96° in the Shade

1977's 96 DEGREES IN THE SHADE was Third World's US breakthrough album. Released at the height of American interest in reggae, the album also happens to be considerably more pop-oriented than the group's earlier excursions. From this point on, this Kingston-based group pulled off the tricky balance of roots reggae, Rasta proselytizing, and R&B-based pop song structures better than just about anyone, with the possible exception of Michael Rose-era Black Uhuru.
The title track, concerning the emancipation of the American slaves, is one of the group's most popular songs, and was a mainstay of its live set for the rest of its career. While not everything on the album is equal to that particular triumph, the quietly seething "Human Market Place" and "Third World Man" are among the group's most powerful songs.