The Roots Reggae Library brings to you Reggae music in unique collections. This edition features the discography of Steel Pulse. The collection is unique because two additional albums were made, and many additions are found on original studio albums.
Steel Pulse is a Reggae band from Birmingham, England. It has had many contributors, but the core members are David Hinds, Selwyn Brown, Steve Nesbitt and Alphonso Martin. Even though David Hinds is the lead vocalist on most of the tracks, each member brings in his own unique style.
Steel Pulse has a unique sound. Progressing through their discography you will find that the style of the albums change gradually. It has often been said that Steel Pulse have lost their strength in the last decades, but I'd rather you just start listening and judge for yourself!
The first Steel Pulse album is a perfect introduction to their music, as the music on it represents everything they, and Reggae in general, stands for. Topics vary from steering the youth in the right direction, moral objections against Babylon, racism, Rastafari, marijuana and love. Handsworth in 'Handsworth Revolution' is the neighborhood from which they originate in Birmingham, which hosts a large community of Caribbean descendants. Black people should unite and pave the way for their children is the message in this first track. Showing similarities with the Peter Tosh track 'I'm The Toughest' from the same year, 1978, is 'Bad Man', because no matter how bad, dread and hard you are, David Hinds is the superlative to that. He also sings about slavery '400 Years' ago. Everything was perfectly fine before the 'Soldiers' came. They then perform a 'Sound Check'. It is a neat track that they would love to play live on stage as well, "rock, little children, rock". Steel Pulse praise Jah continuously. The members of Steel Pulse grew up in England, but are of Jamaican descendents, making them African descendants as well. They sing about being brought to other lands, leaving everything behind, only to take their culture in 'Prodigal Son'. Their first important single was 'Ku Klux Klan'. The lyrics of the song speak for themselves, targeting the infamous racial movements of "The Klan" towards African Americans. A perfect example of how the lyrics of Reggae do not always represent the feeling many have towards the vibe. This track might sound upfull, it is far from that. Steel Pulse give an anecdote in the verses to present their feelings towards the KKK. 'Prediction' reflects on predictions made in the Bible, the role of Marcus Garvey, Haile Selassie, William Gordon, Paul Bogle and other martyrs. "'Want some herbs to smoke tonight, marijuana smoke tonight" in 'Macka Splaff'. This is where Handsworth Revolution originally ends. However, three singles were made during the same period, which were added to the album on the Roots Reggae Library. We first listen to 'Nyah Love', unmistakably a track about feelings of love, "love me in the morning, love me in the evening". 'Bun Dem' is a track praising Jah as the Creator. 'Kibudu - Mansatta - Abuku' was their very first single. Even though the quality is not supreme, it is a track you should definitely not miss in your collection.
The theme of the second Steel Pulse album is set with the name and album art. It is a Tribute To The Martyrs. 'Unseen Guest' starts out, fades, and gives us a brilliant opening tune of this album. No matter what happens, "Jah Jah watch over I". We had a 'Sound Check' on the previous album, and are now listening to 'Sound System' on the current album. It seems as if Steel Pulse can't imagine someone not digging the music they play. They continue to rock against racism, facism and nazism in 'Jah Pickney', also called 'R.A.R.' as in 'Rock Against Racism'. The actual 'Tribute To The Martyrs' is sung as the fourth song on the album. Again we hear an opening sound fading, after which the song starts. Steel Pulse sings about those important black figures who had early graves to save others of their race. Always oppressed by Babylon they bring us 'Babylon Makes The Rules'. The tune that sets in this song fades too, and it seems to be a watermark for this Steel Pulse album. 'Babylon Makes The Rules' is a song by Selwyn Brown. The background vocals following up the lead vocals is beautifully harmonized. As the title suggest, the song mentions Babylon driving the Rastaman from his culture, but "what keeps us together is Jah herb that we smoke". One of the tributes Steel Pulse plays is for 'Uncle George', George Lester Jackson, the "Black Panther" as he started the Black Panther Party. He was an black American Marxist author and activist. Steel Pulse would later decide to play this song for another album as well. After admiring George Jackson, the follow up with a song dedicated to Steve Biko in 'Biko's Kindred Lament'. Stephen Bantu Biko was an activist in South Africa opposing the Apartheid regime. He founded the Black Consiousness Movement. The track 'Blasphemy' is also called 'Selah', adducing Bible stories while singing "a joyfull song". Originally 'Blasphemy' is the end of Tribute To The Martyrs. Two other songs have been added on the Roots Reggae Library. 'Don't Give In' appeared on the Reggae Greats album, a 'best of' album of Steel Pulse. It is a strong up-tempo track telling us to use faith as a shield, truth as a sword and to arm ourselves with love. Tribute To The Martyrs now ends with a tribute to Bob Marley when David Hinds sings 'Smile Jamaica', a track not very well known. It closes of a mesmerizing second album of Steel Pulse.
