Third World (band)
Third World | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Origin | Kingston, Jamaica |
Genres | Reggae fusion[1] |
Years active | 1973 | –present
Labels | Cleopatra, Island, Columbia, Mercury, Third World Music Group |
Members | Stephen "Cat" Coore Richard Daley Tony "Ruption" Williams Norris "Noreiga" Webb AJ Brown |
Past members | Michael "Ibo" Cooper Irvin "Carrot" Jarrett Carl Barovier Milton "Prilly" Hamilton Bunny Rugs Willie Stewart Rupert "Gypsy" Bent III Leroy "Baarbe" Romans Mikel Wallace Herbie Harris Robbie Lynn Pablo Stewart Maurice Gregory |
Website | thirdworldband |
Third World is a Jamaican reggae fusion band formed in 1973. Their sound is influenced by soul, funk and disco. Although it has undergone several line-up changes, Stephen "Cat" Coore and Richard Daley have been constant members.
History
Third World started when keyboard player
After recording some tracks with
They were soon signed by
In 1977 the band collaborated with psychiatrist Frederick Hickling on the Explanitations show that was performed at Kingston's Little Theatre early the following year.[4]
Third World's greatest success came in the late 1970s and early 1980s, peaking with their cover version of
Amid claims of artistic differences "Carrot" split from the band in the mid-1980s.[2] The resulting five-piece band then went on to record more commercial tunes such as "Sense of Purpose", "Reggae Ambassador", "Forbidden Love" and "Committed".
Their version of "Now That We've Found Love" was used as the basis of Heavy D's 1991 hit rap version.[1] In 1992 they returned to work with Stephen Stewart and Geoffrey Chung on the album Committed.[1]
In 1983, Third World had cross-over success on the UK jazz-funk scene with their reggae single "Lagos Jump" largely thanks to Robbie Vincent[10] and Jeff Young who played the 12-inch version on their Radio London shows. The track also became popular on the London club scene and in particular at Flicks in Dartford.
Telstar Records released a double-album compilation in 1983 which collected up all the mainstream club extended versions and remixes by artists and groups that had enjoyed relatively good UK chart success between 1981 and 1983. Entitled In the Groove, the compilation's lead track on Part Two was Third World's extended version of "Dancing on the Floor (Hooked on Love)".[11] The track had originally been released in 1981 in 7-inch edited and 12-inch extended versions, and included on Third World's Rock the World album. With the release of the Telstar compilation, this brought about an upsurge of interest in Third World's dancefloor output and certainly paved the way for the next two years recordings with Columbia Records (CBS).
In 1985, the group's focus steered by a shifting music scene, brought about a stylistic change in musical direction with the release of "Sense of Purpose". The single was released as a 7-inch edit and 12-inch extended version and later was reissued as a Shep Pettibone club remix.[12] Whilst the single was popular, it only made the lower ends of the UK charts. The 12-inch extended version was released with an instrumental plus the full length version of their 1983 cross-over hit "Lagos Jump" which almost certainly boosted the sales of "Sense of Purpose".
Also in 1985, "Now That We've Found Love" was back in the UK charts again as Paul Hardcastle decided to release a club remix but as with the case of his D-Train remix[13] putting the Hardcastle signature sound of electronic keyboards on the track and reverbing the opening vocal. Whilst the remix was a UK hit, the remix had seemingly lost its reggae roots and the Hardcastle remix has since largely been forgotten in the decades that have followed. The result being that most DJs and radio stations have returned to the original reggae version.
Despite several more line-up changes, including the departures of Cooper and Stewart, and a decline in mainstream success, the band is still recording and performing up to the present day, including in front of a television audience at the
In 2008 the band received a lifetime achievement award from
In January 2013, the group was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival in Montego Bay as they celebrated their 40th year in music.
