UB40: Ali Campbell, Robin Campbell (vocals, guitar); Astro, Norman Hassan (vocals, percussion); Brian Travers (saxophone); Michael Virtue (keyboards); Earl Falconer (bass); James Brown (drums, percussion).
Additional personnel: Josh Fifer (trumpet); Jackie Mittoo (keyboards); Ruby Turner, Jackie Graham, Mo Birch (background vocals).
This is UB40's "tribute" album with cover versions of their favorite songs from 1969 through 1972.
Playing reggae and supporting the UK Labour Party during a decade of Thatcherism and racism demonstrated that these chaps had morals and guts. They eventually prospered (good ultimately conquers bad) and they can now look back and taste their achievement. In the UK, UB40 have done as much to popularize reggae as Bob Marley did for the rest of the world. This is their most refined album and contains some of their major hits. They make a point in the sleeve-notes of informing the listener that all these songs had been recorded by Jamaican artists. No apology is needed - their 'Cherry Oh Baby' and 'Red Red Wine' have become classics for this band. Much respect, irie.
What the critics say...
Rolling Stone - ranked #98 in Rolling Stone's "100 Greatest Albums Of The Eighties" survey. (November 89)
