Category Archives: 1978

Steel Pulse “Handsworth Revolution” / “Revolution Version”

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This right here is a first.  Unless you are in possession of one of Steel Pulse’s 12-inch singles, which are fairly rare to come by, you have probably never heard a Steel Pulse dub track.  I’m not sure why they have not explored their own music through dub, but I do plan to ask David Hinds this very question when I do the interview (soon come I hope).

Here you have the opening track to their debut album and a real stunner.  Think about it.  This is the very first time that many people are hearing Steel Pulse.  If this opener did not grab each and every listener by the throat, then they are just not reggae fans.  It’s just that simple.  Hinds’ vocal is not only pitch-perfect, but his message both positive yet apprehensive.  Deep.  Almost Marley-esque:

I say the people of Handsworth, know that
One hand wash the other so they say
So let’s join hands my bredren
Make the way for our children (our children, our children)
And their children (their children, their children)
Ensuring that they get life’s fair share of…
Equality…
Doesn’t justice stand for all
Doesn’t justice stand for all
Doesn’t justice stand for all mankind
We find society putting us down
Crowning us, crowning us, crowning us, crowning us
A place of Evil, OH, OH
Handsworth means us the Black People
Handsworth means us the Black People
We’re taiklng now. Speaking Jah Jah language!

I lost many hours, maybe even days, listening to this album when I first found it.  Bombtrack after bombtrack after bombtrack.
“Handsworth Revolution,” “Bad Man,” “Soldiers,” “Sound Check,” “Prodigal Son,” “Ku Klux Klan,” “Prediction,” “Macka Splaff”  all in rapid succession.  A virtual atom bomb dropped right into the crowded streets of Babylon in 1978, coming five months after the release of their first single for Island records “Ku Klux Klan.”  The album, brilliantly produced by Bob Marley’s own engineer Karl Pitterson, reaches #9 on the British charts just 10 days after its release. The band would soon support Bob Marley & The Wailers on a 12-date European tour in June and July 1978, including concerts in Paris, Ibiza, Gothenburg, Stockholm, Oslo, Rotterdam, Amsterdam, and Brussels. The tour kicked off with an outdoor festival at the New Bingley Hall in Stafford. David Hinds recalls:

We learned a lot of discipline on that tour that rubbed off – rehearsal, execution on stage, how to tour, stability [...] that’s when the doors really started to open for us. It has always been one of the most memorable moments of my career. To play as part of that package exposed Steel Pulse to audiences that literally were in awe of our message. Of course, being formally introduced through Bob Marley helped us tremendously. Playing for audiences, especially those in Paris who saw the force of Steel Pulse and the force of Bob Marley play on the same bill, enabled us to sell out shows every time since then.

The dub track included here is just phenomenal.  Unspeakably strong.  Here’s for a Steel Pulse in Dub album come real soon!

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Prince of Dub Augustus Pablo Tribute with Lance Linares on 5/5/80 Midnight Dread #18

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It’s Sunday Midnight & time to become dreader than dread with a crucial overview of The Dub Organizer Horace Swaby aka Augustus Pablo. Joining Doug Wendt this week is Lance Linares, Pablo devotee & reggae radio pioneer who hosted his Friday night very popular prime time “Roots Rock Reggae” Pataphysical Broadcasting program on KUSP in Santa Cruz, California from the 1970s to the 2000s, the earliest longest continually running regular reggae radio show heard anywhere in the United States. Linares pulls gem after gem from his extensive Augustus vinyl collection to flood the airwaves with pulsing Prince of Dub masterworks while passing along vital background info on one of the deepest Sound Generals ever to come from Jamaica. Listen to the mystic & be transfixed via music unto Jah Jah. Burning Spear & Mikey Dread debut new material while Hugh Mundell, Tetrack & Israel Vibration join the Pablo posse just beyond this side of east of the river Nile where melodica & other keyboard devices open the doors of perception. X-Ray Music never sounded so good, so massive, and so wonderful. All aboard this version excursion!

This detail just in straight from Lance’s head: “I started in 1974 on KUSP but first iteration was Satta High which morphed into Roots Rock Reggae at some point in ’76 or ’77. Last show was Aug 29, 2008 I think. So 34 years or so….” Quite a run. Well you can’t run away from yourself seen. Would be nice to see Lance back on the beam soon, the master of the non-style style announcement school. In those early days of KUSP the Santa Crucial boss public radio station was right on the beach so the live sound of the surf could be heard whenever one opened the mic. His bitchin’ vintage tapes, reggae library, & comprehensive Augustus Pablo archive must be heard. Word.

Dreadcasting & streaming liquid musical jewels with daily 21st Century Midnight Dread programs at 12am including deja views often heard in Wendt’s Best of All Worlds slot when noon is high. Become conscious with the indigenous sounds of Native Son Rising curated by Doug everyday at 6am (all Pacific Times). Explore more Midnight Dreadness here.

Bob Marley: One Love Peace Concert 1978 (Re-Up!)

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Here we have a rarely circulated article and interview with Bob Marley published in Gig magazine, Vol. 4, 1978.  The interview and article focus primarily on Marley’s now-historic performance at the One Love Peace Concert – an out-of-body/out-of-mind performance that is almost otherworldly, a supernatural soul sacrifice.

To watch clips from the performance, and to download lossless audio of the show, check the original posts HERE and HERE.

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Tosh Brings Chaos to L.A.: Live at the Starwood, July 20, 1978

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July 1978.  Bush Doctor tour.  Tosh is slated to play The Starwood Club in Santa Monica, CA.  Problem is, hundreds of Rolling Stones fans show up to the show thinking Tosh is opening for The Stones, a job he dutifully performs for The Stones on occasion during the 1978 Bush Doctor tour.
I have included the story by Robert Hilburn from the LA Times which was published on July 22, 1978.
Also included is very rare video clip of Tosh performing “Equal Rights.”

CLICK TO READ ON ISSUU

Peter Tosh
Live from The Starwood Club
July 20, 1978
1. Intro
2. 400 Years
3. Steppin Razor
4. Equal Rights
5. Burial
6. Legalize It
7. Downpressor Man
8. Get Up Stand Up (fade)
9. (fade) Jam>Mistery Babylon
DOWNLOAD APPLE LOSSLESS AUDIO