Serious Business (Third World album)

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Serious Business
Studio album by
Third World
Released1989
GenreReggae
LabelMercury[1]
Third World chronology
Hold on to Love
(1987) 		Serious Business
(1989) 		Rock the World
(1990)

Serious Business is an album by the Jamaican band Third World, released in 1989.[2][3] "Forbidden Love" was the first single.[4] Third World supported the album with a North American tour.[5]

The album peaked at No. 107 on the Billboard 200.[6] It was nominated for a Grammy Award, in the "Best Reggae Recording" category.[7]

Production[edit]

The album contains covers of "It's the Same Old Song" and "Keep Your Head to the Sky".[8][9] Daddy-O rapped on "Forbidden Love".[10] Kenny Gamble coproduced "Take This Song", which features singers from the musical Sarafina![11][12] The Brecker Brothers appeared on several tracks.[13] The title track is, in part, about apartheid in South Africa.[14]

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[15]
Chicago Tribune[16]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[17]
MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide[18]

The Chicago Tribune wrote that "the band continues to use strong strains of rock, soul and now rap and to highlight glossy pop production values."[16] Newsday noted that the album "tries to be in so many places at once that it would be a mess if the band weren't so versatile, its vision of crossover dreams so clear."[11]

The Boston Globe determined that "the group's bouncy 'reggae lite' files the genre's rough edges and leaves a smooth, palatable dose of music worth bouncing to."[19] The Atlanta Journal-Constitution concluded that Serious Business "continues Third World's eclectic tradition of combining the old and the new, mixing elements from the United States, Africa and the Caribbean."[12] The Wisconsin State Journal called it the band's best album.[20]

AllMusic wrote that "'Reggae Ambassador', both the vocal and dub version, stands out as the album's most creative moment, showcasing Third World's easygoing melodies and fun-loving spirit."[15]

Track listing[edit]

No.TitleLength
1."Forbidden Love" 
2."It's the Same Old Song" 
3."Reggae Ambassador" 
4."D.J. Ambassador" 
5."Keep Your Head to the Sky" 
6."Take This Song" 
7."Love Will Always Be There" 
8."Serious Business" 
9."Never Say Never" 
10."We the People" 
11."Theme from the Underdog" 
12."Theme from the Underdog (Rap Version)" 
13."Take This Song (Reprise)" 

References[edit]

  1. ^ Norment, Lynn (Aug 1989). "Sounding Off". Ebony. 44 (10): 19.
  2. ^ "Third World Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  3. ^ Thompson, Dave (June 30, 2002). "Reggae & Caribbean Music". Hal Leonard Corporation – via Google Books.
  4. ^ Rickelman, Melinda (Aug–Sep 1989). "A Summer of Reggae". The Crisis. 96 (7): 16.
  5. ^ Wartofsky, Alona (8 May 1989). "THIRD WORLD". The Washington Post. p. B8.
  6. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2010). Top Pop Albums (7th ed.). Record Research Inc. p. 776.
  7. ^ "Third World". Recording Academy. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  8. ^ Gettelman, Parry (11 June 1989). "THIRD WORLD'S SUCCESS TURNS ON REGGAE'S RESURGENCE". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 1.
  9. ^ Sinclair, David (July 29, 1989). "Reggae to Nashville rock". Features. The Times.
  10. ^ Farmer, Robin (June 12, 1989). "THIRD WORLD'S REGGAE ELECTRIFYING". Richmond Times-Dispatch. p. B10.
  11. ^ a b Robins, Wayne (12 Nov 1989). "NEW RELEASES". Part II. Newsday. p. 19.
  12. ^ a b Emerson, Bo (June 9, 1989). "Third World Takes Its Musical Mission Seriously". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. p. E4.
  13. ^ Shuster, Fred (November 24, 1989). "FIRST-RATE THIRD WORLD TO PERFORM AT THE PALACE". Los Angeles Daily News. p. L36.
  14. ^ Mitchell, Rick (June 8, 1989). "Third World shows versatility". Houston. Houston Chronicle. p. 4.
  15. ^ a b "Third World - Serious Business Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  16. ^ a b Heim, Chris (7 Sep 1989). "Recordings". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 17.
  17. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 6. MUZE. pp. 126–127.
  18. ^ MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 2000. p. 765.
  19. ^ Smith, Patricia (23 Nov 1990). "SOUND CHOICES". ARTS AND FILM. The Boston Globe. p. 127.
  20. ^ St. John, Michael (November 22, 1989). "THIRD WORLD: PARTY WITH A POINT". Wisconsin State Journal. p. 3D.
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