Visions of the World

Visions of the World
Studio album by
Pato Banton
Released1989
GenrePop reggae[1]
LabelI.R.S.
ProducerPato Banton, G. T. Haynes
Pato Banton chronology
Never Give In
(1987) 		Visions of the World
(1989) 		Mad Professor Recaptures Pato Banton
(1990)

Visions of the World is an album by the English musician Pato Banton, released in 1989.[1][2] He supported it with a North American tour, backed by his band, the Studio Two Crew.[3]

Production

Banton added pop and soul styles to his traditional reggae sound; he also chose to include songs with more serious lyrical themes.[4][5] "Pressure" criticizes Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's fiscal decisions.[6] "Pato's Opinion Pt. 2" calls out the apartheid policies of P. W. Botha and closes with a quote from Burt Bacharach's "What the World Needs Now Is Love"; it was another version of one of Banton's "opinion" songs, which he had started writing in the early 1980s.[6][7][8] "Bad Man and Woman" was inspired by Banton's love of Calypso music.[9] "Third World Country" is about his visit to Jamaica, where he noted the stark divisions in the country.[9]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[10]
The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae[11]

The Kitchener-Waterloo Record said, "More lush that Wailer-style Jamaican reggae, this material is also somewhat more accessible."[12] The News Chronicle called the album "an engaging and colorful collection of Banton's musings about the human condition".[13] The Santa Cruz Sentinel labeled it "another ambitious recording by the reggae star who lyricizes brilliantly but sing flat".[14]

The Tampa Tribune concluded that "Banton's trademark lyrical messages tend to overshadow the talent of his band".[15] The Hartford Courant opined that Visions of the World "is the most generic of dub / reggae, about as bland and uncooked as it comes."[16] The Los Angeles Times said that "Banton's music lacks both the vision of contemporaries Ziggy Marley and Shinehead—the ability to share fresh insights in the subjects they address—and the soulful fire of a Toots Hibbert".[17]

Trouser Press lamented that "the music is slicker, leaning more towards smooth dance rock, bland soul and synthesized pop reggae."[18]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Third World Country" 
2."Bad Man and Woman" 
3."Roots, Rock, Reggae" 
4."Wishing on a Star" 
5."Pressure" 
6."Visions of the World" 
7."Ready Me Ready" 
8."Jah's Reggae" 
9."Pato's Opinion Pt. 2" 
10."Never Give In" 

References

  1. ^ a b Moskowitz, David M. (2005). Caribbean Popular Music: An Encyclopedia of Reggae, Mento, Ska, Rock Steady, and Dancehall. ABC-CLIO. p. 21.
  2. ^ Gregory, Andy, ed. (2002). The International Who's Who in Popular Music 2002. Taylor & Francis Group. p. 27.
  3. ^ Gettelman, Parry (2 July 1989). "Beacham Caught in Reggae Undertow". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 30.
  4. ^ "Reggae veteran Banton toasts Nugget". Reno Gazette-Journal. 31 July 2003. p. H10.
  5. ^ Robson, Matthew (3 March 1989). "Soldiers on a musical mission". Spotlight. Santa Cruz Sentinel. p. 10.
  6. ^ a b Gettelman, Parry (16 July 1989). "It's Reggae Pure and Simple". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 23.
  7. ^ Hanson, Gayle M.B. (30 July 1989). "Reggae". The Sunday Rutland Herald. p. 4.
  8. ^ Toombs, Mikel (3 July 1989). "Rapper to speed things up tonight". The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. D5.
  9. ^ a b Jarvis, Elena (6 July 1989). "Reggae star isn't blinded by fame, keeps watchful eye over underdog". Going Places. Ventura County Star. p. 14.
  10. ^ "Visions of the World Review by Jo-Ann Greene". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  11. ^ Larkin, Colin (1998). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae. Virgin Books. pp. 19–20.
  12. ^ Randall, Neil (15 June 1989). "Sounds". Kitchener-Waterloo Record. p. C9.
  13. ^ Milazzo, Loretta (7 July 1989). "The Night Owl". News Chronicle. Ventura County. p. V12.
  14. ^ Wagner, Paul (7 July 1989). "Records". Spotlight. Santa Cruz Sentinel. p. 14.
  15. ^ Liss, Seth (21 July 1989). "Banton reaches out through reggae". Friday Extra!. The Tampa Tribune. Vol. 95, no. 173. p. 26.
  16. ^ Robinson, Kenton (24 August 1989). "Records". Calendar. Hartford Courant. p. 5.
  17. ^ Washburn, Jim (7 July 1989). "Pato Banton: Lively, but Still a Lightweight". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 21.
  18. ^ "Pato Banton". Trouser Press. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
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