The third Steel Pulse album starts with a police siren that is the introduction of 'Drug Squad', telling a story in which David Hinds gets busted for possession of marijuana at the airport. David Hinds wonders how they found out about it, was it simply his character? After being captured by the police he sings 'Harassment' about being beaten and harassed. As Peter Tosh did, they mention "the mark of the beast". This is not the last reference to other Reggae stars if you listen carefully to this album. As is often the case, the song does sound happy, but the lyrics are not in that same style. Pumping up the blood pressure of Steel Pulse and all their listeners is their 'Reggae Fever', similar to the 'Reggaemylitis' which Peter Tosh was experiencing. They describe it as "the feeling I was dreaming of". The album was released in the United States as Reggae Fever. Just as 'Sun Is Shuning' of Bob Marley, "sunshine is 'Shining', everywhere" on Caught You. Alphonso Martin is it that sings, a very positive minded track, 'Shining' is. The next song is not, Babylon drawing out plans resulting in evil deeds and destruction, whereas Steel Pulse wants to reap the fruit of peace, from the seeds they have watered with their blood in 'Heart Of Stone'. The track, also named 'Chant Them' ends dub-like. Only to let a very nice tune start of 'Rumours', yes, "rumours that were not true". David Hinds sings that he is a very honest and true man. Then follows the track after which the album is named, 'Caught You Dancing', in which David Hinds feels shy, and in love like he was in the previous track. "One man's meat is another man's poison", is how the eight song starts. The Steel Pulse are lighting up their life with a 'Burning Flame'. In 'Rumours' they mention a "crystal ball", and in 'Burning Flame' a "screw face", names of Peter Tosh and The Wailers tracks. Going up to heaven, "o Father, take me where I can sing unto you, take me 'Higher Than High'". A very mellow track, on which not David Hinds but Basil Gabbidon sings lead vocals. Working towards the end of this album, that is the 'Nyahbinghi Voyage', which in turn is more up-tempo, with tempo changes, and a classic song to be played at life concerts. Mythical lyrics such as "zion bound side walk paved with gold, and the milk and the honey floor", and "release yourselves from snares that tie you round, break all fences that bind you, chains that have you bound, over hills and gulleys, we go through swamps and water, out of the gutter".
