rhythm)), Errol "Ranchie" McLean (Organ), Errol "Ranchie" McLean (Guitar), Michael Rose (Vocals), Robbie Shakespeare (Bass), Robbie Shakespeare (Arranger), Robbie Shakespeare (Guitar (Bass)), Robbie Shakespeare (Producer), Robbie Shakespeare (Mixing), Duckie Simpson (Vocals), Duckie Simpson (Vocals (Background)), Duckie Simpson (Harmony Vocals), Steven Stanley (Engineer), Steven Stanley (Mixing), Uziah "Sticky" Thompson (Percussion), Neville Garrick (Design), Neville Garrick (Cover Design), Sticky Thompson (Percussion)

Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The verb has one meaning:

Meaning #1: become quiet or calm, esp. after a state of agitation
  Synonyms: calm, calm down, cool off, simmer down, settle down, cool it

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