Track Listing

1. I Got You Babe - Chrissie Hynde, UB40
2. Here I Am (Come and Take Me)
3. Bring Me Your Cup [7 Version]
4. One in Ten
5. Red, Red Wine
6. Kingston Town
7. If It Happens Again
8. Don't Break My Heart
9. Cherry Oh Baby
10. Can't Help Falling in Love
11. Higher Ground
12. Tell Me Is It True
13. Rat in Mi Kitchen
14. Until My Dying Day
15. Way You Do the Things You Do
16. Light My Fire
17. Food for Thought
18. Sing Our Own Song

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #22123 in Music
• Released on: 2001-09-18
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.com
It's hard to believe that UB40 have been around since the early 1980s, but the proof is right here in the 18 tracks on this album. While most famous for their cover songs, UB40 have written a good portion of original material that's excellent. But songs like "Red Red Wine" and a previously unreleased version of the Doors' "Light My Fire" will attract the majority of listeners to this collection. Following in the footsteps of greats like Bob Marley and Burning Spear, this band from Birmingham, England (led by the two sons of folkie Ian Campbell, have helped keep the flame of roots reggae alive with their easy sound. They've even made over rock standards into their reggae template, including Sonny & Cher's "I Got You Babe" (with guest Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders). In their own little way, UB40 have been gnawing away at musical barriers for the last 20 years, and this is an ideal summary of their achievements. --Chris Nickson

Customer Reviews

The Best "Best Of" Available
If your reggae collection is going to include only one UB40 album, this one wins out over all the others hands down. Virgin released two 10-track "best ofs" in the mid-90s, but this 2000 release duplicates 15 of those tracks and adds "Cherry Oh Baby" from 1983's landmark LABOUR OF LOVE album, "Tell Me Is It True" from 1997's GUNS IN THE GHETTO, and the previously unreleased cover of the Door's "Light My Fire."

While most American listeners only recognize UB40 for their covers of songs that hit the Top 40 like Neil Diamond's "Red Red Wine," Elvis's "Can't Help Falling in Love" and Sonny and Cher's "I Got You Babe," the band had hits in the U.K with original material like "Food for Thought" (No. 4, 1980), "If It Happens Again" (No. 9, 1984), "Don't Break My Heart" (No. 3, 1985), and "Rat in Mi Kitchen" (No. 12, 1987).

While UB40 may be viewed merely as a populizer of reggae music, they do it exceedingly well. This album is a joy from start to finish. [Running time: 66:59] HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

The Essential UB40!
This collection is a very good introduction to their music, there are the best selling singles ("I Got You Babe" and "Can't Help Falling In Love") and other 18 great tracks. I wasn't able to find in the whole collection a bad song... Personally I love "Come Back Darling", "Kingston Town", "Tell Me Is It True" and "Bring Me Your Cup". There is also a previously unreleased cover version of The Doors' "Light My Fire". Buy this CD, and you'll be satisfied!

5 stars from a casual fan
I've always liked UB40, but never been so drawn to any one song that I felt compelled to purchase a CD. After seeing the track listing I recognized 3 or 4 songs, so I picked it up. It is fantastic!! Although I can't stand their version of Light My Fire, I see from the other reviews that others enjoy it...and I think that sums up this CD pretty well. My wife & I both like it, but we like completely different songs. With 18 songs, you're almost guaranteed to find something you'll like. So if you're on the fence about purchasing this or not, do yourself a favor & go for it....you won't regret it.