Customer Reviews
No rest in Birmingham - By: D. J. H. Thorn, 01 Apr 2008 
In the late 1970s, amid the hurricane of the new wave, Steel Pulse were seen as the UK reggae band most likely to mix it with other newcomers, & were hardly ever out of the NME. Every track on this album seems to me to be tied to the title track, its portentous 'Babylon is falling' warning set to a restless undercurrent. Steel Pulse seemed to capture some of the social discontent of the time with a no-nonsense approach to their music. They occasionally added colour, asin the guitar flourishes on 'Soldiers,' but they were direct rather than poetic. The titles tend to leave little to the imagination. Other than on the celebratory 'Sound Check' they chart fairly gloomy territory, until the closing 'Macka Splaff,' which seems to represent comfort rather than solution. They never achieved the acclaim that seemed to be predicted for them, but 'Handsworth Revolution' is a satisfying album, & one which highlights how half-baked most white interpretations of the form are.
The sound of 1978 - By: Magic Rat, 11 Apr 2007 
Along with The Clash, The Jam, The Buzzcocks & The Sex Pistols possibly the British band played the most at venues pre-gig orin nearby music-friendly pubs was Birmingham-based reggae band Steel Pulse. At the forefront of the music of choice of the punk/reggae marriage this was a tremendous debut album, chock full of bags of rootsy, urban atmosphere that immediately transports one straight back to those heady days of 1978. "Ku Klux Klan" is the track that got the most airings, but nobody who was around at the time can fail to be moved by hearing "Handsworth Revolution" or "Prodigal Son" once more. Indeed, all the other tracks, "Soldiers", "Sound Check" etc are minor clasics of the genre - lilting, roots reggae blended together with a distinctive vocal delivery. Forget UB40. Steel Pulse were three years ahead & they were the real deal. The follow-up album, "Tribute To The Martyrs" was not quite as explosivein its impact but it trod water. However, it all faded rather rapidly after that as punters looked to ska bands for their touch of reggae & the punks pogoed off into the distance.
For an authentic taster of what was being playedin 1978, investin this excellent album. For me, it is the best British reggae album ever released.
A world classic - By: SPRay1969, 14 Feb 2005 I've read & agreed with everything the other reviewers have said about this Roots/Dub masterpiece,the only things I can add is that this album is one of THE greatest ever,in or out of the UK.It stands shoulder to shoulder with anything by Burning Spear,Culture,U-Roy,LKJ,Augustus Pablo....I could go on.
One word of caution though,after purchasing this album you will own Steel Pulse' best recordings by a country mile.
handsworth revisited - By: , 28 Aug 2002 I'd forgotten just how good this album is! A blast from the past, Handsworth Revolution resurrects the spirit of the time; Rock Against Racism marches, Anti Nazi League protests all rounded up with a party of punks, dreads & like minded peoplein unison! Enough nostalgia, Steel Pulse's Handsworth Revolution has stood the test of time; smooth vocals over original dub bass representing the struggle of that era all contribute to an album which should be hailed as a reggae classic.
'The' classic British reggae album - By: , 26 Jun 2001 Birmingham's Steel Pulse provided us with the only truly great British reggae album of the last 30 yearsin 1978's Handsworth Revolution. Seven great reggae musicians from all over north Birmingham, ie ,Lozells, Handsworth & Handsworth Wood, got together to create an unforgettable sound that is true to the roots of Jamaican reggae, unlike the over-commercialised offerings of UB40 & Aswad throught the 1980s (although both bands did strive for authenticity on their first couple of albums).
There is a real positive vibe to this music, with classics such as Klu Klux Klan, Sound System & Prodgical Son (a Top 40 hit) providing the standout moments.
Meanwhile, fellow Brummies UB40, together with Aswad, were waitingin the wings with their crossover reggae-pop for the 'reggae-ignorant' mainstream audience. Forget this lot, this is true reggae with real spirit.
