Customer Reviews

Smash Hits

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

Steel Pulse, steel pulse. Just to make it plain and simple. If you want to buy a good reggae CD and don't know what to get, and the only reggae artist you've heard is the one and only Bob Marley... try this one out. I think this is most likely the best single reggae CD that I own. I bought it because I didn't know what CD to get when I was first starting to listen to reggae, and my friend told me that it is a must for any collection. So, just buy this, trust me. You won't stop listening to it. It's got the tradional reggae sound with a good balance of funk tied into it. The steel drums are better than Amanda Brownell wehn she comes to my house every friday night. Great album. Hi Tom.

Any compilation that doesn't include SOUND SYSTEM, MACKA SPLAFF or HANDSWORTH REVOLUTION is suspect. The best place to start is REGGAE GREATS, as it contains the early-mid 70's songs, and those are truly classics! If you like your reggae watered down like pop music, buy this!

I don't think any reggae act ever got closer to sounding as Wailer as Steel Pulse did. Many songs sound so Bob that it is not even funny. This complilation tends to focus on more of the dance-hall stuff they did. Quite often these "Best Of" albums are poorly put together with questionable choices and painful omissions, but this one is solid. Good stuff if you want to get a good overview of what Steel Pulse is about.

I bought smash hits about a year ago and I still listen to it practically everyday! If you like any reggae this cd is a must and you will love it. their songs have feeling and make you feel real good! I love dancing to this cd and singing at the top of my lungs to "roller skates", "your house", "steppin' out", actually every song!!!! Please trust me, you wont regret it!

This cd is great!

Even thou it is missing songs like Hansworth Revolution, Wild Goose Chase, Prediction, Prodigal Son, and Klu Klux Klan, the cd makes it worth having with songs like the awesome: Rally Round, Rally Round Instrumental, the funky, Blues Dance Raid, the mellow, Your House, and the classic, Roller Skates, will make you want to keep playing this cd over and over!

This English Band can throw down when it comes to playing Reggae. Talent just lives in this band. From Rootsy music to Rub-A-Dub Music, this band can jam. Steel Pulse can delivery a message through their music that will leave you spellbound and wanting more.

Yeah Mon! I Love this Cd. A "Make You Wanna Dance" cd that also gives you a long lasting irie vibe! Ya kno'

Add this one to your reggae collection! You won't regret it.

Steel Pulse is currently on tour and I suggest that anyone that has not seen them in concert, go and check these brothers out. They ALWAYS put on a great show!!!

One Love

Steel Pulse is the greatest Reggae Band from the UK. This is an awesome collection of some of their best cuts. Rollerskates should be at the top of all reggae playlists and is the standout song on this CD, followed up by Your House and... Too mnay to name. BUY THIS ALBUM and see them live. Great show.

smash hits is the first album by the group that i purchased. i am proud of the fact that i made a good choice(since i was just getting into reggae at the time). and now i am hooked! but, it is a good hook. all the songs on the disc are of good quality. for one, the vocals are more clear here than they are on some of the group's earlier works(i.e handsworth revolution). i was a radio host in college(i had a reggae show). most of the requests that i got from my listeners were for songs by steele pluse(second only to bob..and maybe toots). matter of factly, the songs requested were all located on this particular disc. my favorite songs on the disc are: rave, chant a psalm, roller skates and of course lego beast. hey lego beast, wanna play?(just joking). peace to all my guyanese brethen and sistren. God bless all!!!

Steel Pulse rules next to King Bob. I think this CD has some great examples of their work. Obviously, all their hits aren't on this one, but it is worth owning none the less. I love the songs: "Your House," "Not King James' Version," "Bodyguard," "Steppin' Out," etc. There is some true history in the lyrics my friends. I have seen The Pulse 3 times in concert and let me tell you, it's rope a dope IRIE! Totally mystical.

That was for my hubby. He loves it.
Took him back a long ways.