Two years after Caught You Steel Pulse released True Democracy. The album has two covers in circulation. The cover you do not see here was used on Roots Reggae Library to present an other album. More about that later on. 'Chant A Psalm' is the first track of True Democracy. Opening an album like that should bring a smile to your face, "take the world of your shoulder", get rid of your blue feeling and rejoice! Hinds ends the track with singing about Moses, Samson, Elijah, Solomon, King David and John The Baptist. If you are in the mood for love and feel like dancing, continue to listen to the song called 'Ravers', the Reggae bandwagon. In desperate search for love the Pulse tell us to 'Find It... Quick!'. They blame those in authority for letting the world fill with hatred and corruption. "Love has gone out through the window, we've got to find it somewhere". They end the song with shouting for "a time of peace, a time of plenty". As the struggle goes on, a good question to ask then, is 'A Who Responsible'? In the name of the youth that has to grow up in this world. Steel Pulse turn their backs towards those that don't give a damn. The song that you'd expect to be called 'Rally Round' is called 'Worth His Weight In Gold'. The song is actually called 'Rally Round' on the 'best of' Rasanthology Vol. 1. Hinds asks if we remember when they used to dress like kings, referring to the days prior to slavery. They sing "liberation, true democracy, one god one aim, one destiny" and "rally round the flag, rally round the red, gold, black and green". In this Ethiopian flag, Hinds has gotten Marcus Garvey to tell us that red is "for the blood that flowed like the river", "green for the land, Africa", "yellow for the gold that they stole" and "black for the people it was looted from". A 'Leggo Beast' is a woman who cheats on her man. If you didn't yet know the meaning, you would after listening to this song, making sense of the lyrics. "Dreadlocks cry blood" during the 'Blues Dance Raid'. Another popular track during live concerts. Apart from the name, the song has a very dancy tune. An absolute Steel Pulse favourite for anyone is likely to be 'Your House'. A love song, but definitely more than that. The song has so much feeling and vibe, truly magical. This song does not start to bore, no matter how much it is played. It is being sung by Alphonso Martin Having this as a last song of the album would leave to much emptiness, so Steel Pulse filled that up with 'Man No Sober', about a man drinking whiskey, wine and firewater.
First of all, the album cover of Earth Crisis is full of meaning. Three figures dominate this picture, those being Ronald Reagan, Yuri Andropov and Pope John Paul II. The background of the United States flag and in front of the Pope we see Ku Klux Klan-men. A missile is being launched in the Soviet Union flag. We see Vietnamese children, African children and soldiers. "Open sesame, here comes Rastaman, abacadabra, catch me if you can", often the way Steel Pulse concerts are opened, 'Steppin' Out'. Struggling with poverty and inequality, David Hinds feels as if he were "walking on a 'Tightrope'". He does mention he has "hope in is soul". New York rapper Talib Kweli sample the introduction of 'Tightrope' for his 'Hostile Gospel Pt. 2 which features Sizzla, on his Eardrum album in 2007. "Sitting on a 'Throne Of Gold'" where "dreams of sunshine's got my head spinning around", a king and a queen ready to take on the world. With the album art style it feels natural to name this album Earth Crisis, however, it is 'Roller Skates' that attracts the attention of the album. The story of David Hinds getting robbed of his radio. He then realizes he can not live without music. Then comes 'Earth Crisis', which we had been waiting for since seeing the album art. A poetic version of the crisis that was dominating the earth while this song was written, mid-80's. The last job on earth that any of the Pulse members feel attracted to is that of a 'Bodyguard'. The constant thought on your mind "who's got a gun, who's got a bomb, who's got a knife?" Using 'politricksters' as a euphemism for politicians again sets them in the great footsteps of Peter Tosh. A story is told in 'Grab Education' shedding light on the need of real life education for youngsters. Nuclear power, radiation and the neutron bomb, man is headed for extinction in 'Wild Goose Chase'. Steel Pulse is not big on certain technological advances. They ask "who shall save the human race?" and "what's wrong with these people?". There are "chemicals in the food to control population", "intentions to build a plastic nation" and "cloning cats to have dogs". Steel Pulse fights this scientific view spiritually. That brings us to where the album ends, and where Roots Reggae Library has stepped in to include another two songs. Several reggae artists gathered to produce 'Land Of Africa', as an attempt to benefit famine victims in Ethiopia. This version has Steel Pulse sing together with the I-Threes, that previously backed Bob Marley, with Freddie McGregor, who sings a verse about Soweto, and Bunny Clarke. Not very well-known, but likely to become a big time favourite. 'Land Of Africa' seems a neat inclusion in the Earth Crisis album, adding a focus on Africa, rather than only the Western world. Steel Pulse has performed a tribute to Bob Marley by singing 'Get up, Stand Up' together with Aswad, Dennis Brown, Ini Kamoze, and on the instruments are Sly & Robbie and Dean Frazer. A brilliant combination of artist, nevertheless performing a track that lacks audio quality.
