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UB40 are a dub / reggae pop music band formed in 1978 in Birmingham, England.
History
The band is one of the world's most culturally diverse dub reggae bands with musicians of English, Scottish, Irish, Yemeni and Jamaican parentage. The band is named from the paper form issued by the UK for claiming unemployment benefits (UB40 = Unemployment Benefits, Form 40).
UB40 were influenced by the many Blues Parties they attended as teenagers in the multiracial Balsall Heath area of Birmingham, their love of ska and reggae inspired such original tracks as "King", "Madam Medusa", "Food for thought", "Signing Off" and "One in Ten".
Their early music style was unique, with a heavy influence of analogue synthesizers, psychedelic rock guitar, saxophone and dub producer techniques which were later perfected by the late Pablo Falconer.
Ali and Robin Campbell have a musical heritage, being sons of Ian Campbell, a folk musician.
The band purchased its first instruments with compensation money Ali Campbell received after a bar fight. They have had a number of hits, most commercially and to amusement of the band, "Red Red Wine", a cover version of a Neil Diamond song (in an arrangement similar to that of Tony Tribe's version). Their most successful single release is the cover of the Elvis Presley ballad "I Can't Help Falling In Love With You" which was intended to be the main title to the 1992 Sharon Stone movie Sliver and was a Number One hit across Europe and in the U.S.
Many of UB40's recordings were inspired by 1960s ska and early lovers rock songs that would have otherwise been forgotten in the public eye. Their new injection of life into so many old Jamaican hits has resulted in many musician's and producer's renewed popularity and income.
UB40's early music often tackled social issues such as racism and unemployment.
Other artists that UB40 have collaborated with include: Helena Payne, Pato Banton, Madness, Bitty McLean, Chrissie Hynde, Robert Palmer, Hunterz, Japanese artist Mikidozan, French artist Nuttea, Lady Saw and Afrika Bambaataa.
Band members
- James (Jimmy) Brown - born on 20 November, 1957, in Birmingham - drums.
- Ali Campbell - born Alistair Campbell, on 15 February, 1959, in Birmingham - guitar, lead vocals.
- Robin Campbell - born on 25 December, 1954, in Birmingham - lead guitar, vocals.
- Earl Falconer - born on 23 January, 1957, in Birmingham - bass guitar, vocals.
- Norman Lamont Hassan - born on 26 January, 1958, in Birmingham - percussion, trombone, vocals.
- Brian Travers - born on 7 February, 1959, in Birmingham - saxophone.
- Mickey Virtue - born Michael Virtue, on 19 January, 1957, in Birmingham - keyboards.
- Astro - born Terence Wilson, on 24 June, 1957, in Birmingham - toasting vocals, percussion, trumpet.
And guest members include(d):
- Patrick Tenyue (trumpet) (1983-1994)
- Henry Tenyue (trombone) (1983-1994)
- Martin Meredith (saxophone) (1997 onwards)
- Laurence Parry (trumpet, flugal, trombone) (1995 onwards)
Discography
Albums
| Year | Album | UK | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Signing Off | 2 | - |
