Customer Reviews

True Democracy

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This album introduced me to Steel Pulse.I was fortunate to have heard the track - RAVERS- on the radio one day,and from that moment I have been addicted to their music. This is arguably their greatest album next to Handsworth Revolution. It has a very fresh distinctive sound with David Hinds infectious vocals a joy to hear. I first saw the band at the now defunct -The Venue in Victoria ,London in 1984 and the memories of that gig is still fresh in my mind. I can never hear enough of this album. It's still a puzzle why Steel Pulse have never received the reception in England that its has in places like Japan,USA,Africa and the Caribbean.

LISTEN TO THE TEACHINGS OF STEEL PULSE

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.

You'll know what I mean when you listen to this classic! Compositionally, and musically, this stands up to any Marley or Tosh release, and even surpasses them! Steel Pulse is one of those Reggae bands that knows how to combine great, catchy, hooky songwriting with immaculate recording/production techniques, and Reggae fans are all the richer for this! THANK YOU David Hinds, and Steel Pulse for making my world a lot more palatable with your soulful, 'comes from the heart' music! "ONE LOVE..."

"Handsworth Revolution" or "True Democracy"? How can you go wrong with either one. I listened to "True Democracy" first and favor this a little more. The opening song is why I do. "Chant a Psalm" gets you skanking after only a couple of seconds and if you can't move to "Ravers", you don't like reggae that much anyway! Always true to their social and political beliefs, this album stays the course and asks "A Who Responsible" to terrorists of the world, chastises loose women (Leggo Beast) and drunkards (Man No Sober), and questions the tactics of the police (Blues Dance Raid). During the late 70s and early 80s, I thought that only Bob Marley made rasta reggae worth listening to. After seeing Steel Pulse perform in the movie "Urgh-A Musical War", I changed my mind. Steel Pulse's 1986 performance at the Universal Ampihteater in LA still remains the best live performance I've ever witnessed in my 20-plus years of concertgoing.

True Democracy is a true "Classic" reggae album that has stood the test of time. From the uplifting 'Chant A Psalm' and 'Ravers' to the cautionary 'A Who responsible' and the lovely 'Your House', every word and chord rings true. It will stay in your CD player for more than one round each time you play it.

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.

Like Marley, these songs transcend any musical style. Great melodies, intelligent and meaningful lyrics, talented musicianship-- it simply does not get any better than this. Why they aren't world famous is beyond me. Every song is a five out of five.

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 your hands lie your destination/
The book of true life, you hold the key/
Mystical powers to you unfold/
Seek ye the half that has never been told...."
-- Chant A Psalm


The first two albums on this list share the distinction of genre-defying, crossover success and as such I awarded them the top spots as an honorarium. However, the next five albums can easily be considered the "greatest reggae album" of all time on artistic merits alone.

For the music industry, 1982 signaled a change for the usual. I remember it well as that September was the beginning of my senior year at Uniondale High School (NY). It was also a time where we saw a new group of rap artist emerge as groups like Grandmaster Flash, Sugarhill Gang, Kurtis Blow, Spoonie Gee and The Cold Crush Bros., were not only competing against each other but also the expectation that they could produce more than just the occasional hit singles. Back in the day, there were any "budgets" to talk about. It was all about ingenuity and love of the art. "Do you believe you have what it takes?" Right around the corner, Run DMC and LL Cool J (both from Queens) were making a lot noise with their sound. Things were about to get interesting!

Up in the Northwest, Prince, the musical prodigy, had firmly established himself as a solo musician and created a very competent (and complicit) backing band. The Time, the sophistical counterpart to his royal badness, were themselves experience a change of leaders as Alexander O'Neal was replaced by Morris Day.

Back in the Northeast, Rick James was...was Cold Blooded! He was just finishing the 3 of three spectacular albums following Street Songs and Throwin' Down. He also had new albums by the Stone City Band and THE girl group of that time The Mary Jane Girls . But, the spotlight directly beside the King of Punk Funk belonged to The Queen of Ivory Soul, herself, Teena Marie.

And, last but certainly not least, Quincy Jones walked in Epic Studio with the master tapes of what would be the-biggest-selling-album of all time.

But something else happened in 1982. Something quite different, something no one was expecting. Not of Shakespearean proportion but it did happen in Denmark.

David Hinds, lead singer and writer for Steel Pulse received a call from Karl Pitterson. Apparently, a new recording studio had just opened in Denmark and the owner was a huge reggae fan. He was interested in knowing if there was a reggae group interested in recording there.

Hinds and the band had just severed ties with Island Records in what both sides say was not an amicable parting. Hinds and the guys wanted to take their music in a new direction, broadly speaking. Marley had departed two years prior. And, with no one offering a broad palate, the record industry was doubtful it (the genre) would continue. Black Uhuru's work was far too militant to make it popular. Burning Spear' work was not yet seen as broadly marketable. Third World's music was becoming more homogenized by the second (and losing credibility amongst true reggae fans). That left Bunny Wailer (who had a notorious reputation for not liking to tour, thereby seen as a high financial risk) and Peter Tosh, who although still showed signs of genius, Legalize It, was still seen as a live-wire, both politically and legally.

Who else was left? The Melody Makers? Musical Youth? Too young. UB40 and Aswad were still a couple of years away from breakout status. This left Steel Pulse: spiritual heir to Marley, but without a label.

Although all of the major record labels considered reggae a niche and perhaps even a fad, they did sign Steel Pulse to a record deal. Their first recording being a 4-song set on the classic album, Reggae Sunsplash 81: Tribute to Marley. It still boggles my mind that a group that had Marley and Burning Spear as their opening act and they themselves had, the little-known act, The Police as their opening act across Europe were given a shoe-string budget to prove the industry wrong.

Yes, Steel Pulse was off to Denmark.

Over the course of a couple of months, the band would cut 10-tracks of various themes from slow ("Your House") to up-tempo ("Blues Dance Raid"). From social commentary--"A Who Responsible," "Man No Sober," "Leggo Beast" - to Steel Pulse's mystical tribute to Marley's "Natural Mystic" with "Chant A Psalm."

This album is like no other and it ushered in a standard that with the possible exception of their follow-up, Earth Crisis, they have never been able to recapture the magic.



"Out of darkness, out of night/
People screaming, baton wheeling/
A lot of bleeding, bruised feelings

Search warrant for their outvitation/
Walkie talkie reinforcement/
From dem pocket they draw handcuff/
(Dis ya session it rough!)
----"Blues Dance Raid



True Democracy. The #4 Greatest Reggae Album of All Time and possibly #1 when the mood strikes you.

THIS ALBUM IS A CLASSIC, PERIOD. IT IS AMONG THE BEST FIVE REGGAE ALBUMS OF ALL TIMES. BOB MARLEY USED TO SING SONGS FROM THIS GROUP ON HIS TOUR. NOW WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU. IT'S A SHAME THAT THEY HAVEN'T ATTAIN THE SUCCESS (SELLING MORE ALBUMS) THEY DESERVE. GO GET THE ALBUM, YOU'RE MISSING OUT ON SOME EXCELLENT MUSIC.