Steel Pulse

I have listened to this album for years, purchasing the original on cassette many many years ago... this CD has sweet bonus tracks and has been remastered, so it sounds fantastic... highly recommended for those who like the "Marley genre" of reggae...

Yes I've said it once (in the title) and I'll say it again, True Democracy is pretty much like the sequel to their previous album, Reggae Fever (Caught You). With its similarity in rhythm and style, you might as well give Reggae Fever (Caught You) it's props. Although they share similarities, the differences makes the album worth your while. Chant A Psalm, Ravers, A Who Responsible?, & Your House are great reasons to give this album a try. You can actually listen to the entire album without any hesitation, and the bonus track just sweetens the deal! What are you waiting for?! Go back and add this to your cart immediately, this is the last Steel Pulse album of its kind, yet it's the first album with a cover revealing their faces. The alternate cover were just like the others, painted, I guess they wanted to switch it up that time around. Don't stall any longer, buy this album! I give it a A+.

-D.J.

I'm surprised that Steel Pulse hasn't gleaned a more widespread audience. Their upbeat version of reggae is light and refreshing; yet poignant. It's an awesome combination.

Not only is this one of the best Steel Pulse albums ever, it's one of the best roots reggae albums ever made! The worst track is "Man No Sober," but its not even that bad. Highlights of the album are "Chant A Psalm," "Ravers," "Worth His Weight in Gold (Rally Round)," and "Your House" (my favorite Pulse song). The long/dub versions at the end of the album are worthless (as most long/dub versions are in my opinion) but the actual album is a masterpiece. If you like reggae at all you won't be disappointed.

In 1981 Steel Pulse was practically bankrupcy without any money at all.
They managed to get some free of charge studio time in a small recording studio in Denmark to make this album.
The result was one of their best albums of all time.
Now a better sounding remaster is out adding 4 new extended previously unavailable tracks to this fabulous album.
Recommended.

...not as good as True Democracy or African Holocaust. If you don't have either of those albums, get them first. This album is still great roots reggae in its own right, though, even though there are a lot synths and electronic sounds which I don't like as much as real horns and instruments. The best songs are "Steppin' Out" and "Roller Skates" (probably the best one). Its good, but not essential Steel Pulse.

Listen!!This is a wicked message based melodic album.My particular favourites are as follows:
Wild Goose Chase
Throne of Gold
Earth Crisis
The rest of the album
Get on board people.This is classic roots reggae at it's finest.You should see them live if you can as well.Blessed love to everyone reading this.Give thanks to the messengers of JAH!!Switch on!!

Steel Pulse is one of the truest reggae groups currently on the circuit. I saw them at a fabulous show in Tucson, AZ of all places, and was deeply impressed by the band's committment to continually playing good music at shows. "Earth Crisis" came out after Steel Pulse hit a rough patch with cheesy '80s rifts that sounded like fake reggae coming out of the elevator speakers in the Waldorf Jamaica. Luckily, they crept out of the shadow that the music industry seemingly imposed upon the entire genre, directing the massive popularity reggae music saw in the 1970's into some electronically-dependant wraith in the next decade. After apologizing profusely in their albums, Steel Pulse regained their foothold as a band that plays amazing music with meaingful lyrics in an age where reggae music fans are few and far between. To understand the real message behind the music, look no farther than Steel Pulse.

This CD despite the somewhat seriousness of the CD's theme ranks as a milestone in Reggae and remains a somewhat happy tuneful upbeat affair,with added version tracks.The band's tight strong structures,melodies,rhythms struck a chord in the USA when this hit and put them on the map which surely spurred the growth of this genre of music..This CD arguably ranks possibly as the groups finest "commercial"effort coming after their 1st Elektra release,moving over from Island Records who brought forth so many of the classic early reggae bands..Pulse are/were foremost a band delivering solid musicianship addressing politics and liberation all within a sophisticated band structure with musicians playing excellently behind David Hinds,the major guitar songwriter, who is best known for his dreads reaching straight up a couple of feet in the air..Hind's songs are a mix of social commentary,love songs, with added touches of studio wizardry...their use of brass, harmonies,overall tightness of the band and it's songs should be enjoyed by those favouring bands like Burning Spear,Aswad(more balladry though)Bob Marley(the Godfather)..
I saw the band play a couple of years ago at a free show in Brooklyn and many of the songs,the title track,Rollerskates,Steepin' Out remain hallmarks of their live set.

highly recommend this album. goes great with Red Stripe and a sunny beach day. the lyrics are very powerful.