A collection of pictures is what we first see on the album art, introducing us to Babylon The Bandit. The African heritage of Jamaicans is highlighted. "Am I not a man and a brother" reads one of the images. It is noticeable that the album sounds a little more synthesized than previous albums, whereas Earth Crisis, their last album, portrays a world view that is not much in favour of technology. The intend of the first song is clear, 'Save Black Music'. Not content with the King James version of the Bible Steel Pulse sings "this ya version a 'Not King James Version', cause out of Africa came the God not heathen". Even though Japhet tried his best to erase, he was not successful to hide the stories that Steel Pulse tap their inspiration from. Even though slavery put the black man's back against the wall, he is coming out strong. Percussion of this song is played by Danny Cummings.The third song is a typical young boy-story, 'School Boys Crush', about having a crush on your school teacher. The song is also associated with the title 'Jail Bait'. From pupils loving their teacher, they move to look for a 'Sugar Daddy', as the best things in live are not for free, opposing the view of The Gladiators in 'The Best Thing In Life' on Proverbial Reggae. A description of a traditional gold digger. Steel Pulse goes cold turkey in 'Kick The Habit', "living in a bubble, full of troubles". Whereas that song starts slowly, 'Blessed Is The Man' kicks in very strong. 'Blessed Is The Man' is a track that idolizes the appraisal of Jah. Relationships don't always last, 'Love Walks Out', out of the door. In this case a result of cheating, but anyone who has ever come to end a relationship will identify. The rhythm is a happy one, but the saxophone makes this song more serious. The saxophone is played by Carl Atkins. More optimistic is 'Don't Be Afraid', sung by Selwyn Brown. A different lead vocalist clearly brings about a different style as well. This diversity is a nice display by Steel Pulse. "The future's waiting you can tel, so don't be afraid to try". Selwyn sings about a good feeling towards the second part of the song. 'Babylon The Bandit' is special to me as it is the first Reggae track I ever came to like, and that is for a reason, because it is an excellent song.
Onwards we move. State Of Emergency appeared three years after Babylon The Bandit. To give us a glimpse the album starts by explaining us the 'State Of Emergency', from Brixton to Cape Town and fom Handsworth to Uitenhage. Brixton is a London neighborhood, Uitenhage a neighborhood in Cape Town, and Handsworth you should know by now. The album transfers seamlessly to the second song, 'Dead End Circuit'. In this State Of Emergency you can be "dead in seconds". You have been watched from the bedroom window of David Hinds in 'Steal A Kiss'. If only he could see his wish come true that you'd know about his existence, he'd then steal a kiss from you. Unreachable love never sounded as fun as Steel Pulse makes it sound. Hostages are being held, and there's no time for skylarcking in 'Hijacking'. They are quite clear on not being a big fan of hijackings. Saving humanity, emphasis is on the title of the track 'P.U.S.H.', which is meant as 'People Unification to Save Humanity' as there is so much injustice, from South Africa to El Salvador. Selwyn Brown sings about his favourite feeling in 'Love This Reggae Music'. "No matter what happens, we've got to stay alive". A sort of 'Keep On Moving'-like introduction as the background vocals are concerned start 'Said You Was An Angel'. David Hinds doesn't like to be treated like a stranger. Alphonso Martin has an important role in the song 'Reaching Out', of which an extended version exists which has a dub section added to the track. It is included in the bonus version of this album, however, not included on the Roots Reggae Library, as it is not seen as a unique track. Selwy Brown can't stop thinking about South Africa, the situation there is brought by a metaphor of a 'Melting Pot'. The house of sound, a groovy feeling, "don't throw me out of the disco" in 'Disco Drop Out'. Although the bonus album contains an extended version of 'Reaching Out', the album ends after 'Disco Drop Out'. On the Roots Reggae Library there are two additional songs. 'Must Be Paradise' is a 1988 single released by Harold Faltermeyer. It starts with waves washing ashore and the whole song gives an island, paradise-like feeling. 'Can't Stand It' is the soundtrack of the movie Do The Right Thing. The release of that movie corresponds with the year of State Of Emergency.
