UB40
Biography
Named after a British unemployment benefit form, pop-reggae band UB40 were formed in a welfare line in 1978, and their multiracial lineup reflected the working-class community their members came from. The band consolidated its street credibility with political topics appealing to dissatisfied youth and got a boost from fans of the waning 2-Tone ska revival movement. Brothers Robin (lead guitar) and Ali Campbell (guitar, lead vocals) formed the centerpiece of the group, which also included bassist Earl Falconer, keyboardist Mickey Virtue, saxophonist Brian Travers, drummer Jim Brown, percussionist Norman Hassan, and toaster Terence "Astro" Wilson. The band purchased its first instruments with compensation money Ali Campbell received after a bar fight, even though few of the members knew how to play them. . But by the end of the year, the group was invited to tour with the Pretenders. Their "Food for Thought" single reached the U.K. Top Ten in 1980, beginning a long streak of chart appearances. Signing Off and Present Arms were big sellers in Britain, if not America, and addressed the political issues of the day in songs like "One in Ten," a Top Ten hit blasting Margaret Thatcher for the country's unemployment rate. Released in 1983, Labour of Love, an album of reggae cover songs, gave the group its first chart album in America and first number one U.K. hit with Neil Diamond's "Red Red Wine." Several albums of original material sold well in the U.K., but only respectably in the U.S., where the group's biggest hit was a Top 30 cover of Sonny & Cher's "I Got You Babe" featuring the Pretenders' Chrissie Hynde.
Top Albums |
1. Labour of Lo..
| 2. UB40: Greate..
| 3. Who You Figh..
| 4. Labour of Lo..
| 5. Signing Off
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6. The Very Bes..
| 7. Rat In the K..
| 8. UB40: Live A..
| 9. Labour of Lo..
| 10. Signing Off
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11. TwentyFourSe..
| 12. Promises and..
| 13. UB40: Live I..
| 14. Ub40
| 15. Getting Over..
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16. CCCP - Live ..
| 17. Essential
| 18. Present Arms
| 19. Ub44
| 20. Geffery Morg..
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Top Songs |
| Name | Album | Time | Price | |
1. | Red Red Wine (12'' Version) | Labour of Love | 5:20 | $1.29 | |
2. | (I Can't Help) Falling In Love W.. | UB40: Greatest Hits | 3:26 | $1.29 | |
3. | Way You Do the Things You Do | UB40: Greatest Hits | 3:02 | $1.29 | |
4. | Red Red Wine (Edit) | 80's Super Hits | 3:02 | $1.29 | |
5. | Here I Am (Come and Take Me) | UB40: Greatest Hits | 4:04 | $1.29 | |
6. | Red Red Wine (Edit) | UB40: Greatest Hits | 3:04 | $1.29 | |
7. | Red Red Wine | UB40: Live In Birmingham | 5:52 | $0.99 | |
8. | Every Breath You Take | 50 First Dates (Love Songs .. | 3:55 | $1.29 | |
9. | Kingston Town | UB40: Greatest Hits | 3:50 | $1.29 | |
10. | Can't Help Falling In Love (With.. | UB40: Live At Montreux | 3:57 | $1.29 | |
11. | (I Can't Help) Falling in Love W.. | Promises and Lies | 3:27 | $1.29 | |
12. | Bring Me Your Cup | Promises and Lies | 5:41 | $1.29 | |
13. | I Got You Babe | UB40: Greatest Hits | 3:09 | $1.29 | |
14. | Way You Do the Things You Do | Labour of Love II | 3:02 | $1.29 | |
15. | Rat In Mi Kitchen | Rat In the Kitchen | 6:58 | $1.29 | |
16. | Cherry Oh Baby | UB40: Greatest Hits | 3:17 | $1.29 | |
17. | Don't Break My Heart | UB40: Greatest Hits | 3:50 | $1.29 | |
18. | Love I Can Feel | Labour of Love IV | 4:01 | $1.29 | |
19. | Close To Me | Labour of Love IV | 3:56 | $1.29 | |
20. | Holiday | Labour of Love IV | 3:42 | $1.29 | |
21. | Bring It On Home To Me | Labour of Love IV | 4:34 | $1.29 | |
22. | One In Ten (Forceable Lobotomy Mix) | One In Ten (Remixes) - EP | 4:17 | $1.29 | |
23. | One In Ten (UB40 Instrumental) | One In Ten (Remixes) - EP | 5:01 | $1.29 | |
24. | One In Ten (UB40 Vocal) | One In Ten (Remixes) - EP | 4:00 | $1.29 | |
25. | One In Ten (Fast Fon Mix) | One In Ten (Remixes) - EP | 3:55 | $1.29 | |
Top Music Videos |
1. Red Red Wine
| 2. Red Red Wine ...
| 3. Here I Am (Co...
| 4. Many Rivers t...
| 5. I Got You Bab...
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6. The Way You D...
| 7. The Earth Die...
| 8. Dream a Lie
| 9. My Way of Thi...
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