Wow... Peace and Love out there. And peace and love to eveybody who worked on this fine album. You can feel the love and peacefulness that was put into it. This beautiful record is like nectar. Steel Pulse' music soothes from the very first note. The openning few seconds are so masterfully played and recorded, that I smile every time the first track begins. I must recommend Handsworth Revolution to all. There are no weak tracks in the bunch. Smoothe and soulful singing and playing and deep, meaningful writing give each song weight, yet the music is light and sweet and comforting. And powerful, though subtle. Medicinal, even. Very healing and relaxing vibrations. This is a true classic work of reggae. (...And seriously, peace and love out there.)

already discovered the treasures of bob marley? already have "the harder they come" soundtrack? love burning spear and toots and the maytals? wondering where to turn now in the world of reggae? let me suggest this album. "handsworth revolution" is a reggae classic, brimming with soul, great rhthyms, creativity (there's even a spanish type guitar intro to the tune "prediction"), and warm passionate songs. a total winner.

In my mind, Handsworth Revolution is a riveting album. Songs such as Klu Klux Klan, Prodigal Son, are more than songs..they are a lyrical masterpiece. When the album first starts and you hear the bassline from Handsworth...just brings you into another world for a moment. I strongly recommend this album, Tribute to the Martyrs and also Aswad's Not Satisfied & Hulet if your into this "type" of reggae. The vocals sound more harmonic and almost in a chant like state at times. Makes the sound and it's message very impactful. Hope you enjoy.

Steel Pulse "Ultimate Collection" is a very nice collection of the group's best work on Island in their early years. This is reggae from that classic late 70's period. A lot of the music from that timeframe is pretty good stuff across the board. Steel Pulse is no exception.

It's very relaxing, even when it's sometimes politcal in its message. The CD is missing a few good songs from when they switched labels in the early 80's though.

I would recommend this to fans of Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. It's in that similar style of reggae.

Good music for calming down to.

Steel Pulse's "Ultimate Collection" is, overall, a great introduction to the world's greatest Jamaican-born British reggae unit. It contains several of the group's greatest hits spanning their entire career up to the compilation's May, 2000 release.

The compilation starts off with the title track of Steel Pulse's 1978 debut, "Handsworth Revolution," followed by the angry and beautiful "Ku Klux Klan," and the latin-tinged "Prediction". The CD also contains several other hits such as "Prodigal Son," "Tribute to the Martyrs," "Uncle George," and my personal favorite, "Babylon Makes the Rules". Each of these songs shows Steel Pulse's trademark unapologetic sociopolitical stance perfectly. The compilation also contains a dub version of the opening track, "Handsworth Revolution".

There are even traces of the group's lighter side with songs like "Caught You Dancing," "Burning Flame," "Evermore," and "Back to My Roots/Dub to My Roots". The compilation delves equally as well into the later years of Steel Pulse's career with songs like the millitant "Not King James Version," from the grammy-winning 1986 "Babylon the Bandit" album. Alongside the 1986 masterpiece are other later classics such as "No Justice, No Peace," and the straight-forward Dancehall-Pop influenced "Settle the Score," from the "Rage & Fury" album 1997, their latest album up to the compilation's release.

While there are a couple of obvious hits missing such as "Taxi Driver" and "Rollerskates," this hardly hinders the compilation. Steel Pulse's "Ultimate Collection," is sure to please any listener wanting an introduction to this fine band. This compilation will leave the listener pleasently surprised and asking for more.

