Third World - Cool Meditation

Probably the first and best fusion of reggae and soul music by a reggae group. Third World was looking to sell records worldwide and not just in Jamaica and England, and while the band's fusion of these genres may have infuriated the die-hard Rasta man, it helped the music reach a larger base. After the opening “One Cold Vibe,“ a melodic reggae bouncer, a tepid “Cold Sweat“ (not the James Brown tune) has floating rhythms that soften the harsh lyrics. Falsetto vocals propel “Cool Meditation,“ which has a faster beat then most of these tracks, but it's the remake of the O'Jays' “Now That We Found Love“ that established them as international stars. The title track “Journey to Addis“ is an amalgamation of practically everything, and it works; though traditionalists will dismiss it and these other tracks, there's nothing superficial about this winning album that is now available on CD.