In honor of their 30th anniversary, reggae greats Steel Pulse, are celebrating with reissues of their classic albums "True Democracy" and "Earth Crisis" under the Rhino Records label. Expanded and remastered, the albums include previously unreleased 12" and dub mixes of album tracks as well as new liner notes from renowned reggae writer Roger Steffens. Although both albums are reggae classics, "True Democracy" IMHO is nothing short of a masterpiece.
Steel Pulse was born out of Birmingham's Handsworth slum in 1975. The roots reggae band, led by singer/guitarist/songwriter David Hinds, found it difficult breaking into the club scene because of their devout Rastifarian political voice, but soon found it's niche among the growing punk movement, as part of the Rock Against Racism movement, opening for punk and new wave bands such as The Clash, Generation X, and The Police.
The band recorded two singles, "Kibudu, Mansetta and Abuku" and "Nyah Love" on small independent labels before attracting the attention of Island Records. After recording three albums with Island including their landmark debut album "Handsworth Revolution" (1978), followed by "Tribute to the Martyrs" (1979), and "Caught You" (1980,) SP set their sights on the American market. "Caught You", which is decidedly more pop flavored than the previous two albums, was released in America under the name "Reggae Fever", but failed to make it`s mark. Soon after, Steel Pulse and Island Records parted ways.
In 1982 SP released their first studio album with Elektra/Asylum Records,"True Democracy". This time the American market stood up, and took notice. Making it to both the pop, and R&B charts, and earning the band a gold record, "True Democracy" showcases the band's ability to stretch their reach musically, drawing in a broader mainstream audience, while maintaining a strong, and dedicated political voice. By adding hints of jazz, latin, hip-hop, and pop to a solid reggae foundation, their allure is universal, undeniable, and easy.
In addition to "True Democracy's" original 10 tracks, the reissue includes previously unreleased 12" versions of "Ravers" and "Leggo Beast" and dub versions of "Your House" and "A Who Responsible?"
Jimmy Haynes was brought in to produce the band's follow up 1983 album "Earth Crisis". Not only did the album go gold, but it earned Steel Pulse a Grammy nomination. The reissue of Earth Crisis includes 4 bonus tracks drawn from promo-only 12" singles - dub and extended versions of "Steppin' Out" and remix and dub versions of "Roller Skates." FONT>
As an introduction to Steel Pulse, I highly recommend "True Democracy", once you're hooked, and you will be, "Earth Crisis" is the perfect next step. If you`re already a fan...need I say any more? Pure gold!
For a taste, check out Rhino`s Listening Party
Steel Pulse are currently touring in support of their 2004 , the Grammy-nominated album "African Holocaust". Tour Dates.
Steel Pulse: David Hinds (vocals, guitar); Selwyn Brown (vocals, keyboards); Phonso Martin (vocals, percussion); Basil Gabbidon (guitar); Ronald "Stepper" McQueen (bass guitar); Steve Nesbitt (drums).
Article comments
1 - H.W. Saxton
I'd love to see Steel Pulse perform live.I've had both the LP's "Handsworth Revolution" and "True Democracy" for many years now, actually since around the time of their respective releases.Steel Pulse are definitely a top notch band and one of the true classic UK reggae bands ever.
It's been a stellar summer for this Reggae fan as many great artists are currently touring. I saw Eek-A-Mouse and Yellowman on a double bill in May of this year, Burning Spear in June and I was lucky enough to have the pleasure of attending a Caribbean Culture And Muic Festival to see Toots & The Maytals,
Sister Carol and Tippa Irie on the same bill together at the end of June also. I'll be seeing Yellowman in August again as well. He puts on such a hi-energy show just Incredible!!! But NO ONE can even come close to Toots & The Maytals when it comes to live shows, NO ONE. He is one of the greatest performers I have ever seen irregardless of musical genre. I've seen him 3 times. He'll have the whole crowd up on their feet by the end of the first song and they won't be sitting down the rest of the evening.Last time I saw him everyone was dancing EVERYONE!!! The security people,bartenders,waitresses,sound techs
and everyone else in attendance. It was just this side of being totally out of control!Anyways, Sorry to get sidetracked here. Great review and I and I look forward to hearing this. Big ups for reviewing this! Irie.
2 - sonny
annie, the first i heard of steel pulse was the 'true democracy' album (i'm in america) and i played the shit out of it and saw them live, which was killer. thanks for the post.
h.w., you have had quite a year. i love eek-a-mouse. burning spear is second only to marley as a roots reggae shaman. i have been lucky enuf to see them live, but i am sad to say that i have never yet seen toots, tho certainly not because i have no desire to. thanks for the push to do so.
3 - H.W. Saxton
Sonny, I can't even begin to explain how good Toots & The Maytals are live. He is part preacher,part shaman and 100% showman. A definite must see. Yellowman is really hi energy as well. He was practically running in place for his whole set. But no one comes close to Toots for stage presence and showmanship abilities though. He's like a combination of Otis Redding and a super high energy preacher. His gospel/church roots come through strong live.Just so charismatic it's unbelievable.
4 - Conrad Hayes
Yes, I saw Steel Pulse play last night in Birmingham England (sept 9th) on a bill that also included The Beat, Neville Staples, Dawn Penn - this was the start of Artfest 2005. Now during the day there was a photographer called Pogus Caesar who was interviewed on television about photographs he took during the Handsworth riots in 1985, (the connection Steel Pulse playing on the same night as the riots)...the photos which are displayed at OOM Gallery are quite powerful.
5 - dub tafari
When one considers the impact Steel Pulse has had in the States compared to reggae groups from Jamdown(Jamaica), there are some subtle differences that only the Sufferah can overstand.
Namely:
The Pulse is from England, thus, the very same forces in which the Pulse faced directly in the UK, were also felt by sufferahs in the States. And it is that the Pulse articulated the very same sentiments in a way in which sufferahs fom the States could definitely feel. (Also superb musicianship such as what stateside sufferahs were used to). The Pulse penetrated in a way to allow me ,in particlar, to explore the artist from Jamdown-The triangular Trade if you will.
Whereas the Dreads from Jamdown dealt with the same issues of suffering from their personal perspective, the Pulse was the only reggae band which dealt with the ever present Ku Klux Klan. Which still confronts sufferahs in the States still today. An obvious target, yet the Klan is not in the Jamdown as in the Uk and the States.
I'll never forget upon leaving the US military to reside in the south of Virgina, I experienced a brand of oppression that I wasn't used to comming from the North.
It was when the proverb "Who feels it knows it" hit me like a thunderclap. The only thing which got me through my time of great tribulation, was the songs From the Pulse's "Reggae Greats" Lp. namely:
Babylon Makes The Rules.
What is ironic is that, the only job I could find was in a bar and grill and the owners, played the Pulse's "Earth Crisis" continually. So while in the midst of oppression the Almighty provided bread for me in the most desolate of places: Babylon Central Finally, "Tribute to the Martyrs" says it all for the sufferahs from the States. The Pulse identified Martyrs from the States in a way others did not.(King, Malcolm, George Jackson) The sentiments of the stateside sufferahs and the UK sufferahs are quite similar. Linton Kwesi Johnson was also in the Black Panthers in the UK.
The impact shall never be fully understood in babylon except in the spirit of those who have been touched in the very throws of oppression.
The Pulse's music lives ITINUALLY!
Give Thanks to the Father for the Pulse.