UB40

Released: September 27, 1982

Songwriter: UB40

Producer: UB40

Trenchtown Jamaica
Gave the Wailers their soun'
Like a steppin' razor
The Brother Tosh 'im come aroun'
Yellow Man and Eek-A-Mouse
Dem a trod 'pon newer groun
While Scratch and The Scientist
Dem jus' keep on mixin' down

The mighty General and Eastwood
Draw me out of my seat
The Lone Ranger ride in
To rock me 'pon me feet
The dreaded Flabba Holt and Style Scott
Start fe put down a radical beat
Wid Mistra Isaacs
Puttin' melodies so sweet

Reggae Music is
The key to my heart
Reggae music is
My stop and start
From dusk to dawn
The music's my high

UB40 are an English reggae and pop band, formed in December 1978 in Birmingham. The band has had more than 50 singles in the UK Singles Chart. They have been nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album four times, and in 1984 were nominated for the Brit Award for Best British Group. UB40 have sold over 70 million records. The ethnic make-up of the band’s original line-up was diverse, with musicians of English, Irish, Jamaican, Scottish and Yemeni parentage.

Their hit singles include their debut “Food for Thought”, “Red Red Wine” and “Can’t Help Falling in Love”. Both of these also topped the UK Singles Chart, as did the band’s version of “I Got You Babe”. Their two most successful albums, Labour of Love (1983) and Promises and Lies (1993), reached number one on the UK Albums Chart.

On January 24, 2008, it was announced that Ali Campbell would be leaving the group after 30 years. It was reported by some Birmingham newspapers on 13 March 2008, that Maxi Priest would be the new lead singer of UB40 and had recorded a cover of Bob Marley’s “I Shot the Sheriff” with the band.

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UB44 (1982)

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UB44