Third World is a Jamaican group formed in 1973 by Michael ‘Ibo’ Cooper, Stephen ‘Cat’ Coore and Milton ‘Prilly’ Hamilton, most of them from the group Inner Circle. Quickly joined by Richard Daley, Carl Barovier and Irvin ‘Carrot’ Jarrett.
The group started their career playing in hotels in Kingston, as well as in nightclubs before their first single "Railroad track" was released. We are then in 1974. Single which will know only a very limited success.
A certain lack of recognition which does not prevent them from signing with the label Islands Records and starting a tour in Europe with the Wailers.
A first eponymous album was released in 1976, an album with once again modest success. Suddenly, some of the musicians are ‘disembarked’. The revamped team released a new album a year later in 1977 under the name "96 ° in the shade", an album with a little more success but which still struggled to produce any major singles.
They had to wait until 1978 to see their efforts finally rewarded with the album "Journey to Addis". The album really hit the mark thanks to the title "Now that we found love". The group's notoriety is finally gaining momentum.
The albums "The story's been told" and "Arise in harmony" released in 1979 and 1980 respectively see the group set off again in the depths of the Charts. Conversely, the year 1981 saw them return to the leading pack in spectacular fashion with the album "Rock the world" from which the flagship single "Dancing on the floor (Hooked on love)" will be extracted.
But it was especially the year 1982 that allowed them to achieve consecration with the title "Try Jah Love", co-written by a certain Stevie Wonder, just that. The track, taken from the album "You’ve got the power", will undoubtedly stay as one of their biggest global hits.
A short-lived consecration unfortunately because all the albums which will come out subsequently, and there will be a certain number of them, will not know the level of success of the past years.
To discover or rediscover.
Discography (among others ...) :
Railroad track 1975
96° in the sade 1977
Now That We Found Love 1978
Cool meditation 1979
Tonight for me 1979
The story's been told 1979
Talk to me 1979
Always around 1979
Street fighting 1980
Dancing on the Floor (Hooked on Love) 1981
Try Jah Love 1982
Ride on 1982
Lagos jump 1983
Sens of purpose 1985
One more time 1985
One to one 1985
Hold on to love 1987
Forbidden love 1989
Committeed 1992
Clips :
1975 ... beginnings which are already showing obvious potential. The sound is inspired and we can therefore imagine that the rest will be good. And it will be !
1977 ... the rise in power is smooth, just like their reggae style. But in this particular register, they are far from being ridiculous !
1978 ... a rise in power finally rewarded with this first hit. And what a hit, surely one of the most successful reggae titles of the end of the decade. MAS-TER-FUL !
1979 ... a sound really among the best of the moment and which allows them to obtain a second major hit well deserved
1979 ... a festive and joyful reggae which works perfectly and which undoubtedly positions the group as one of the best of the moment in this field
1979 ... a BIG year 1979 with a plethora of titles and quality every time. The group has reached its cruising speed and it can be heard !
1979 ... a decade that ended in style with this new hit. Admittedly, it will not be the most prestigious of the year 1979 but 2 hits for the same year, that's already it !
1979 ... and a year 1979 which finally ends with this last title. In addition, all in finesse and softness, a versatility that allows the group to show the best of himself
1980 ... a transition with the following decade perfectly mastered with this title once again highly inspired. A real know-how and an undeniable talent which is confirmed title after title and year after year
1981 ... new top hit which shows that the group has lost none of its splendor by moving into this new decade. In top form !
1982 ... which will surely remain as one of their most iconic hits. Quite simply, they signed one of the biggest Dance hits of the beginning of the decade. HU-GE !
1982 ... of course, this song will not have the same level of success as its predecessor but the quality is present, as always with them. We will largely be satisfied with it !
1983 ... despite all their efforts, the group will never find the same level of success as in previous years. And yet, they are not unworthy, far from it !
1985 ... an obvious change of style which may surprise. The group is trying to catch up with the leading pack and try to adapt to the new trends of the moment. Unfortunately, good will is not necessarily enough in these cases ...
1985 ... a much more Dance oriented style that should have worked. But the competition is such in this area that it really takes something exceptional to make the difference ...
1985 ... a BIG year 1985 with several big caliber titles. But the caliber is still not enough to regain success...
1987 ... and here they are in Intimist mode, an extremely rare thing coming from them. A particular niche rarely approached by this type of group. And my faith, it works very well !
1989 ... almost 15 years after their debut, the group is still there and is doing not that bad. Even if the last major hit is starting to date, the group continues to produce titles that largely hold up
1992 ... they will have passed through the 1970s, then the 1980s and here they are in the 1990s. A well-deserved longevity which they owe only to an obvious talent and among the best in their category !
Wiki :
Official Website :
Greatest Hits :
Discography :