Not a police siren as on Caught You but the horns of a 'Taxi Driver' is how Victims open. A taxi driver that doesn't stop for the dreadlocks, both in London and New York. When in the end he does get in, he stops at each and every traffic light, takes a wrong turn and stops at a bar to use the bathroom. "Back into my life", or actually "'Can't Get You' out of my system". It is said that Stephen Bray helped with the production of this track. In the same generic disco like style is 'Soul Of My Soul', "each beat of my heart" and "the light of my life". David Hinds is gonna have some fun tonight with the girlfriend he found, if you haven't yet, just 'Grab A Girlfriend'. This is all happening on the same dancefloor it seems. Raping vocals also appear on the song. The female voice we hear on this song is the same as we will hear in the next song, it is Yaz Alexander. She actually introduces 'Feel The Passion' with a shout, after which we hear David with Yaz harmonizing. She sings lead lines as well later on in the song. "The things you do for money" is the line heard repeatedly in 'Money'. A certain tension is felt in the song. The title track sets in halfway through the album. "'Victims' of the system". The system in 'Can't Get You' was a personal one, here in 'Victims' they describe it as the well-known Babylon system. 'Victims' is followed by the rather strong track 'Gang Warfare'. The introduction has a conversation in which it is said that coke dealers are keeping their brother men from reaching the motherland. The message here is that with gang warfare only brothers and sisters are being killed. Brooklyn is mentioned as an example. The song ends with rap verses. On 'To Tutu' we hear Africans talking through an instrumental track. Standing up against Apartheid and Pieter Willem Botha and backing up Nelson Mandela in his struggle for the freedom of the people of South Africa, Steel Pulse sing 'Free The Land'. They sing about Seweto, Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town This song definately enhances the quality of this album. At the end of the song, woman sing "amandla ngawethu, ilisze ngelethu, khulani amasqhawe, awaphume axosihola, umbuso wethu fikile, vula masago, sozwe sinsundo, hlomani zikhali, maquahwe ansundo, siye phambili" which means "the power is ours, the country is ours, free our heroes, set them free to lead us, our freedom has come, open the prison gate, for the black nation, arm yourself black nation, and go forward". 'We Can Do It' is a positive track about stopping all war, hatred and discrimination. If we only try it won't be all that hard for this generation. It is a follow up of the previous 'Free The Land'. 'Stay With The Rhythm', the Reggae train of Selwyn Brown. It is track that adds to the diversity of this album, being sung by a different voice. An album which is quite lengthy. After Selwyn Brown we get Alphonso Martin in 'Evermore'. Like 'Stay With The Rhythm' it has a different style as the first part of the album. A love track with a unique style, love it or hate it. The album ends with 'Dudes', another love track. This one is by David Hinds. However, love in this case doesn't turn out to be all that good. The strong chorus goes "who's that dude? I've got an attitude. I wanna know!"
Vex is an album that is similar to the previous two in style. Rap and Dancehall feelings dominate 'Bootstraps', "moving forward, no backslide". That is probably caused by the influences of Tony Rebel on this song. "Taking over from Bob Marley" in going 'Back To My Roots'. The call for all Caribbean islands to come together is chanted by Steel Pulse's 'Islands Unite'. Played very strongly for instance at the Living Legacy live album, where all songs are slightly notched up a tempo. Mentioned in this song are Queen Elizabeth, or "Elizabitch", Christopher Columbus, Captain Hook. The impressions of these people are not very warm. They are the wicked, Babylon. As on 'Bootstraps', we hear Rap verses on 'Better Days', thus partly composed by rapper Kevin Batchelor. Jukie Ranks joins Steel Pulse on 'In My Life'.. It won't be the last time we hear Jukie Ranks on a Steel Pulse album. Speaking up against the "destruction of black civilization" in 'Endangered Species', arguably the strongest song on the album. 'Endangered Species' and also 'New World Order' sound similar to styles we have heard on earlier albums such as Earth Crisis. Steel Pulse mention they feel vex, frustrated and worried about the state the world finds itself in. "It's time for a revolution, it's the only solution". A song remembering the great Malcolm X, who is Malcolm Little, El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, on a song featuring Macka B, 'X Resurrection'. We hear Yaz Alexander as well. We hear children saying they'd want to be Malxolm X. A nice tune on the love-driven 'Whirlwind Romance', "give I a chance". David Hinds would on a live concert in 2014 dedicate the next song to Micheal Brown, who was shot in Ferguson, Missouri. This song is 'No Justice, No Peace'. Steel Pulse not only want justice and peace, they need it! They want to break through the walls of oppression, lies and hypocrisy. In the song itself they sing about the beating of Rodney King, sing about what Macka B would say, the conviction of Mike Tyson, the death of Michael Griffiths and Yusef Hawkins The ancestors of Steel Pulse were thrown foul water in their faces. 'Dirty H2O' tell us how they feel their ancestral scars.