Simply put, this is my favorite reggae CD. Better than Exodus, Catch A Fire, anything by Bunny Wailer, Tosh, Black Uhuru, Toots, Israel Vibration, Augustus Pablo, Burning Spear (although 100th Anniversary would be close), etc.

This CD has so many good songs: Sound System, Handworth Rev., Babylon Makes the Rules, Prodigal Son, Tribute to the Marytrs.

This CD will be very easy for someone who like rock and roll to get into as many of Pulse's songs have a hard, fast beat.

Whenever someone asks me where to go after Bob Marley, I always tell them Steel Pulse, Ultimate Collection.

Seriously go buy this or burn a copy from someone.

I'm a new reggae fan who is just getting into this music. I was first lured by songs by Bob Marley which after hearing I couldn't forget. I bought the cd "Legend" and was really pleased. This was a true collection of Bob Marley's greatest songs. I did some reading and I came upon a band called Steel Pulse. I downloaded some of their songs including: Steppin Out, Rally Round the Flag, Chant a Pslam, and Not King James Version. When I saw this cd I thought it had songs that were even better than these but was dissapointed. Don't get me wrong, the songs are great (especially #14), but I'm not sure this is quite a "Ultimate Collection." Now I've had to order "Smash Hits" in addition cause I looked it up and saw the songs I like. "Ultimate Collection" is a great cd that outlines Steel Pulses' progress in their music. Get this cd and also get "Smash Hits" if you want to hear this band at it's best.

This is an excellent album for any reggae fan, it has great songs and great rhythms, some of the great Steel Pulse hits are on this , Handsworth Revolution, Sound System, and Prediction, do yourself a favor and go buy this CD!!!

Solid CD from start to finish. If you are allready a Steel Pulse fan this is a must. If you are not familar with the band this will make you a fan.

This album is great roots reggae from the 21st century! If you own everything by Bob Marley, this could be your next stop (or Peter Tosh/Bunny Wailer/Burning Spear). Technically, this is a "crossover" album with some dancehall influence (with guests like Jukie Ranks, Capleton, and my favorite, Damian Marley), but its still mainly roots reggae. There aren't any bad songs. The best songs are "Global Warning," "Dem A Wolf," "No More Weapons (f/ Damian Marley)," and "George Jackson" (a Bob Dylan cover). If you like reggae music at all, buy this.

I've been listening to roots reggae since the very early 80s when I was all of 14 yrs old. I ranked Steele Pulse at the tipy top of my list of favorite bands. I eagerly looked forward to each new release. Like most of the other reviewers here, I also became disgusted with their sell-out to pop/R&B. After Babylon the Bandit which only had a few good songs, the next few albums were much worse. I stopped buying their new releases and I stopped going to their concerts. Still, I've worn a hole through my True Democracy and Earth Crisis vinyls. Smash Hits is the CD I play the most. That one is worth every cent and then some.

Discovering this new album is a thrill beyond thrills! David's voice hasn't changed at all and this album has the hard core roots reggae beat of True Democracy, plus the important messages that attracted me away from mainstream music in the first place.

There isn't a bad song on the whole album! You will not be disappointed!

Thanks to Steele Pulse for their glorious return to the real reggae sound!

All thanks and praises be to the Glory of JAH Rastafari.That is all you need to know!!!!!!!!!!!

African Holocaust brings up images of true roots regggae as soon as you listen to it. It however doesnt need to have a full track list of roots tunes to do this. With dancehall-influence from both Capleton's cameo on "Blazing Fire", and Damian "Junior Gong" Marley's brilliant toasting on "No More Weapons", the songs have a heart full of roots rock reggae, and the mind of the ever-increasing politcally aware youth. A surprise was the Bob Dylan cover, "George Jackson", which is a faithful ode to the Soledad Brother. The album also contained another song about the framing of George Jackson (and subsequent murder by a prison guard in the yards at San Quentin) which was a previous song by Steel Pulse called "Uncle George). Overall, this should be in any rock, reggae, roots, or hip hop library.

