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UB40
Signing Off
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1980
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Tyler
King
12 Bar
Burden Of Shame
Adella
I Think It's Going To Rain Today
25%
Food For Thought
Little By Little
Signing Off
Madame Medusa
Strange Fruit
Reefer Madness
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So ubiquitous is UB40's grip on the
pop-reggae market today, that it will be
difficult for younger fans to comprehend
just how their arrival shook up the British
musical scene.
They appeared just as Two Tone had peaked
and was beginning its slide towards
oblivion. Not that it mattered, few but the
foolish would try to shoehorn the band into
that suit.
However, the group were no more comfortable
within the UK reggae axis of Steel Pulse,
Aswad and Matumbi, and not merely because
you can't have four bands in an axis.
Their rhythms may have been reggae based,
their music Jamaican inspired, but UB40 had
such an original take on the genre that all
comparisons were moot. Even their attack on
the singles chart was unusual, as they
smacked three double A-sided singles into
the Top Ten in swift succession. By rights,
the second 45 should have acted as a taster
for their album -- it didn't, coming several
months too soon, while the third should have
been a spin- off -- it wasn't, boasting two
new songs entirely. Regardless, both sides
of their debut single -- the roots rocking
indictment of politicians refusal to relieve
famine on "Food for Thought" and the dreamy
tribute to Martin Luther "King" were
included, as well as their phenomenal cover
of Randy Newman's "I Think It's Going to
Rain Today" off their second single.
The new material was equally strong. The
moody roots fired "Tyler," which kicks off
the set, is a potent condemnation of the US
judicial system, while it's stellar dub
"25%" appears later in the set. The smoky
Far Eastern flavored "Burden" explores the
dual tugs of national pride and shame over
Britain's oppressive past (and present).
If that was a thoughtful number, "Little by
Little" was a blatant call for class
warfare. Of course, Ali Campbell never
raised his voice, he didn't need to, his
words were his sword, and the creamier and
sweeter his delivery, the deeper they cut.
Today, the group have moved far from their
radical past, but there's no mistaking their
militancy here.
The music was just as revolutionary, their
sound unlike anything else on either island.
From deep dubs shot through with jazzy sax,
to the bright and breezy instrumental "12
Bar" with its splendid loose groove, that is
transmuted later in the set to the jazzier
and smokier "Adella," "Food" slams into the
dance clubs, "King" floats to the heavens.
It's hard to believe this is the same UB40
that topped the UK charts with the likes of
"Red Red Wine" and "I've Got You Babe"."
Their fire was dampened quickly, but on
Signing Off it blazed high. Still accessible
to the pop market, but so edgy, that even
those that are sure there's nothing about
the group to admire will change their tune
instantly. A timeless masterpiece. |
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