| 1981 | Present Arms | 2 | - |
| 1981 | Present Arms in Dub | 38 | - |
| 1982 | UB 44 | 4 | - |
| 1982 | The Singles Album | 17 | - |
| 1983 | UB40 Live | 44 | - |
| 1983 | Labour of Love 1 | 1 | 15 |
| 1984 | Geffery Morgan | 3 | 68 |
| 1985 | Baggariddim | 14 | - |
| 1985 | Little Baggariddim | - | 40 |
| 1985 | The UB40 File | - | - |
| 1986 | Rat in the Kitchen | 8 | 107 |
| 1987 | Live in Moscow | - | 121 |
| 1987 | The Best of UB40 - Volume One | 3 | - |
| 1988 | UB40 | 12 | 44 |
| 1989 | Labour of Love II | 3 | 30 |
| 1993 | Promises and Lies | 1 | 6 |
| 1994 | Labour Of Love, Volumes I and II (re-issue) | 5 | - |
| 1995 | The Best of UB40 - Volume Two | 12 | - |
| 1997 | Guns in the Ghetto | 7 | 176 |
| 1998 | UB40 Present the Dancehall Album | - | - |
| 1998 | Labour of Love III | 8 | - |
| 2000 | The Very Best of UB40 | 7 | - |
| 2001 | Cover Up | 29 | - |
| 2002 | UB40 Present The Fathers Of Reggae | - | - |
| 2003 | Homegrown | 49 | - |
| 2003 | Labour Of Love, Volumes I, II and III (re-issue) | 7 | - |
| 2005 | Who You Fighting For? | 20 | - |
1 Labour Of Love reached number fifteen in the U.S. in 1988 with the re-popularization of "Red Red Wine".
Singles
| Year | Song | UK singles | US Hot 100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | "King"/"Food For Thought" | 4 | - |
| 1980 | "My Way Of Thinking"/"I Think It's Going To Rain" | 6 | - |
| 1980 | "The Earth Dies Screaming"/"Dream A Lie" | 10 | - |
| 1981 | "Don't Let It Pass You By"/"Don't Slow Down" | 16 | - |
| 1981 | "One In Ten" | 7 | - |
| 1982 | "I Won't Close My Eyes" | 32 | - |
| 1982 | "Love Is All Is All Right" | 29 | - |
| 1982 | "So Here I Am" | 25 | - |
| 1983 | "I've Got Mine" | 45 | - |
| 1983 | "Red Red Wine" | 1 | 34 |
| 1983 | "Please Don't Make Me Cry" | 10 | - |
| 1983 | "Many Rivers To Cross" | 16 | - |
| 1984 | "Cherry Oh Baby" | 12 | - |
| 1984 | "If It Happens Again" | 9 | - |
| 1984 | "Riddle Me" | 59 | - |
| 1985 | "I'm Not Fooled"/"The Pillow" | 59 | - |
| 1985 | "I Got You Babe" (with Chrissie Hynde) | 1 | 28 |
| 1985 | "Don't Break My Heart" | 3 | - |
| 1986 | "Sing Our Own Song" | 5 | - |
| 1986 | "All I Want To Do" | 41 | - |
| 1987 | "Rat In Mi Kitchen" | 12 | - |
| 1987 | "Watchdogs" | 39 | - |
| 1987 | "Maybe Tomorrow" | 14 | - |
| 1988 | "Reckless" (with Afrika Bambaataa) | 17 | - |
| 1988 | "Where Did I Go Wrong" | 26 | - |
| 1988 | "Red Red Wine" (U.S. re-issue) | - | 1 |
| 1988 | "Breakfast In Bed" (with Chrissie Hynde) | 6 | - |
| 1988 | "Come Out To Play" | 77 | - |
| 1989 | "I Would Do For You" | 45 | - |
| 1989 | "Homely Girl" | 6 | - |
| 1990 | "Kingston Town" | 4 | - |
| 1990 | "Wear You To The Ball" | 35 | - |
| 1990 | "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" (with Robert Palmer) | 6 | - |
| 1990 | "Impossible Love" | 47 | - |
| 1991 | "The Way You Do the Things You Do" | 49 | 6 |
| 1991 | "Here I Am (Come and Take Me)" | 46 | 7 |
| 1991 | "Groovin'" | - | 90 |
| 1992 | "One In Ten" (remix by 808 State) | 17 | - |
| 1993 | "(I Can't Help) Falling In Love With You" | 1 | 1 |
| 1993 | "Higher Ground" | 8 | 45 |
| 1993 | "Bring Me Your Cup" | 24 | - |
| 1994 | "C'est La Vie" | 37 | - |
| 1994 | "Reggae Music" | 28 | - |
| 1995 | "Until My Dying Day" | 15 | - |
| 1997 | "Tell Me Is It True" | 14 | - |
| 1997 | "Always There" | 53 | - |
| 1998 | "Come Back Darling" | 10 | - |
| 1998 | "Holly Holy" | 31 | - |
| 1999 | "The Train Is Coming" | 30 | - |
| 2000 | "Light My Fire" | 63 | - |
| 2001 | "Since I Met You Lady" (with Lady Saw) / "Sparkle Of My Eyes" | 40 | - |
| 2002 | "Cover Up" | 54 | - |
| 2003 | "Swing Low" | 15 | - |
| 2005 | "Kiss And Say Goodbye" | 19 | - |
| 2005 | "Reasons" (with Hunterz and The Dhol Blasters) | 75 | - |
See also
- Best selling music artists — World's top-selling music artists chart.
External links
Peel Sessions artists | English musical groups | Reggae musical groups | Rhythmic Top 40 acts | British dance musicians | Dance/Club music artists | Music from Birmingham, England | 1980s music groups | 1990s music groups | 2000s music groups
"UB40"