Labour of Love

UB 40

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 11, 1997)
• Original Release Date: September 1983
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Virgin Records Us
• ASIN: B000000WIW
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #35,174 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
UB40 are not great innovators, but they are great imitators, and, in a sense, Labour of Love made them the Pat Boone of reggae. Featuring a handsome and clean-cut (by reggae standards) white singer, Ali Campbell, UB40 covered Jamaican standards and turned millions of Americans and Europeans on to another form of black music. Interestingly enough, the album's smash hit, "Red Red Wine," was a cover of a rocksteady cover of a Neil Diamond track. Being that UB40 had the pick of the reggae litter, Labour of Love is chock full of stellar material. From Jimmy Cliff's "Many Rivers to Cross" to the Melodians' "Sweet Sensation" to Johnny Clarke's "Keep On Moving," Labour of Love still serves as an excellent reggae starter kit. --Bill Crandall

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE BEST OF THEIR CAREER, November 2, 2000

By	Ian Phillips (Bolton, Lancashire, UK) - See all my reviews

Out of all three albums in UB40s' Labour Of Love series this very first one is most defintley the very best with a complete run of classic sounding reggae tracks. RED RED WINE is perharps the most instantly memroable song on the album but running closley behind that is the excellent JOHNNY TOO BAD. That song has to be one of the very best in their career to date. A real gem! Ali Campells vocals are crystal clear and strong on every track and the highlights also include MANY RIVERS TO CROSS, SWEET SENSATION, PLEASE DON'T MAKE ME CRY and SHE CAUGHT THE TRAIN. Possibly the greatest album of their career to date. Its certainly a delight to listen to. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Must Have., May 15, 2001

By A Customer

...This album is one of my favorites. So much so that I wore out my original vinyl. Before Punk had the stronghold in the 80's, a more subtle, accessible style emerged from Jamaica. It took hold in the UK. Bands such as The English Beat, The Clash, & The Police would take inspiration from this style and lead us years later to the alternative scene we take for granted today. The original release of this record is 8-10 years before RED RED WINE would find US radio rotation. UB40 compiles their strongest inspirations from Jamaica. This is the British homage to the Jamaican originals. This is a special record. Highly recommended.

4.0 out of 5 stars Fifty-Fifty, October 8, 2008

By	M. Hughes - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Yeah, it's fifty-fifty, but the better half of the album make it worth four stars. There is some of the pop b.s. that UB40 have been criticized for, but then there are tracks like "Keep On Moving", "Please Don't Make Me Cry" and "Sweet Sensation", which more than make up for the annoying tracks (Guilty and Version Girl). Besides, if you are a chick then you will like "Red Red Wine" also! I am not however, but the album is still worth having.