In 2013 the group completed a 40th anniversary world tour; Illness forced Clarke to miss the European shows, with AJ Brown standing in as lead vocalist.[15]
William "Bunny Rugs" Clarke died on 2 February 2014 in hospital in Orlando, Florida, while battling cancer. Brown was announced as Bunny Rugs' replacement.[16]
The album Under the Magic Sun is due to be released in June 2014 on Cleopatra Records, featuring vocals from Bunny Rugs, Brown, Coore, and Maurice Gregory.[17]
Irvin "Carrot" Jarrett died on 31 July 2018, aged 69.[18]
The group's 2019 album More Work to be Done received a nomination for a
Michael "Ibo" Cooper died on 12 October 2023, aged 71.[20]
Musical style
While the band played
Members
- Current members
- Stephen "Cat" Coore – guitars, cello (1973–present)
- Richard Daley – bass (1973–present)
- Tony "Ruption" Williams – drums (1997–present)
- Norris "Noriega" Webb – keyboards (2007–present)
- AJ Brown – vocals (2014–present)
- Former members
- William "Bunny Rugs" Clarke – vocals (1976–2014; his death)
- Michael "Ibo" Cooper – keyboards (1973–1997; died 2023)
- Irvin "Carrot" Jarrett – percussion (1973–1983; died 2018)
- Carl Barovier – drums (1973–1976)
- Milton "Prilly" Hamilton – vocals (1973–1976)
- Willie Stewart – drums (1976–1997)
- Rupert "Gypsy" Bent III – guitars, keyboards, percussion, vocals (1989, 1994)
- Leroy "Baarbe" Romans – keyboards (1997–1999)
- Mikel Wallace – keyboards (1999)
- Herbie Harris – keyboards (2002–2010)
- Maurice Gregory - keyboards (2010-2020)
Discography
Albums
- Studio albums
Title | Year | Label | Peak chart positions | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
UK [25] |
US
[26] |
US R&B [26] | |||
Third World | 1976 | Island | — | — | — |
96° in the Shade | 1977 | — | — | — | |
Journey to Addis | 1978 | 30 | 55 | 14 | |
The Story's Been Told | 1979 | — | 157 | — | |
Arise in Harmony | 1980 | — | — | — | |
Rock the World | 1981 | CBS | 37 | 186 | 50 |
You've Got the Power | 1982 | Columbia | 87 | 63 | 20 |
All the Way Strong | 1983 | CBS | — | 137 | 50 |
Sense of Purpose | 1985 | — | 119 | 42 | |
Hold on to Love | 1987 | Columbia | — | — | — |
Serious Business | 1989 | Mercury | — | 107 | 30 |
Rock the World | 1990 | Columbia | — | — | — |
Committed | 1992 | Mercury | — | — | 51 |
Live It Up | 1995 | Bud Music | — | — | — |
Generation Coming | 1999 | Déclic Communication | — | — | — |
The Story's Been Told | Island | — | — | — | |
Ain't Givin' Up | 2003 | Shanachie | — | — | — |
Riddim Haffa Rule | 2004 | Music Avenue | — | — | — |
Black Gold Green | 2006 | Nocturne | — | — | — |
Patriots | 2010 | Third World Music Group | — | — | — |
Under the Magic Sun | 2014 | Cleopatra | — | — | — |
More Work to Be Done | 2019 | Ghetto Youths International | — | — | — |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart. |
- Live albums
Title | Year | Label | Peak chart positions | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
UK [25] |
US
[26] |
US R&B [26] | |||
Prisoner in the Street | 1980 | Island | — | 186 | 59 |
Dedicated to Stevie Wonder | 1982 | Buccaneer | — | — | — |
Third World Live | 2001 | Tabou 1 | — | — | — |
Live in Hawaii & Jamaica | 2002 | — | — | — | |
Music Hall in Concert | 2007 | Membran Music | — | — | — |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart. |
- Compilations
Title | Year | Label | Peak chart positions | |
---|---|---|---|---|
UK [25] |
US
[26] | |||
Reggae Greats | 1985 | Island | — | — |
Reggae Ambassadors | 1994 | Chronicles | — | — |
The Best of Third World | 1993 | Sony | — | — |
Greatest Hits | 1995 | Columbia | — | — |
25th Anniversary | 2001 | BMG | — | — |
Now That We've Found Love | 2004 | Charly | — | — |
Tuff Mi Tuff | 2006 | Noble Price | — | — |
The Best of Third World: The Millennium Collection | 2007 | Island | — | — |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart. |
Singles
Title | Year | Label | Peak chart positions | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AUS [27] |
US [29] |
US R&B [29] |
US Dance [29] | ||||
"Railroad Track" | 1975 | Island | — | — | — | — | — |
"96º in the Shade" | 1977 | — | — | — | — | — | |
"Now That We Found Love" | 1978 | — | 10 | 47 | 9 | — | |
"Cool Meditation" | — | 17 | — | — | — | ||
"One Cold Vibe (Couldn't Stop Dis Ya Boogie)" | 1979 | — | — | — | — | — | |
"Tonight for Me" | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"The Story's Been Told" | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"Talk to Me" | — | 56 | — | — | — | ||
"Always Around" | Jah's Music/Island | — | — | — | — | — | |
"Street Fighting" | 1980 | Cav Lip | — | — | — | — | — |
"Rooths with Quality" | Observers | — | — | — | — | — | |
"Dancing on the Floor (Hooked on Love)" | 1981 | CBS | — | 10 | — | 88 | — |
