A reggae band formed 1978 in Birmingham, UK. The music grasps from roots re… Read Full Bio ↴A reggae band formed 1978 in Birmingham, UK. The music grasps from roots reggae and dub to lovers rock and pop. It is the second most commercial successful reggae band with +70 million sold albums. Many of their hits have been stylishly covers of early reggae and rocksteady hits from Jamaica. After success in UK, UB40's won USA with Labour of Love (1983), their first album of covers. UB40 was 1986 the first Western band to play behind the Iron Curtain, live in Moscow, Soviet Union. UB40 is known for hits as 'Food For Thought', (1980) 'Red Red Wine' (1983), 'Please Don't Make Me Cry' (1983), 'I Got You Babe' (1985) with frontman Ali Campbell in duet with Chrissie Hynde just like in 'Breakfast in Bed' (1988). Their most successful worldwide single release is their reggae/pop version of 'I Can't Help) Falling in Love With You' (1993).
The band is one of the most culturally diverse dub Ska bands with musicians of English, Scottish, Irish, Yemeni and Jamaican parentage. The band is named from the paper form issued by the UK government's Department of Health and Social Security at the time of the band's formation for claiming unemployment benefit (UB40 = Unemployment Benefit, 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 Can't Help Falling In Love 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 musicians' and producers' 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: Pato Banton, Madness, Bitty McLean, Chrissie Hynde, Robert Palmer, Hunterz, Japanese artist Mikidozan, French artist Nuttea, Lady Saw and Afrika Bambaataa.
The band is one of the most culturally diverse dub Ska bands with musicians of English, Scottish, Irish, Yemeni and Jamaican parentage. The band is named from the paper form issued by the UK government's Department of Health and Social Security at the time of the band's formation for claiming unemployment benefit (UB40 = Unemployment Benefit, 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 Can't Help Falling In Love 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 musicians' and producers' 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: Pato Banton, Madness, Bitty McLean, Chrissie Hynde, Robert Palmer, Hunterz, Japanese artist Mikidozan, French artist Nuttea, Lady Saw and Afrika Bambaataa.
More Genres
No Artists Found
More Artists
Load All
No Albums Found
More Albums
Load All
No Tracks Found
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found
Red Red Wine - The Essential UB40
UB40 Lyrics
All I Want To Do [Chorus] I don't like the work but true I need the…
Bling Bling Astro chatting........ …
Breakfast in Bed [CHRISSIE: ] You've been crying your face is a mess…
Cherry Oh Baby Cherry oh, cherry oh, baby Cherry oh, cherry oh, baby Don't …
Come Back Darling Come back darling Give me another try I'll make you satisfi…
Don't Break My Heart You shoot me down in flames You put me down…
Don't Slow Down You might believe, and still you feel the chase has…
Dream A Lie Why do I have to dream of you when I…
Drop On By Drop on by when the sun goes down We can talk…
Dubmobile Talking about the reel the reel the reel.... (Echo: "Talkin…
Fight Fe Come In Mk.2 What a bam bam round the mike m.c. What a bam…
Food For Thought Ivory Madonna dying in the dust Waiting for the manna coming…
Get Along Without You Now Aha mhmm gonna get along without you now* Aha mhmm I’m…
He'll Have To Go Put your sweet lips a little closer to the phone Let′s…
Higher Ground Every hour of every day, I'm learning more The more I…
Homely Girl It must have broke your poor little heart When…
I Won't Close My Eyes I won't close my eyes To the sufferers plight. In a world…
I'm Not Fooled So Easily I've been listening to what you said And wondering if it…
If It Happens Again If it happens again, I'm leaving I'll pack my things…
Just What's Killing Me I intend to do me some forgetting It’s gonna take some…
King King, where are your people now ? Chained and pacified…
Kingston Town The night seems to fade But the moonlight lingers on There a…
Light My Fire You know that it would be untrue You know that it…
Looking Down At My Reflection Looking down at my reflection In the puddle at…
Love Is All Is Alright Love Is all is alright But you left it a…
Man Next Door There is a man that live next door In my neighborhood…
Maybe Tomorrow I don't know how many stars there are Up in the…
My Way of Thinking Give me all you have (Come over) All you got…
Promises and Lies All the sorrow and the pain All the sacrifice…
Reasons Reasons why I love you - One You light my day,…
Reggae Music I said we friendship come first, the band did come…
Riddle Me [Chorus] Riddle me who, riddle me why, answer me this, …
She Caught The Train Another night of loneliness My love is gone She made a fuss…
Sing Our Own Song The great flood of tears that we've cried For our brothers…
Singer Man Singer man sing me a song Singer man sing me…
So Here I Am Seven on a Monday morning. And it's a sunny day. It's just…
Sparkle of My Eyes The tears from my eyes keep on falling 'Cause you…
Stay A Little Bit Longer Stay a little bit longer [Repeat: x1] Hold on I'm coming …
Strange Fruit Southern trees bear a strange fruit Blood on the…
Tracks Of My Tears The tears from my eyes keep on falling 'Cause you…
Paul M
on reckless
Does anyone know who the singer on the mic is with the hat? Also the two that come in with Bam? Thanks
Ian Fulton
on My Way of Thinking
Best band in the stratosphere
Rosie Contreras
on Red Red Wine
Awesome song