i used to have this new wave compilation with the specials, grace jones, siouxsie and the banshees, ub40 & others on it. i wish i knew where it was.

IstenSzek said:

Actually, back when they first came on the scene in 1980, they were regarded as cutting edge. In the UK it was the era of the Two Tone/ska/mod revival and UB40 (named after the old term for an unemployment benefit card) were very much a part of it. Most of their songs were originals and a lot of those were pretty good - Food For Thought, Madame Medusa, The Earth Dies Screaming etc. They only started becoming a reggae lite karaoke band around the time of Labour of Love, their first covers album, but even then that was regarded as a great album and a bold masterstroke. The rot set in shortly thereafter. But you know what? I don't own ANY of their records, but UB40 can do what the hell they want Good luck to 'em. There's far worse around. Like ... Coldplague and U2's current lazyitis incarnation.
[Edited 12/22/05 10:43am]

Marrk said:

Indeed. Home of Ozzy Ozzbozo and Black Sabbath too.

laurarichardson said:

Exactly! Someone who knows their facts. As Labour of Love was the biggest hit of their career, they not only revisited the concept not once but THREE times, but they hit upon a great way of filling their coffers resulting in dwindling results in the original songs department. Still, Paul McCartney was bopping around to them at Live 8.

if you get anything by them, get the Geffrey Morgan album....it is quite unlike anything they have ever done....and you won't belive it is the same band that you now hate

Leave UB40 alone. They're an awesome band!

Yes, yes, yes! Their vocals are incredibly grating, as is their reggae shuffle crap!

NWF said:

I knew you'd show up

UB40 are truly one of the most satanic acts of all time. Did Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Coxsone Dodd and Augustus Pablo die so this trash could come to pass???

Grrrrr

Their remake of "The Way You do the Things You Do" is on point