Labour of Love
Encyclopedia
Labour of Love is a reggae album by UB40
, the band's fourth studio album. It was originally released on 1 September 1983 and included the hits, "Red, Red Wine" (UK #1, US #1), "Cherry Oh Baby" (UK #12), "Many Rivers to Cross" (UK #16), and "Please Don't Make Me Cry" (UK #10).
The entire album consists of cover versions of songs originally released by the group's musical idols. The most notable track is the cover of Neil Diamond
's "Red, Red Wine," which reached #1 in the United Kingdom upon its release. The song was re-released in the United States in 1988, where it also topped the chart. The album and 12" version included a toasted verse by Astro, later copied by Neil Diamond
in his live performances.
The album reached #1 in the UK and #8 in the United States. With the inclusion of the new version of "Red, Red Wine," the album regained popularity in 1988 and climbed to #15 in the U.S.
In 1989, it was ranked #98 on Rolling Stone
magazine's list of The 100 Greatest Albums of the 80s.
The band would later continue the series and release three more cover albums, Labour of Love II
, Labour of Love III
and Labour of Love IV
.
The album was accompanied by a video also entitled Labour of Love, consisting of various music videos for the songs and tied together with a storyline showing the band working in the dump yard and relationships with wives, families and girlfriends. The film was directed by Bernard Rose
.
UB40
UB40 are a British reggae/pop band formed in 1978 in Birmingham. The band has placed more than 50 singles in the UK Singles Chart, and has also achieved considerable international success. One of the world's best-selling music artists, UB40 have sold over 70 million records.Their hit singles...
, the band's fourth studio album. It was originally released on 1 September 1983 and included the hits, "Red, Red Wine" (UK #1, US #1), "Cherry Oh Baby" (UK #12), "Many Rivers to Cross" (UK #16), and "Please Don't Make Me Cry" (UK #10).
The entire album consists of cover versions of songs originally released by the group's musical idols. The most notable track is the cover of Neil Diamond
Neil Diamond
Neil Leslie Diamond is an American singer-songwriter with a career spanning over five decades from the 1960s until the present....
's "Red, Red Wine," which reached #1 in the United Kingdom upon its release. The song was re-released in the United States in 1988, where it also topped the chart. The album and 12" version included a toasted verse by Astro, later copied by Neil Diamond
Neil Diamond
Neil Leslie Diamond is an American singer-songwriter with a career spanning over five decades from the 1960s until the present....
in his live performances.
The album reached #1 in the UK and #8 in the United States. With the inclusion of the new version of "Red, Red Wine," the album regained popularity in 1988 and climbed to #15 in the U.S.
In 1989, it was ranked #98 on Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine's list of The 100 Greatest Albums of the 80s.
The band would later continue the series and release three more cover albums, Labour of Love II
Labour of Love II
Labour of Love II is the second album of covers by the British reggae group UB40, released in 1989. The album contained two Top Ten Billboard Hot 100 hits - "Here I Am " peaked at #7, "The Way You Do the Things You Do" peaked at #6 - and "Kingston Town" reached #4 on the UK singles chart.- Track...
, Labour of Love III
Labour of Love III
Labour of Love III is the third album of covers by the Birmingham reggae group UB40, following Labour of Love and Labour of Love II.-Track listing:#"Holly Holy" #"It's My Delight"...
and Labour of Love IV
Labour of Love IV
Labour of Love IV is the fourth album of covers by the Birmingham reggae group UB40, following Labour of Love , Labour of Love II and Labour of Love III'.-Track listing:# "Don't Want To See You Cry" – 3:50...
.
The album was accompanied by a video also entitled Labour of Love, consisting of various music videos for the songs and tied together with a storyline showing the band working in the dump yard and relationships with wives, families and girlfriends. The film was directed by Bernard Rose
Bernard Rose (director)
Bernard Rose is an English actor and film director most famous for his direction of the 1992 urban horror film Candyman and the 1994 historical romance film Immortal Beloved....
.
Track listing
- "Cherry Oh Baby" – 3:18 (original by Eric DonaldsonEric DonaldsonEric Donaldson is a Jamaican reggae singer-songwriter.-Biography:Donaldson has won the Jamaican Festival Song Competition six times, in 1971, 1977, 1978, 1984, 1993 and 1997. His winning 1971 entry, "Cherry Oh Baby", launched him into the limelight, although he had been composing and recording...
) - "Keep on Moving" – 4:37 (original by The Impressions; modeled after the Reggae cover by The Wailers)
- "Please Don't Make Me Cry" – 3:26 (original by Winston Tucker)
- "Sweet Sensation" – 3:42 (original by The MelodiansThe MelodiansThe Melodians were a reggae band formed in the Greenwich Town area of Kingston, Jamaica in 1965, by Tony Brevett , Brent Dowe and Trevor McNaughton...
) - "Johnny Too Bad" – 4:57 (original by The SlickersThe SlickersThe Slickers were a Jamaican rocksteady and reggae group in the late 1960s and early 1970s.They are best known for the song, "Johnny Too Bad", which featured on the film soundtrack of The Harder They Come, and which was sung with additional lyrics by John Martyn on his Grace and Danger album.The...
) - "Red, Red Wine" – 5:21 (original by Neil DiamondNeil DiamondNeil Leslie Diamond is an American singer-songwriter with a career spanning over five decades from the 1960s until the present....
; modeled after the Reggae cover by Tony Tribe) - "Guilty" – 3:16 (original by Tiger)
- "She Caught the Train" – 3:17 (original by Joe Monsano)
- "Version Girl" – 3:27 (original by Boy FridayDandy LivingstoneDandy Livingstone is a Jamaican reggae musician and producer, best known for his 1972 hit, "Suzanne Beware of the Devil", and for his song, "Rudy, A Message to You", which was later a hit for The Specials...
) - "Many Rivers to CrossMany Rivers to Cross- Song information :This is one of the few Cliff tracks to use an organ, which helps to supplement the gospel feel provided by the backing vocalists. Cliff released the song, with production work by Leslie Kong, on his 1969 album, Jimmy Cliff. It was also released on the 1972 soundtrack album for...
" – 4:31 (original by Jimmy CliffJimmy CliffJimmy Cliff, OM is a Jamaican musician, singer and actor. He is the only currently living musician to hold the Order of Merit, the highest honour that can be granted by the Jamaican government for achievement in the arts and sciences...
)