20th Century Steel Band - Warm Heart Cold Steel

In 1976 the 20th Century Steel Band released their debut album ‘Warm Heart, Cold Steel’. This proved to be a landmark album and featured the heavily sampled track ‘Heaven & Hell is on Earth’. The band eventually split up but now, after 30 years, Michael Oliviere and Godfran Moore – original 20CSB members and the previous bands writers, composers and arrangers have reformed the group with a new line-up and are re-releasing their seminal album on Mr Bongo Records.

It was the band’s appearance on ‘New Faces’ in 1974 (the equivalent of today’s ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ or ‘The X Factor’) which catapulted them into becoming a household name. They won the top prize - a lucrative recording deal with the now defunct United Artists. Their album was released two years later to huge success. As a result, they were often invited onto TV and radio programmes such as a session on the late John Peel’s radio show which can be heard online here: www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/johnpeel/sessions/1970s/1975/Nov1120thcenturysteel/c.

However, sadly the band split up shortly after their new level of fame following the dissolution of their record label. Fast forward to today and original band members Michael Oliviere and Godfran Moore have assembled a new nine-piece group – including themselves.

‘Warm Heart, Cold Steel’ is an upbeat feel good album of 13 tracks recorded against a backdrop of the seductive steel drum. The infectious, instantly recognisable hook of the heavily sampled track ‘Heaven & Hell is on Earth’ is featured on the record and has been sampled by over 15 artists such as: Jennifer Lopez ‘Jenny from the Block’, Black Eyed Peas ‘Say Goodbye’ (off their debut album ‘Behind the Front’) Xzibit ‘Los Angeles Times’, LL Cool J ‘Todd Smith’ and Salt-n-Pepa ‘Very Necessary’ to name a few...

Although sampling of 20TH Century Steel Band was widespread, it was also done without the band’s knowledge or permission. As a result, band member Michael Oliviere - who composed ‘Heaven...’ and other tracks – successfully sued for unpaid royalties which led to him and the band being credited for their work. Michael also received recognition for his contribution to music with awards from the British Music Industry (BMI) and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP).

Tracklist

1. 20th Century Steel Band - Shaft listen
2. 20th Century Steel Band - Endless Vibrations listen
3. 20th Century Steel Band - Lazy Days listen
4. 20th Century Steel Band - Loue's Theme listen
5. 20th Century Steel Band - No. 1 listen
6. 20th Century Steel Band - Heaven & Hell (Original) listen
7. 20th Century Steel Band - Never Keep Secrets listen
8. 20th Century Steel Band - Papa Was a Rolling Stone listen
9. 20th Century Steel Band - Standing in the Shadows of Love listen
10. 20th Century Steel Band - Land Of A Thousand Dancers listen
11. 20th Century Steel Band - Dance Away listen
12. 20th Century Steel Band - We've Got to Work Together listen
13. 20th Century Steel Band - Heaven & Hell (7