CD arrived in perfect condition, and plays perfectly. A real classic; I still love to listen to it after all these years. Kitty

Go ahead and toss all the stones you want but while I casually listened to a few Marley hits while taking a few Marley sized hits, reggae music didn't grip me until I heard Steel Pulse.

Desert Island, I'd take this album in a heartbeat over Legend.

I love Steel Pulse. I had most of these hits on LP's and wanted to update my collection. Steel Pulse is timeless - they along with other original Reggae artist put Jamaica on the map.

I was on holiday last weekend and had a brief stop-over at Ethiopia, land of Kings and Queens, and the Queen of Sheba. Also the land to which Rastafarians pledge allegiance. What has that got to do with this CD? A whole lot as, much like Bob Marley & the Wailers, the music of Steel Pulse is heavily steeped in biblical imagery and black pride with references to Ethiopia.

Steel Pulse is a UK Grammy winning Roots Reggae band formed in the 1970s. With a sound similar to Bob Marley's, but heavy in synthesizers and keyboards and danceable, their lyrics touched on the same topics Marley did.

"Not King James' version" takes a shot at the omission of black people from the Bible, stating that the Garden of Eden was located in Africa. "Worth his weight in gold (Rally round)" (and its dub-ier remix "Dub' Marcus say") is a eulogy to Marcus Garvey, with lyrics touching on the ills of slavery and colonization, and black pride. "Chant a Psalm" urges listeners to do just that to enable one resist temptation.

Most of my favourite songs are here; "Ravers" (a song about having fun, a break from their serious message), "Rollerskates" (telling us how important music is to life), "Your house" "Earth crisis" (touching on the ills of the world such as war, famine, and super power domination of the third world) and "Blues dance raid" (with lyrics about a police raid), to mention a few.

This CD is a great introduction to the music of Steel Pulse. Also highly recommended, their 1982 classic "True Democracy", which made me a fan.

Awesome album, great production quality, Get it! - I bought this CD in Amsterdam in 1998 at the Virgin store and then witnessed a Mercedes slam into a train-tram and tie up traffic while I rocked out to Steel Pulse on my headphones, too bad I was not wearing rollerskates...

CD arrived in perfect condition, and plays perfectly. A real classic; I still love to listen to it after all these years. Kitty

Go ahead and toss all the stones you want but while I casually listened to a few Marley hits while taking a few Marley sized hits, reggae music didn't grip me until I heard Steel Pulse.

Desert Island, I'd take this album in a heartbeat over Legend.

I love Steel Pulse. I had most of these hits on LP's and wanted to update my collection. Steel Pulse is timeless - they along with other original Reggae artist put Jamaica on the map.

I was on holiday last weekend and had a brief stop-over at Ethiopia, land of Kings and Queens, and the Queen of Sheba. Also the land to which Rastafarians pledge allegiance. What has that got to do with this CD? A whole lot as, much like Bob Marley & the Wailers, the music of Steel Pulse is heavily steeped in biblical imagery and black pride with references to Ethiopia.

Steel Pulse is a UK Grammy winning Roots Reggae band formed in the 1970s. With a sound similar to Bob Marley's, but heavy in synthesizers and keyboards and danceable, their lyrics touched on the same topics Marley did.

"Not King James' version" takes a shot at the omission of black people from the Bible, stating that the Garden of Eden was located in Africa. "Worth his weight in gold (Rally round)" (and its dub-ier remix "Dub' Marcus say") is a eulogy to Marcus Garvey, with lyrics touching on the ills of slavery and colonization, and black pride. "Chant a Psalm" urges listeners to do just that to enable one resist temptation.

Most of my favourite songs are here; "Ravers" (a song about having fun, a break from their serious message), "Rollerskates" (telling us how important music is to life), "Your house" "Earth crisis" (touching on the ills of the world such as war, famine, and super power domination of the third world) and "Blues dance raid" (with lyrics about a police raid), to mention a few.

This CD is a great introduction to the music of Steel Pulse. Also highly recommended, their 1982 classic "True Democracy", which made me a fan.