"Standing in the Rain" | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"Try Jah Love" | 1982 | 55 | 47 | 101 | 23 | 17 | |
"You're Playing Us Too Close" | Columbia | — | — | — | — | — | |
"Ride On" | CBS | — | — | — | — | — | |
"Love Is Out to Get You" | 1983 | — | — | — | — | — | |
"Lagos Jump" | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"Sense of Purpose" | 1985 | — | — | — | 51 | 45 | |
"One More Time" | — | 99 | — | — | 8 | ||
"One to One" | Columbia | — | — | — | 76 | — | |
"Now That We Found Love" (re-issue) | Island | — | 22 | — | — | — | |
"Hold on to Love" | 1987 | CBS | — | — | — | — | — |
"Over Due" | Jah's Music | — | — | — | — | — | |
"The Spirit Lives" | Columbia | — | — | — | — | — | |
"It's the Same Old Song" | 1989 | Mercury | — | 80 | — | 77 | — |
"Forbidden Love" | — | — | — | 17 | — | ||
"Live in the Balance" | 1991 | Jah's Music | — | — | — | — | — |
"Committed" | 1992 | Mercury | — | — | — | 27 | — |
"Talk to Me" (re-issue) | 1994 | Great Jones | — | — | — | — | 19 |
"Dem Man Deh" | 1996 | Taxi | — | — | — | — | — |
"Baltimore" | 1997 | — | — | — | — | — | |
"Reggae Party" (feat. Shaggy) | 1999 | Eagle | — | — | — | — | — |
"Dread Eyes" | 2000 | Reggae Blitz | — | — | — | — | — |
"Ya Ya Ya Jamaica" | 2001 | BMG | — | — | — | — | — |
"96 Degrees Cover (2nd Generation)" (feat. Stephen and Damian Marley) | 2011 | Third World Music Group | — | — | — | — | — |
"Loving You Is Easy" | 2018 | Ghetto Youths International | — | — | — | — | — |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart. |
Awards and nominations
Grammy Awards
The
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1983
|
Reggae Sunsplash '81: A Tribute to Bob Marley | Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording | Nominated |
1988 | Hold On to Love | Best Reggae Album | Nominated |
1990 | Serious Business | Nominated | |
1993 | Committed | Nominated | |
1996 | Live It Up | Nominated | |
2000 | Generation Coming | Nominated | |
2004 | Ain't Givin' Up | Nominated | |
2006 | Black Gold & Green | Nominated | |
2020 | More Work to Be Done | Nominated |
References
- ^ ISSN 0006-2510.
- ^ ISBN 0-87930-655-6.
- ISBN 1-84353-329-4.
- ISBN 978-1849053570.
- ^ Sandler, Adam (16 April 1997). "Masucci tops new Island Latin label". Variety. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
- ^ a b c d Darling, Cary (3 April 1982). "Third World Is Spreading Reggae". Billboard. pp. 34, 37.
- ^ Bishop, Pete (16 April 1985). "Third World shines in 'Reggae Sunsplash'". The Pittsburgh Press. p. B10. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
- ^ Montreal Gazette. p. D1. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
- ^ a b Holden, Stephen (28 March 1982). "Reggae: The Third World at the Ritz". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
- ^ Robbie Vincent Saturday Show. Radio London. 5 May 1983.
- ^ Telstar Records, In the Groove Part Two, UK Cat Number STAR 2228-B.
- ^ CBS Records, 1985, UK Cat Number TA4993.
- ^ Island Records (Mango) 12IS 219, 1985.
- Jamaica Gleaner. Archived from the originalon 24 October 2008. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
- ^ Walters, Basil (26 August 2013). "Third World wraps world tour". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
- ^ Campbell, Howard (9 February 2014). "Bunny Rugs's final set". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
- ^ "New Album from Third World". Jamaica Observer. 16 May 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
- ^ "Carrot Jarret's funeral set for Wednesday". Jamaica Observer. 5 August 2018. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
- ^ Campbell, Howard (22 November 2019). "In with fighting chance". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
- ^ "Michael 'Ibo' Cooper is dead at 71". One876Entertainment. 13 October 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
- ^ van Vleck, Philip (31 May 2003). "Third World Ain't Givin' Up". Billboard. p. 60. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
- ^ Wartofsky, Alona (16 April 1990). "Third World, From Reggae to Rap". The Washington Post. p. B9.
- ISBN 9781932360608.
- Sun-Sentinel. p. E9.
- ^ ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ a b c d e "Third World - Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 27 January 2013. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
- ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "THIRD WORLD - full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
- ^ a b c "Third World Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography". Music VF. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
- ^ "Third World". 24 June 2023.
External links
- Third World official website
- Third World discography at Discogs
- Third World at IMDb