Roots Archives Forum

Maybe it is one single guy playing the drums, guitar and organ all at the same time! It still sucks though.

Could be worse. Could be UB40's later works...

No THAT bad! It actually reminds me o skating rink organ early reggae tracks that used to be popular in the UK in 1970. snare should come slightly earlier, though...

it wouldn't be so bad if it was in time and maybe mixed a bit better. i've definately heard worse.

I really shouldn't diss UB40. After all they did go on to record what is perhaps the finest song ever written on the subject of having a rat in one's kitchen...

the only real beef i have with UB40 (other than their shockingly safe, "white" pop-reggae) is that whenever i tell someone i listen to reggae, they say "oh so you like bob marley". to which i usually go off on one about chris blackwell and how the studio one stuff is good but scratch produced their best work compared to the more commercially viable island recordings. after this tirade i always get "oh but you like UB40, right?" sigh.

Well what UB40 released in the last 25 to 30 years is utter rubbish imho. Sorry but I always have to defend them cause I personally like their first couple of LPs. Not the best reggae ever obviously, but pretty decent for some white guys from Birmingham

Their 1985 album "Baggariddim" is their last good I think. UK-Deejays chatting over quite nicely mixed UB40 versions.

On topic: The instruments sound nice, but they're just off most times.

I think there's one thing a lot of us seem to forget. They are all reggae 'artists'.
They make music and sing songs because it's what they are good at, whether you personlly like it or not.
They make the music they like, sing the songs they want. And they want to share all that with the world.
If you don't like what they do, then don't. You don't have to hate what they do, because they are 'too mainstream' or because they are 'white guys trying to play reggae'.
I liked UB40 in their early years and don't really anymore because of their style. But I respect what they do. I don't like Kimanji Marley's style, cause he sounds 'too mainstream', but I respect his work, cause he's doing what he likes to do, making music (and money), touring the world. And still, he made some wicked tunes as well, in the process.
Even my most favorite artists have made songs I don't really like. You think they care?! They expressed their feelings/their views in that song and felt that it was right, or fun, or whatever. All artists express themselves, whether in music or in art. And if you don't really like it, move on to someone or something you like more.
I try not to hate someone's music, instead I use the term 'dislike'. Remember, it's their music, music the way they want to make it.

I still my link in the first post leads to one of the worst reggae tracks ever, but obviously, I just opened this thread for the fun of it.