Awesome album, great production quality, Get it! - I bought this CD in Amsterdam in 1998 at the Virgin store and then witnessed a Mercedes slam into a train-tram and tie up traffic while I rocked out to Steel Pulse on my headphones, too bad I was not wearing rollerskates...

After Steel Pulse's 1st major debut album "Handsworth Revolution", an album that paid homage to the place they call home (Handsworth). Steel Pulse decided to think outside of the box with their revolutionary tactics, not only addressing the struggles in their own home town(s), but across the world.

"Unseen Guest" is a very bone chilling yet uplifting song that tells a story about a black freedom fighter in the slavery days, who must pay the price with being hanged.

"Sound System" is the only song on this album that was made in a fun state of mind in this album, yet it's still known as one of Steel Pulse's classics.

"Jah Pickney - R.A.R. (Rock Against Racism)" is addressing the problems with apartheid in Africa, but it also addresses racism that goes on all over the world.

"Tribute To The Martyrs" pays homage to all of the freedom fighters who died in the process.

"Babylon Makes The Rules" is about black people who lives in Babylon's under their system and is living in the struggle.

"Uncle George" pays homage to George Jackson, a Black American militant who became a member of the Black Panther Party while in prison, where he spent the last 12 years of his life. On August 21, 1971, three days before he was to go on trial, George Jackson was gunned down in the prison yard at San Quentin during an escape attempt. According to the state of California, lawyer-activist Stephen Bingham had smuggled a pistol concealed in a tape recorder into the prison to Jackson, who was housed in San Quentin's Adjustment Center time awaiting trial for the murder of a prison guard. On August 21, 1971, Jackson used the pistol, an Astra 9-mm semi-automatic, to take over his tier in the Adjustment Center. In the failed escape attempt, six people were killed, including prison guards Jere Graham, Frank DeLeon and Paul Krasnes, two white prisoners, and Jackson himself. Some prisoners who witnessed the event claim that there was no weapon and that Jackson had not been planning any escape or rebellion. Following the incident, Bingham fled the country, living in Europe for 13 years before surrendering in 1984 and returning to the United States to stand trial.

"Biko's Kindred Lament" pays homage the Stephen Bantu Biko (a.k.a. Steve Biko)a noted anti-apartheid activist in South Africa in the 1960s and early 1970s.On 18 August 1977, Biko was arrested at a police roadblock under the Terrorism Act No 83 of 1967. He suffered a major head injury while in police custody, and was chained to a window grille for a day. On 11 September 1977 police loaded him in the back of a Land Rover, naked, and began the 1,500 km drive to Pretoria to take him to a prison with hospital facilities in order to treat the already near-dead Biko. He died shortly after arrival at the Pretoria prison, on 12 September. The police claimed his death was the result of an extended hunger strike. He was found to have massive injuries to the head, which many saw as strong evidence that he had been brutally clubbed by his captors.

And last but not least "Blasphemy (Selah)" is about the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, and talks about their faith in him.

Overall I give this album an A++, this album is perfect. It gives you what it offers in it's title "Tribute To The Martyrs", and still manage to have a different feeling to each song (no love song though, yet who needs one?). This is a must have even the great Bob Marley called it one of his favorite albums, and if that doesn't say a lot then you're not a true Reggae fan.

One of the greatest albums (reggae or otherwise) ever.

i bought this in the '80s and took it on my honeymoon to Negril Jamaica. back in the day of the ganja LOL

this is one of my all-time favorite reggae titles.
all songs are deep, meaningful and oozing with feeling.
the songs are mysterious, haunting, and in my ragamuffin mind, exemplify the Jamaican aura....that of rastas, the hills and outback of the bush, the nights the real people........

no, NOT hedonism and the tourist scene.

biko is perhaps one of the most plantiff songs i've ever heard, enough to make me cry.
tribute is otherwordly, with sounds inbetween the music that are aweinspiring........

incredible title...................get it mon

Start to finish, it is one of the most satisfying reggae music albums you will ever hear.

