Included here is a great audio recording of the FM broadcast of Steel Pulse’s performance at NYC’s The Ritz on Friday, August 13, 1982. The set is short – only 7 tracks – but the performance is noteworthy for a couple of reasons. First, Al Anderson, former lead guitarist with Bob Marley and the Wailers and also for Peter Tosh during his first tour, joins the band here and gives a knockout performance. Also, the set features tunes from True Democracy album which was just released a few months earlier in May 1982. The album was recorded over 25 days in Denmark, with legendary reggae producer Karl Pitterson (Bob Marley and the Wailers). While True Democracy does see Steel Pulse return somewhat to their political roots of Handsworth Revolution and Tribute to the Martyrs, it is also more light-hearted in the vein of Reggae Fever (Caught You). True Democracy peaks at #120 on Billboard’s Top Pop Albums chart in 1982.
