Steel Pulse – Love This Reggae Music
Love This Reggae Music is a song by the reggae group Steel Pulse. It was released in 1978 as a single and appeared on the album Handsworth Revolution.
Introduction
Steel Pulse is a reggae band that was formed in Birmingham, England in the early 1970s. The band is known for their socially conscious lyrics and their commitment to the Rastafari movement. Steel Pulse has released thirteen studio albums, and their most recent, Mass Manipulation, was released in 2017.
The Band
Steel Pulse is a reggae band from the Handsworth area of Birmingham, England, which has a large number of Afro-Caribbean residents. The band was influential in the British reggae scene in the 1970s and 1980s. Formed in 1975 by David Hinds, Basil Gabbidon and Ronald McQueen (aka Stepper), and joined later that year by Dennis Bovell on bass guitar and Phillip Hercules on drums, they have gone on to record twelve albums.
The Music
The music of Steel Pulse is a mix of Reggae, Dub, and Rocksteady, with Jazz and African influences. The band’s lyrics are Rastafarian and Pan-Africanist in nature. They are known for their politically charged lyrics and their advocacy for social justice. Steel Pulse has been described as “one of the cornerstones of contemporary Reggae.”
The band was formed in 1975 in the Handsworth district of Birmingham, England by students David Hinds and Basil Gabbidon. The band’s name comes from a newspaper headline referring to the Steelworkers’ Strike of 1972-74. Originally a five-piece band, they soon expanded to include other members who were interested in making Reggae music with a social conscience.
Steel Pulse’s debut album, Handsworth Revolution, was released in 1978 on Island Records. The album was recorded at Bob Marley’s Tuff Gong Studios in Kingston, Jamaica and was produced by Steel Pulse and Errol Brown. It featured the singles “Ku Klux Klan” and “Prodigal Son”.
The band’s second album, True Democracy, was released in 1982. The album explored more sociopolitical themes, including racism (“Rally Round”), poverty (“Not King James Version”), and nuclear proliferation (“Babylon makes the Rules”). The band also began to experiment with different sounds and styles on this album, including Hip Hop (“Reggie Carter Skank”), Funk (“Ravers”), and Ballads (” Alaoune”).
In 1986, Steel Pulse released their third album, Babylon the Bandit. The album featured the singles “No More Weapons” and “Babylon Makes the Rules”. Babylon the Bandit was produced by Bill Laswell and featured contributions from Bootsy Collins and Bernie Worrell of Parliament-Funkadelic fame.
After a four-year hiatus, Steel Pulse returned with their fourth album, State of Emergency, in 1990. The album featured the singles “Not Again” and “Taxi Driver”. State of Emergency was produced by Steel Pulse and Danny Saber (of Black Grape fame) and featured contributions from Flea (of Red Hot Chili Peppers fame) and Maceo Parker (of James Brown fame).
In 1991, Steel Pulse toured with U2 on their Zoo TV Tour. The band continued to tour throughout the 1990s and 2000s, performing at major music festivals such as Lollapalooza (1991), Glastonbury (1994), Roskilde (1998), Coachella (2003), Bonnaroo (2004), Reading & Leeds Festivals (2010).
Steel Pulse has released ten studio albums: Handsworth Revolution (1978), True Democracy (1982), Babylon the Bandit (1986), State of Emergency (1990), Rage & Fury (1994), Triumphantly Returned Live!
The Legacy
Steel Pulse is a reggae band formed in Birmingham, England, in 1975. The band has been active for over 40 years and has released thirteen studio albums. Steel Pulse is one of the most well-known and respected reggae bands in the world.
The band’s music is socially conscious and focuses on topics such as poverty, racism, and politics. Steel Pulse has won two Grammy Awards, for their albums True Democracy (1992) and African Holocaust (2004).
The band’s most recent album, Mass Manipulation, was released in 2017.
Conclusion
After listening to “Love This Reggae Music” it is easy to see why Steel Pulse is considered one of the best reggae bands of all time. The song has a great message of love and unity, and the music is just as catchy as it is thought-provoking. If you are a fan of reggae music, or just looking for a great song to relax to, “Love This Reggae Music” is definitely worth a listen.
