Roots Archives Forum

realego wrote:Come on lads UB40 are reggae hell, they bring down the good name of reggae more than Cultural Club, Sinead O'Connor, Peter Andre, serg Gainsborough, Manu Chao & Mick Hucknel put together. & their fans tend to be white trash neanderthal scum who only listen to "the 40" & Phil Collins.

I must say I was pretty tempted just to delete this thread as moderator (because of the 'white trash bit) We like to keep it nice here on R-A. But instead I'll answer it in my original role as a roots-archives visitor.

I don't know what 'the 40' is, and I certainly wouldn't listen to Phil Collins unless I was forced to as some type of torture.

But as I pointed out, UB40 were right on the pulse of the political thing in the late 70s here in the UK. They took the punk message and put it to a different riddim. I dunno when you were born but maybe you are too young to understand that part of the story realgo?

I seem to remember them being pretty active in the 'Rock against racism' and 'CND' (campaign for nuclear disarmament) movements back in the day. And I don't see a lot wrong with that.

And, far from 'bringing down reggae', Signing off was a good intro LP for those who weren't yet ready for the likes of Leggo Dub or Ras Micheal.

Like every genre of music, there are levels. And UB40 are quite possibly reggae-lite but then, have you listened to this LP - it's listed here and rightly so but I'd hardly call it 'deep roots'!

[cover=5795,4326]

...great cover though!

present arms, with 'dont slow down', 'silent witness' etc, i love that record. also the record 'ub44' is great. not roots music i agree, but still sweet.


ites

ital kemar

I don't want to start another discussion on the term 'Roots Music' but of all 4.700 albums collected in Roots Archives only some more than 2.700 are in the 'Roots' category. So what ? Jamaican music was and is popular music (POP music) in all its bright and shady colours, be it Rasta, Roots or Lovers Rock.
Anyway, I would also prefer to include UB40 for the same good reasons Leggo Rocker already stated.

leggo rocker said :

"I dunno when you were born but maybe you are too young to understand that part of the story realgo?"

Maybe you're 6 years old too , realego ... (private joke)

one love

Survival wrote:why isn't UB40 in the archive?

Not totally true : http://www.roots-archives.com/artist/4566
They even have [a video](/artist/4566/videos/?v=_bcK0V6v3GA)

Maybe you're 6 years old too , realego ... (private joke)

Ha ha, you got me Dubdoudou!

P.S Didn't mean to offend anyone & sorry if I did, I was quite put off UB40 when i heard that Johnny "Mad Dog" Adair is their biggest groupie!

mat wrote:Survival wrote :why isn't UB40 in the archive?

Not totally true : http://www.roots-archives.com/artist/4566
They even have a video

haha yes I know.. but ofcourse you now what I mean.

I'm also not a great fan of UB40, but they have some nice tunes, so I was just wondering

I will add relevant UB40 albums on our next database update. In fact I don't really know why the albums are not represented in roots archives - I even remember reading emails asking me to add them but I always have forgotten. Reminds me another name missing here .. Eddie Grant ; he has made some pop-reggae albums if I am right ?

HOORAY !!!

Because they arent a reggae group. It is pop.