In 1976 the 20th Century Steel Band (20CSB) released their debut album Warm Heart, Cold Steel. This proved to be a landmark release 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 writers, composers and arrangers for the band, have reformed the group with a new line-up. In celebration they are re-releasing their seminal debut on Mr Bongo.
It was the band's appearance on the New Faces TV show in 1974 (the equivalent of today's 'Britain's Got Talent' or The X Factor) which catapulted them into a household name. They won the top prize of a lucrative recording deal with the now defunct United Artists label. Their album was released two years later to huge success. As a result they were often invited onto TV and radio programmes including a session on the late John Peel's radio show.
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. Testament to its popularity the track has been sampled by artists such as Jennifer Lopez on Jenny From The Block, Black Eyed Peas on Say Goodbye, Xzibit on Los Angeles Times, LL Cool J on Todd Smith and Salt-n-Pepa on Very Necessary to name just a few.
Although sampling of 20CSB 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).
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