Almost certainly to my loss, reggae hasn’t featured nearly enough in my musical life, but I have just come across a new release, Unplugged, from some very old friends, UB40. Before going any further the correct name is UB40 featuring Ali, Astro & Mickey. Having been together for thirty years, a split in 2008 led to deep acrimony among the band and now these three founder members have regrouped to form another UB40. Not wanting to misrepresent anyone I shall leave the history at that and stick to the music. Whatever and whoever, this double album of unplugged and greatest hits goes right back to the band’s roots in Birmingham. To an old sceptic like me, stripping old songs down to acoustic versions then releasing them as “unplugged” smacks of the marketing department but a listen to these classics banishes such cynicism. This is a collection of UB40’s finest material sung by the unmistakable voice of Ali Campbell backed by their trademark rhythms.
The two discs contain a mix of their classic hits, covers and political/social commentary. The latter category resonates most with me having played the band’s first album, Signing Off, throughout 1981, the turbulent year following its release characterised by riots in some of the UK’s largest cities against the divisive Thatcher policies. Unemployment soared giving the band’s name; th UB40 was the form that had to be completed to claim unemployment benefit, otherwise known as “signing on”. The diversity of the band’s members that fused reggae from Jamaica with the flourishing home-grown variety was a rare source of optimism in those riven times. With all that’s going on now I wound the clock back 35 years almost immediately on hearing these songs again.
Anyway, that’s enough politicising, let’s get to the music. Of the two discs the one that stands out is the unplugged version. The Greatest Hits is fine, and few fans would quibble about its track list; Red Red Wine, I Can’t Help Falling in Love, Many Rivers to Cross, Cherry Oh Baby, One in Ten, Rat in Mi Kitchen, In Kingston Town. Not having listened to these for some time they sound fresh, very well produced and a good UB40 playlist.
The unplugged disc is mainly the same songs but stripped down to the basics so in other words, Ali Campbell, harmonies and rhythms. Less is definitely more and the songs from Signing Off (One in Ten, Food for Thought and Tyler) must be listened to with no distractions. They sound as captivating as they did over thirty years ago and this is not the nostalgia trip that often accompanies greatest hits.
Roots comes in many forms from many sources. Birmingham (UK) has made a big contribution, not least from UB40.