Love it. Peace.

Funny, I thought I had written a review of this album but I don't see it now.

This is a great great album. I picked it up on a whim 20 years ago and still love it. I am not a dedicated fan of the group. Other albums have some high points but their later stuff, what I have heard of it, with a stripped down lineup, seems thin by comparison.

Complex and insistent, an urgency infuses everything. So strong is the apparant inspiration going on that most every song includes a beautiful intro section which is only slightly related to the main song.

Then there is David Hind. His beautiful singing/chanting is unique and powerful. He fits dense phrasing into the intertwined rhythms in a manner that should have spawned an entire genre.

The song Tribute To The Marytrs seemed to me. in the early 80's, to be something akin to what hip hop would evolve into. Overthrowing the lame two beat and hackneyed rhymes for something much richer and far more complex.

Instead it was just a moment. So listen to David's beautiful call, "all and all", and savor the moment.

Este producto esta o otro nivel!!!! Es un clasico, compralo no te arrepentiras. El vendedor esta o otro nivel, siempre le compro a el por que en el confío.

Steel Pulse's album of their live performance in Paris is a masterpiece and a very good compilation of their hit songs.

I have owned all of the Steel Pulse albums w/ the exception of Living Legacy (will try it out)and I love this one the best. I used to listen to it in High School and needed a new copy. Still love it. I like roots and real instruments, but I don't think that this killed the vibe.

Wow. I was amazed to see that someone actually did not care for this album. This live in Paris album is quite possibly the greatest reggae album ever. Contrary to another comment, the sound quality is crystal clear and Steel Pulse has never performed with such a large number of instruments. The synthesizers and rap you hear are from the killer guest appearance of KRS-1, which helped make this album amazing and way ahead of its time. The rap is a short and very pleasing surprise close to the end of the CD that moves the entire crowd into glorious participation with the band.

This is one of Steel Pulse's best albums ever. If you don't have it yet you are lacking a very great CD in your collection. I also recommend Living Legacy in addition to this one, however don't forget to get this one first.

I first heard this album in 1982 when I was way into AC/DC and Van Halen. The harmonies and grooves and recording quality were so amazing that I had to buy it. Since then I've listened to all kinds of music from Slayer to Bob Marley and all of Steel Pulses other albums and love it all. Even with close to 30 years of listening to music this album still remains in my opinion the best reggae album of all time. one love.

WHAT MORE CAN I SAY THAT HASN'T BEEN SAID. SONGS WITH POSITIVE MESSAGE THAT EVEN ATTRACTED BOB TO SING ON HIS TOURS. TALK ABOUT GENIUS, EVERY ONE OF THEM IS. OF COURSE MY FAVORITE,D. HINDS, A. MARTIN, & S.B. BROWN. LORD HAVE MERCY, ANY TRUE REGGAE FAN KNOWS THIS GROUP. I HAVE FOLLOWED THEM RIGHT FROM THE START, HANDSWORTH REVOLUTION. SO LET'S JOIN HANDS MY BRETHREN AND MAKE THE WAY FOR OUR CHILDREN, OUR CHILDREN ...ENSURING THAT THEY GET LIFE'S FAIR SHARE OF EQUALITYYYYYYYYYYYY...

This is a great intro to Steal Pulse. I would also recommend the Live in Paris CD for true Reggae Lovers.

...5 Stars for a charmed and velveteen, lush, and sincere vocal lead, and sweetly stellar backing harmonies unlike ANY other group!These dudes are REAL! They are greatly accomplished instrumentalists with lyrics that go far beyond pen & paper and reggae beats & microphones. There is a 'life-deepness' inherent in Steel Pulse' words and catchy hooks; whether they be light-heartedly touched with a sense of wit and/or humor, serious topics, or spiritual beauty. I hope this Steel Pulse cd album will spur you to explore their many other great recordings. Warning: You may discover a music group that has more than just nice songs; these are humanitarians with notes of intelligence and social responsibility.

This is not their best. African Holocaust, Earth Crisis, and State of Emergency are.