By Vinette K. Pryce
British pop/reggae recorders UB40 are hotter than ever in their 25 th year. I spoke with lead singer Ali Campbell and vocalist Astro who clued me about the making of their 23 rd recording. The best sellers who revived Neil Diamond’s “Red, Red, Wine,” Sonny & Cher’s “I Got You Babe,” Elvis Presley’s “(I Can’t Help) Falling In Love” and repackaged numerous classic recordings to rockers likings are likely to hit again with “Good Situation.” Formerly recorded by Gene Chandler under the title “Groovy Situation,” the reworked track is more than groovy, it is good and even better. They eliminated the “can you dig it” queries from the original to add some righteous dance beats. To hear the harmony of eight boys from Birmingham who have remained friends for 27 years is worth the purchase of their June release titled “Who You Fighting For.” Unlikely to miss, my personal favorite “Reasons” is a sure shot. Lively, up-tempo and laden with beats and rhymes, this original track bears no identity to the Earth, Wind & Fire composition of the same name. While the CD comes in the same year, the group celebrates their golden anniversary of the first hit recording, it also marks a recent appearance at the St. Lucia Jazz Festival and more recently an appearance in the sandy trails of Dubai where Shaggy also represented reggae. According to Ali Campbell, lead singer, “We are looking forward to touring the US sometime after September.” How they will do that is unlikely since they are booked through the summer in Spain, Switzerland, Denmark, Belgium, Germany and Ireland. After that they have dates throughout their kingdom into December.

Fans are anxious to see the group stateside.
“There is a little problem with Astro’s documents,” Campbell told me, “apparently when we were in Hawaii the authorities claimed he had some weed on him.”

Small detail it seems for fans who are willing to convince Homeland Security that Astro and company will not pose a threat to the US. In fact, from the conscious lyrics packaged on all 13 tracks, the country may well be indebted for all the insight the group offers. “Reasons” count up numbers to love. “Bling Bling” dismisses flashy façade. “Diamonds and pearls don’t mean anything…don’t buy me…chaparita and ting…” By now you’ve got the gist of the pennings. And tracks such as the title track, “Plenty More,” “War Poem,” and “Sins of the Fathers” could well advise the president on a peaceful course for the country.

UB40 BLAZES GLOBAL TRAIL FOR REGGAE
Perhaps the most traveled reggae ambassadors, UB40 played Zimbabwe back in 1982. In 1985 they performed an unprecedented concert in Russia. They took the beat to a billion TV viewers in India. Indelibly etched in the minds of activists is the group’s 1987 wailing union with rockers at Wembley Stadium when they called out to “Free Nelson Mandela.” They proudly represented the genre at a time when Afrikaners thought they ruled in perpetuity. It was not long after the timely demise of apartheid the group partyed on the continent with 250,000 optimistic South Africans. In 1994 when Nelson Mandela hoped to be president by campaigning for leadership, UB40 inspired the nation with appearances in various cities. The group is acclaimed in Sri Lanka as reggae’s best ambassadors. UB40 scours Europe returning regularly to Spain, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland and Ireland. Their signature sounds have allowed them to venture into all forms of reggae. In 1998 they collaborated with dancehall artists Beenie Man and Lady Saw without compromising their fan base. With 49 charted singles on the UK charts, UB40’s claim to Unemployment Benefits is guaranteed. They took their name from the form citizens must file in order to collect from the government. Hence the now world acclaimed moniker UB40.

From the US release of “UB44,” “Labor Of Love,” “Baggariddim,” and “Geffery Morgan” audiences have hankered for their stop into cities across the nation. The release of the CD “Rat In The Kitchen” in 1986 established the group house-hold names in America. New Yorkers welcomed them to the Pier, a west side, Manhattan, waters-edge venue where revelers filled to capacity. At Roseland Ballroom, The Ritz, and Madison Square Gardens UB40 reprised favorites and introduced new anthems from the ‘80’s and well into the ‘90’s.

UB40 QUERIES IRAQI WARMONGERS
Reggae’s most successful group UB40 felt compelled to address the world’s latest conflict. The 25-year-old, Birmingham group of friends who have successfully turned covers into hits for the genre said “we cannot let the people down.” According to lead singer Ali Campbell, any musical protest of the war in Iraq has been “conspicuously absent.” That is why during their 25 th anniversary year, their 23 rd album will include songs that make reference to the war. The title alone, “Who You Fighting For” questions volunteers and draftees already imbedded for the fight. Other tracks from the compilation relevant to the topic include “Plenty More,” “War Poem,” and “Sins of the Father.” Then there are nine others chock-full of love, commentary and reggae.

WHY REGGAE’S TOP RECORDERS NEVER PLAYED THE ROCK
How after 25 years as a major ambassador for the genre, reggae super-group UB40 still have not performed in Jamaica, is almost ludicrous. Drummer James Brown, bass/keyboard player Earl Falconer, saxman Brian Travers, guitarist/vocalists brothers Robin and Ali Campbell, percussionist Norman Lamont Hassan, keyboardist Michael Virtue, and vocalist Astro genuinely love the music borne in Jamaica. “We grew up listening to reggae,” lead man Ali said. “We love reggae,” Astro echoed. Yet, the band that has taken the music to huge audiences to one billion in India, 250,000 in South Africa, millions in the Soviet Union, all over Europe, throughout the USA and countries in the Caribbean have never performed in Jamaica. Although Ali even lived in Oracabessa for a time, the group’s staging at any of the major festivals have been elusive. Three years ago, an Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival booking almost realized the opportunity to see and hear UB40 perform “Red, Red, Wine,” “(I Can’t Help) Falling In Love,” “I Got You Babe,” “I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight,” “Rat In The Kitchen,” and the other hits that over the years claim UB40 as tops. That however, did not prove manifest. Hopefully, Jamaicans will soon have an opportunity to see who and hear a group who has enhanced the music by keeping it at the fore. The CD drops next month.

See You In The Whirl!