| Beyond World War III | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1981 | |||
| Genre | Reggae, dub | |||
| Label | Hearbeat | |||
| Producer | Dread at the Controls | |||
| Mikey Dread chronology | ||||
| ||||
Beyond World War III is an album by the Jamaican musician Mikey Dread, released in 1981.[1][2] It was the second album to be released by Heartbeat Records and is a slightly different version of 1980's World War III; it was picked up in America due to Dread's increased popularity after working with the Clash.[3][4][5] Beyond World War III was reissued in 1997.[6]
Production
[edit]The album was produced by Dread.[7] He was backed by members of the Roots Radics Band, including Style Scott on drums, Bingy Bunny on guitar, and Flabba Holt on bass.[7] "The Jumping Master" praises the band as well as fellow producer Scientist, who mixed the album.[7][5] "World War III" warns of a coming warfare apocalypse.[8]
Critical reception
[edit]
The Boston Globe said that "the excellent [Roots Radics Band] thumps out a deliberate riff and sticks to it, while Dread chant-sings along in his good-natured, slightly goofy way."[15] The Lincoln Journal Star noted that, compared to Big Youth and Linton Kwesi Johnson, "Dread has the lightest sound and the catchiest beat".[9] Rolling Stone praised the "echoing drums and bass" and "smooth yet biting vocals".[11] The Oakland Tribune called "Israel (12 Tribe) Stylee" "easily one of the strongest dubs ever recorded".[4]
In 1986, the Santa Cruz Sentinel deemed Beyond World War III "a classic reggae work."[16] AllMusic said, "Dread's vocals are poised and self-assured; he sings when he feels like it, and lets his ping-ponging freestyle raps carry the track when he doesn't."[7] Spin noted that Scientist had found "the Spike Jones in King Tubby."[13] Peter Shapiro, in Modulations: A History of Electronic Music, called Beyond World War III a landmark "in the use of space and effects."[17]
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Break Down the Walls" | |
| 2. | "Jah Jah Love (In the Morning)" | |
| 3. | "The Jumping Master" | |
| 4. | "Israel (12 Tribe) Stylee" (Extended Play) | |
| 5. | "Warrior Stylee" (Extended Stereo Style) | |
| 6. | "Money Dread" | |
| 7. | "Rockers Delight" (Extended Play) | |
| 8. | "Mental Slavery" (Extended Play) | |
| 9. | "World War III" |
References
[edit]- ^ Lawson, Terry (27 February 1982). "Accent on Sounds". The Journal-Herald. p. 20.
- ^ James, Richard (9 May 1982). "Reggae". Fanfare. The Commercial Appeal. p. 12.
- ^ Menconi, David (2023). Oh, Didn't They Ramble: Rounder Records and the Transformation of American Roots Music. University of North Carolina Press. p. 99.
- ^ a b c Kelp, Larry (6 June 1982). "Records". Oakland Tribune. p. J25.
- ^ a b Robbins, Ira A., ed. (1991). The Trouser Press Record Guide (4th ed.). Collier Books. p. 202.
- ^ Don, Jeffrey (26 July 1997). "BMG launches Wasabi". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 30. p. 8.
- ^ a b c d e "Beyond World War III Review by Ralph Heibutzki". AllMusic. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
- ^ a b MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 2000. p. 229.
- ^ a b Becker, Bart (23 February 1982). "Reggae or not". Lincoln Journal Star. p. 5.
- ^ Thompson, Dave (2002). Reggae & Caribbean Music. Bloomsbury Academic. p. 100.
- ^ a b Marsh, Dave (10 April 1982). "Record reviews". St. Cloud Times. Rolling Stone. p. 14D.
- ^ The New Rolling Stone Record Guide. Random House. 1983. p. 151.
- ^ a b Frere-Jones, Sasha (November 1997). "Reviews". Spin. Vol. 13, no. 8. pp. 148–149.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (1998). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae. Virgin Books. p. 85.
- ^ Katz, Larry (25 March 1982). "Short Cuts". Calendar. The Boston Globe. p. 1.
- ^ Gingold, Dave (15 August 1986). "Lively-up yourself". Spotlight. Santa Cruz Sentinel. p. 12.
- ^ Shapiro, Peter, ed. (2000). Modulations: A History of Electronic Music. Caipirinha Productions. p. 230.