True Democracy

True Democracy
Studio album by Steel Pulse
Released	1 March 1982 (1982-03-01)
Recorded	"Feedback" Studios, Aarhus, Denmark, 1981
Genre	Reggae
Length	41:50
Label	Wise Man Doctrine
Producer	Karl Pitterson
Steel Pulse chronology
Caught You (1980) True Democracy (1982) Earth Crisis (1984)

True Democracy is a studio album by the British reggae band Steel Pulse. It was released on 1 March 1982 through the band's own label Wise Man Doctrine Records.[1]

The album got to at least No. 14 on the Independent Albums Chart.[2] In the US it peaked at No. 120 on the Billboard 200.[3]

Production

When the band started work on the album, they had no record deal.[4] While on tour in New York in 1981 they met Karl Pitterson, with whom they recorded five demos.[4] While the demos didn't prompt any offers from major labels, a small Danish label offered the use of their studios to record an album.[4]

The album was recorded over 25 days at Feedback Studios in Aarhus, with Pitterson producing.[5][6]

It was released in March 1982 through the band's own label Wise Man Doctrine Records.[1] It was later released through Elektra Records for distribution in the United States.[4]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[7]
Robert Christgau	B[8]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[9]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[10]

Boo Browning of The Washington Post called True Democracy "a cheerful album, almost buoyant in its musical exhortations to dance even as its lyrics tackle less-than-merry topics."[11]

Style Weekly, in 2018, called it "still ... one of the most danceable political albums ever."[12]

Track listing

All tracks written by David Hinds, except where noted.

1. "Chant a Psalm" – 4:30
2. "Ravers" – 3:56
3. "Find It... Quick!" – 3:26
4. "A Who Responsible?" – 3:54
5. "Worth His Weight in Gold (Rally Round)" – 4:35
6. "Leggo Beast" – 3:44
7. "Blues Dance Raid" – 4:53
8. "Your House" – 3:42
9. "Man No Sober" – 4:29
10. "Dub Marcus Say" (Phonso Martin) – 4:41

Bonus tracks for CD

1. "Ravers [12" Version]" - 5:56
2. "Leggo Beast [12" Version]" - 6:40
3. "Your House [Dub Version]" - 3:50
4. "A Who Responsible? [Dub Version]" - 4:00

Personnel

Steel Pulse

• Ronald "Stepper" McQueen - bass
• Steve "Grizzly" Nesbitt - drums
• Selwyn Brown (musician) - keyboard, vocals
• Alphonso Martin - percussion, vocals
• David Hinds - guitar, vocals
• Basil Gabbidon - lead guitar

Technical

• Cover Concept - Steel Pulse
• Art Direction - Ron Coro
• Design - Kathy Morphesis
• Photography - Eric Watson

References

1. Lewis, Sarah, ed. (15 February 1982). "Steel Pulse Launches Own Label" (PDF). Record Business. Vol. Four, no. 46. London: Record Business Pubs. p. 8. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 September 2024.
2. Lewis, Sarah, ed. (29 March 1982). "Independent Labels: Indie Albums" (PDF). Record Business. Vol. Five, no. One. London: Record Business Pubs. p. 13.
3. "Steel Pulse". Billboard.
4. Campbell, Howard (2022) "True reflections", Jamaica Observer, 9 February 2022. Retrieved 13 February 2022
5. Van Pelt, Carter (1995). "Roots Resurrection". The Beat. 14 (2): 46.
6. "Billboard's Recommended LPs". Billboard. Vol. 94, no. 21. 29 May 1982. p. 65.
7. "True Democracy - Steel Pulse | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
8. "Robert Christgau: CG: Steel Pulse". www.robertchristgau.com.
9. Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 7. MUZE. pp. 727–728.
10. The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 669.
11. Browning, Boo. "Uncompromised Edge of Steel Pulse". The Washington Post. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
12. "Ziggy Marley and Steel Pulse at Innsbrook After Hours". Style Weekly. 4 September 2018.