The only Steel Pulse album cover that has their name written in a different style. You will find their conventional logo on the back of this album, where we see burned matches in which the names of the songs are written with ashes. You will find that a diverse number of other artist have helped to create this album, as well as cover songs of other musicians. 'Emotional Prisoner' bubbles in to start it all off. Praising Jah for guiding Steel Pulse through the ghettos. 'Role Model' is a production of Steel Pulse together with DJ Mega Banton. Chopping and cutting down the role models "in the belly of the beast". Many black role models are named later on in the song by Mega Banton, namely Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Michael Jackson, Mike Tyson, Jesse Jackson, O. J. Simpson, Rodney King and Malcolm X. Steel Pulse is "no stranger to danger" in a song made together with Jukie Ranks, just as 'In My Life' on Vex. This time around the song is called 'I-Spy'. "I spy with my little eye" is of course a well-known guessing game for children. Giving "praises to the most high" Steel Pulse inted to 'Settle The Score' because "the poor can take no more". Not for the first time on the album we hear them sing about the "shitstem", reminding us of the late Peter Tosh, just like singing about "the cow jump over the moon". Steel Pulse take it a step further, singing that Babylon is "rotten to the core" and that the shitstem is "run by a whore". 'Brown Eyed Girl' is an unmistakable cover of the song Van Morrison first recorded in 1967. After that, we find yet another cover. 'Can't Stand Losing You' is a song by the English Rock band The Police. This song appeared on the album Reggatta Mondatta: A reggae Tribute To The Police. This song did not originally appear on the Rage And Fury album. Quite laid-back we then get 'The Real Terrorist'. Prezident Brown tells us that "Africa is for Africans home and abroad". He and the members of Steel Pulse, on this album limited to David Hinds, Steve Nesbitt and Selwyn Brown, are 'Black And Proud' and sing it out loud. Clearly a cover of the song we had heard previously on Handsworth Revolution is 'Ku Klux Klan'. It is a more generic version of the song that is definitely one of the Steel Pulse trademarks. The end of the track has them singing a few lines from 'Jah Pickney', the song of the Tribute To The Martyrs. They received help from Diana King for creating the 'House Of Love'. Pressing the memory of David Hinds in an interrogation, the trumpet sounds 'Blame On Me', hoping to awake and it all being a crazy dream. Gamble and Huff produced 'Am I Black Enough For You' of Billy Paul, translated into 'Black Enough' by Steel Pulse on Rage And Fury. The message is similar to the one four tracks prior to this song, 'Black And Proud'. We hear Spearhead perform on this song as well. Togetherness, unity and racial equality are the strive for 'Peace Party'. Another cover song, that originally did not appear on this album, just as 'Can't Stand Losing You' is 'When You're In Love'. It does appear on Rasanthology. It is a cover of 'When You're In Love With A Beautiful Woman' by Dr. Hook. 'Spiritualize It', a happy and feel-full song from Steel Pulse with which we approach the end of the album.
