UB40
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.
Featured Records
UB40
Signing Off
| Title | Album | Genre | Tools | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| My Way Of Thinking | Signing Off | Reggae, Rock | ||||||||||
| Tyler | Signing Off | Reggae, Rock | ||||||||||
|
Client:
Artist:
UB40
Genres:
Reggae and Rock
Instruments:
Drums, Electric Guitar, Guitar, Keyboard, Organ, Percussion, and Saxophone
Keywords:
Atmospheric, Dark, Dramatic, Feel-Good, Funky/Groove, Ominous, Percussive/Drums, and Sentimental
Scene Descriptions:
Film Trailer, Frat Party, Goodbye, Patriotic, and Rainy Day
Subgenres:
Indie Rock and Reggae
Tempo:
Medium Slow
Vocal Types:
Male
CD/Track #:
Signing Off, #1
Release Year:
1980
Track ID:
39768
|
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| King | Signing Off | Reggae, Rock | ||||||||||
|
Client:
Artist:
UB40
Genres:
Reggae and Rock
Instruments:
Drums, Electric Guitar, Guitar, Horns, Keyboard, Organ, Percussion, Piano, Saxophone, and Trumpet
Keywords:
Atmospheric, Bright, Dramatic, Feel-Good, Funky/Groove, Moody, and Percussive/Drums
Scene Descriptions:
Best Friends, Frat Party, Goodbye, Rainy Day, Road Trip, Sunny Day, and Victory
Subgenres:
Indie Rock and Reggae
Tempo:
Medium Slow
Vocal Types:
Male
CD/Track #:
Signing Off, #2
Release Year:
1980
Track ID:
39769
|
||||||||||||
| 12 Bar | Signing Off | Reggae, Rock | ||||||||||
|
Client:
Artist:
UB40
Genres:
Reggae and Rock
Instruments:
Drums, Electric Guitar, Electronic, Guitar, Keyboard, Organ, Percussion, and Saxophone
Keywords:
Atmospheric, Bright, Feel-Good, Funky/Groove, Ominous, and Percussive/Drums
Scene Descriptions:
Best Friends, Frat Party, In Love, Patriotic, Road Trip, Strip Tease, and Sunny Day
Subgenres:
Indie Rock and Reggae
Tempo:
Medium Slow
Vocal Types:
Male
CD/Track #:
Signing Off, #3
Release Year:
1980
Track ID:
39770
|
||||||||||||
| The Earth Dies Screaming | Signing Off | Reggae, Rock | ||||||||||
| Burden Of Shame | Signing Off | Reggae, Rock | ||||||||||
|
Client:
Artist:
UB40
Genres:
Reggae and Rock
Instruments:
Drums, Electric Guitar, Electric Piano, Electronic, Guitar, Keyboard, Melodica , Organ, Percussion, and Synth
Keywords:
Atmospheric, Climactic, Dark, Dramatic, Driving, Funky/Groove, Moody, Ominous, Percussive/Drums, and Sentimental
Scene Descriptions:
Fist Fight, Goodbye, Patriotic, Rainy Day, Strip Tease, and Victory March
Subgenres:
Indie Rock and Reggae
Tempo:
Slow
Vocal Types:
Male
CD/Track #:
Signing Off, #4
Release Year:
1980
Track ID:
39771
|
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| 25% | Signing Off | Reggae, Rock | ||||||||||
| Dream A Lie | Signing Off | Reggae, Rock | ||||||||||
|
Client:
Artist:
UB40
Genres:
Reggae and Rock
Instruments:
Conga Drums and Horns
Keywords:
Funky/Groove and Quirky
Scene Descriptions:
Morning After
Subgenres:
Indie Rock and Reggae
Tempo:
Moderate
CD/Track #:
Signing Off, #14
Release Year:
1980
Track ID:
39781
|
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| Little By Little | Signing Off | Reggae, Rock | ||||||||||
| Adella | Signing Off | Reggae, Rock | ||||||||||
| Madam Medusa | Signing Off | Reggae, Rock | ||||||||||
| Signing Off | Signing Off | Reggae, Rock | ||||||||||
| Reefer Madness | Signing Off | Reggae, Rock | ||||||||||
| Food For Thought | Signing Off | Reggae, Rock | ||||||||||