Black Symbol presents The Complete Handsworth Explosion, by Various Artists

Black Symbol presents The Complete Handsworth Explosion

by Various Artists

supported by

	/

Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

Sleeve notes by Martin Langford. The complete Handsworth Explosion story

Includes unlimited streaming of Black Symbol presents The Complete Handsworth Explosion via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

ships out within 2 days

£8 GBP or more
Streaming + Download

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

Purchasable with gift card

£8 GBP or more
Full Digital Discography

20

releases

Get all 20 Reggae Archive Records releases available on Bandcamp and save 50%.

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Journey, Feel It, Menelik, Political / Generals, Mark of Slavery / Slow Down (New Stock), The Midlands Roots Explosion Volume Two, Black Symbol presents The Complete Handsworth Explosion, The Midlands Roots Explosion Volume One, and 12 more. , and , .

Purchasable with gift card

£63.50 GBP or more (50% OFF)

1.	Sceptre - Ancestors Calling 03:24	buy track
2.	Truths & Rights - New Language 04:47	buy track
3.	Black Symbol - Travelling 02:56	buy track
4.	Gerald Love - Jah Children 05:59	buy track
5.	Zephaniah - Music Business 05:51	buy track
6.	Truths & Rights - Saddest Moment 04:43	buy track
7.	Black Symbol - Spiritual Reggae 03:07	buy track
8.	Gerald Love - Scandal Man 06:20	buy track
9.	Sceptre - Living On Strong 03:43	buy track
10.	Zephaniah - Free Man 05:05	buy track
11.	Benjamin Zephaniah - Stop The War 05:17	buy track
12.	Man From The Hills - Redemption Day 03:12	buy track
13.	Mystic Foundation - Life In The Ghetto 03:37	buy track
14.	Black Symbol - Feeling Is Irie 02:51	buy track
15.	Black Knight - Lets Make Up 03:19	buy track
16.	Black Symbol - Trouble Trouble 05:04	buy track
17.	Benjamin Zephaniah - Unite Handsworth 04:05	buy track
18.	Man From The Hills - How Long 03:10	buy track
19.	Mystic Foundation - Handsworth 03:37	buy track
20.	Black Knight - Feeling 03:35	buy track

about

‘BLACK SYMBOL presents The Complete Handsworth Explosion’
VARIOUS ARTISTS
Released on CD and Digital Download 29th June 2015

Last year saw Reggae Archive Records answer the prayers of many UK reggae fans with vinyl reissues of “Black Symbol presents Handsworth Explosion” and “Black Symbol present Handsworth Explosion II”. It was always intended to follow these LP releases with a combined CD release of both volumes and the 29th June, will see the albums arrive on CD for the first time as “Black Symbol Presents The Complete Handsworth Explosion”.

It's hard to overestimate the importance of what Black Symbol did for their local community, in Birmingham's Handsworth neighbourhood, by providing bands with studio time at the well equipped Outlaw Studio and then releasing many of the finished results on the two original vinyl LPs. They have left us with a unique snapshot of the Handsworth scene in the early eighties; a scene that was at its creative peak but would very soon almost entirely disappear.

Black Symbol member Blobbo stated their aims on the rear sleeve of “Handsworth Explosion Volume II”:….. “Handsworth Explosion is a brand new revolutionary idea originated by 'FATMAN' the producer, lead vocalist and founder member of BLACK SYMBOL. The intention of this album is to provide a much needed link between Symbol and other Ghetto bands, to reveal, an as yet undiscovered talent suppressed by the music machine.

The Handsworth Explosion shall open up the eyes and hearts of many, yet it shall explode in the minds of many; this combination of music can only be played in the Ghetto by musicians who live in and bear the weight of their society. Handsworth Explosion sets out not only to satisfy musically, but be an inspiration and revelation.”

It's never too late to discover talent and hopefully this CD release will indeed open the eyes and hearts of many to the great bands and singers featured: Sceptre, Zephaniah, Truths And Rights, Gerald Love, Mystic Foundation, Benjamin Zephaniah, Black Knight, Man From the Hills and last, but by no means least, Black Symbol themselves. The music is mostly roots reggae, but the tracks also provide a great deal of variety whilst maintaining a high quality threshold.

Back in the early 1980s, Black Symbol faced an uphill struggle to get their albums distributed and few people who lived outside Birmingham or near a specialist reggae shop ever got the chance to buy a copy and hear this wonderful music. Today with the World Wide Web, “Black Symbol presents The Complete Handsworth Explosion” is finally available for everyone to enjoy.

“Black Symbol presents The Complete Handsworth Explosion” is released by Reggae Archive Records on 20 track CD and digital download on the 29th June and is available from all the usual outlets.

ARTIST: Various Artists
TITLE: “Black Symbol presents The Complete Handsworth Explosion”
RELEASE DATE: 29th June 2015
LABEL: Reggae Archive Records
DISTRIBUTION: Shellshock / SRD
FORMAT: CD and Digital Download
CAT NO: RARC018CD
BARCODE: 5052571060926
GENRE: Reggae, Dub
WEBSITE: www.reggaearchiverecords.com
PRESS CONTACT: Mike Darby, E: info@reggaearchiverecords.com / T: 07885 498 402

credits

released July 16, 2015

license

about

Reggae Archive Records UK

Reggae Archive Records is a record label dealing in British Reggae from the 70's, 80's and 90's.

reggaearchiverecords.com

contact / help

Contact Reggae Archive Records

Streaming and
Download help

Report this album or account

If you like Black Symbol presents The Complete Handsworth Explosion, you may also like:

Conquering Lion (expanded
by Yabby You & The Prophets

supported by 14 fans who also own “Black Symbol presents The Complete Handsworth Explosion”

Fantastic album start to finish, can't say more than has already been said. Sam Baguley
go to album
Walls of Jerusalem
by Yabby You & King Tubby

supported by 8 fans who also own “Black Symbol presents The Complete Handsworth Explosion”

One of the best reggae dub albums I ever heard. :) King Tubby made a perfect job there and the voice of Yabby You is amazing. :) simon802
go to album
The British Roots Rockas
by Dennis Bovell MBE

supported by 8 fans who also own “Black Symbol presents The Complete Handsworth Explosion”

Superb cultural Roots saleem housee
go to album
Carlton And The Shoes - This Heart Of Mine
by Carlton And The Shoes

featured on Bandcamp Radio Mar 28, 2023
go to album
Use My Body / Try Love
by Mavis John / The Red Stripe Band

featured on Bandcamp Radio Jan 24, 2023
go to album
Midnight Scorchers
by Horace Andy

featured on Bandcamp Radio Jul 19, 2022
go to album
Dub From Creation
by Creation Rebel

supported by 7 fans who also own “Black Symbol presents The Complete Handsworth Explosion”

This is excellent smooth, experimental and groovy dub minutemen
go to album