The red gold and green coloured album art of African Holocaust catches the attention. From left to right we see faces of Steve Biko, Medgar Evers , George Jackson, Malcolm X, Jesse Jackson , Martin Luther King, and Huey Percy Newton. It seems to introduce a new Tribute To The Martyrs. 'Global Warning' has introductionary shouts by Tiken Jah Fakoly, a Reggae musician from Ivory Coast. The warning is made for the conservation of our earth. It won't be the only song on which remaining David Hinds and Selwyn Brown are attended by other musicians. The second track is an example of that, 'Blazing Fire', together with Capleton. Another warning! 'There Must Be A Way' starts with an up-tempo beat and definitely have Steel Pulse returning to quality music. Stand up against the plans of the Illuminati and break invisible chains. The same possible vibe continues in 'Make Us A Nation'. Steel Pulse want a nation based on truth and rights, equality and justice. A "wolf in sheep-clothing" a "fox 'pon de slide" and a "beelzebub desciple" in 'Dem A Wolf'. The voice of Junior Gong, Damian Marley, son of the late Bob Marley, opens 'No More Weapons'. The sing rises up against the building of weapons of mass destruction. Marley tells us that "the world is in need of a change". 'Tyrant' has quite the kick-start, "tyrant, kick them out, hallelujah, jump and shout, uprising". In the wake of Bob Marley David Hinds uses some of the lyrics from 'Babylon System' on Survival. "Never let a politician grant you a favor. He's coming with his plots and schemes after you, to control you for ever", he ends that line with "chant nyahbingi", and "woe to the downpressor", the line which Bob beautifully sings on 'Guiltiness'. For 'Door Of No Return' there has been made a video clip as well. Gorée Island is an island in Senegal, the 'Maison des Esclaves', the 'House of Slaves', said to be one of the final places where African slaves were held before being transported. Hinds remembers how they used to dress as kings but were stripped of all their belongings. A true Steel Pulse fan will remember the song 'Prodigal Son' for having the same message. Jukie Ranks feels he is 'Born Fe Rebel' and sings together with Steel Pulse. From the blood of Marcus Garvey, the vision of Nat Turner and seeing William Gordan and Paul Bogle hanging from a tree. Many others were also born fe rebel, such as Jomo Kenyatta, who made Kenya an independent country, Kwame Nkrumah, who led Goldcoast to become free Ghana, Thomas Sankara who empowered Upper Volta after a coupe d'état into Burkina Faso. Samora Machel, the military commander freeing Mozambique, and we all have heard of what happened with South Africa when Nelson Mandela's voice was heard. Patrice Lumumba was the independence leader of the Democratic Republic Congo. Haile Selassie I from Ethiopia, Fidel Castro of Cuba are also mentioned. The Wailers once sung 'Redder Than Red', Steel Pulse asks if we are "ready right now" for "we people who are 'Darker Than Blue', no time for segregation, talking 'bout brown and yellow too". Hinds mentions a number of countries too, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast and Liberia. 'George Jackson' is a track Bob Dylan wrote in 1971. Steel Pulse have covered it in 2004 for the African Holocaust album. Tiken Jah Fakoly joins again to add vocals for the title track 'African Holocaust', "I and I have survived the past". Having freedom comes down to being free and dumb, is what Hinds claims. Selwyn Brown sings part of the song as well. 'Uncle George' is a re-recording of the song with the same name that appeared earlier on Tribute To The Martyrs. The album is supposed to end here, but not on the Roots Reggae Library. Three cover songs have been added. First is a cover of The Beatles 'We Can Work It Out' performed together with Jukie Ranks. Fire On The Mountain, the tribute album to the Grateful Dead, on which The Congos perform 'The Wheel', Steel Pulse sing 'Franklin's Tower', singing "role away, the dew". As a final track of this album, 'You Can't Always Get What You Want', a song originally produced by The Rolling Stones.
Positivity is one out of two albums created on Roots Reggae Library to elaborate the discography of Steel Pulse, and to continue their legacy. The cover of this album is originally one of two versions of the True Democracy album cover, with the title changed to Positivity. For the first track we look at Easy Star's Lonely Hearts Dub Band, a tribute album to The Beatles. Of course Steel Pulse had to play a part in this, singing 'Good Morning, Good Morning'. It is a fitting start of the album, which then has the title track 'Positivity', a song recorded as a single on the Heartical label. 'Paint It Black' is a new single that appeared on Youtube. Steel Pulse sing that it would be a good idea to paint the White House black. 'Farmhouse' is a beautiful track that can be found on a Reggae collection CD called Dub Like An Antelope. 'The Lonesome Death Of Hatty Carroll', not the first song of Bob Dylan that is covere by Steel Pulse, who called the track 'From Natty To Hatty'. Another single recorded on the Heartical label is 'Jah Vengeance'. Even though you would expect a song called 'Soon Come' to be somewhat similar to the track of Peter Tosh with the same name, it is completely different. David Hinds seems to be a big fan of The Beatles, because 'Ticket To Ride' was a Beatles song the first time around. Who has not seen the movie Jungle Book? If you have you are likely to recognize the next track, 'The Bare Necessities', "oh mother nature's recipe's". The song lends itself brilliantly to become a Reggae tune. Performed live, and just as 'Soon Come', a title of a former track of one of The Wailers, Again, 'Rock Steady' is nothing like the track that Marley sings in their Rocksteady period of 1968-1972. 'Vote Barack' was recorded at the first presidential elections which Barack Obama won. This version however, was recorde when he ran for his second term in office. 'Hold On For Haiti' was recorded to raise funds for the restoration of Haiti after the earthquake in 2010.
Jah Way is the second album created by the Roots Reggae Library. It features songs of Steel Pulse in collaboration with other artists. The first song we have previously heard on Earth Crisis, it is 'Steppin' Out'. This time Alborosie has added some lines. "Yes we were 'Chillin''" is a song in collaboration with Brinsley Forde, a member of another British Reggae band, Aswad. 'No Solution' is found by either Steel Pulse or Urban Tribe, elected as the fourth song on this album. The name of the album is chosen after 'Jah Way', together with Black Wood, a Reggae band from Guyana. The Cover of this album is an altered version of the Reggae Greats best of album of the group. Music Is Fire is performed together with Zion Irie. Inner Circle, Bushman and Steel Pulse came together to sing 'Religion'. On the Kingston Town album of Broussaï he sings 'Live Up' together with Steel Pulse, which has been moved to Jah Way. South American influences are felt in the partnership with Quique Neira from Chili, who sings 'Love Love Love' together with David Hinds. We stick to this South American vibe for 'Batalha' with Brazilian group Leões de Israel. 'Speed', with Dub Incorporation is the only track on this album that you will find missing on the Youtube Channel of Roots Reggae Library, because it has been blocked worldwide. So we skip onward to 'The Girl Is Mine', with Mojo from Morgan Heritage. On 'Mes Racines' you'll only hear Steel Pulse putting in background vocals, it is a nice up-tempo track by Momo Roots, coming from Morocco. 'Killers And Crooks' is produced together with Lionize. Macka B, who appeared earlier on Vex, with 'X Resurrection', the song about Malcolm X, now has a place on this album with Luciano as well, 'Change The World'. Pato Banton is from Birmingham, as are the Steel Pulse members. They sing 'Wize Up' together. A dub track of The Groove Corporation and Selwyn Brown is the end of this album, called 'People'.
Studio Albums
««««« (1978) Handsworth Revolution
««««« (1979) Tribute To The Martyrs
««««« (1980) Caught You
««««« (1982) True Democracy
««««« (1984) Earth Crisis
««««« (1985) Babylon The Bandit
««««« (1988) State Of Emergency
««««« (1991) Victims
««««« (1994) Vex
««««« (1997) Rage And Fury
««««« (2004) African Holocaust
««««« (2014) Positivity
««««« (2014) Jah Way
Original Date Of Publishing: November 2014
Thank you for the reviews of Steel Pulse albums including naming the martyrs seen in the awesome art for their African Holocaust Album cover. Just a quick correction, that is Patrice Lumumba on the cover of African Holocaust Album not Jesse Jackson,who is still alive. Peace and Love. Jah Bless.
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