Advantages: Great songs, great music, serious message Disadvantages: Some of the songs have lost their context
...9. Little by Little
10. Signing Off
11. Madam Medusa
12. Strange Fruit
13. Reefer Madness
On the original vinyl the last three tracks Madam Medusa, Strange Fruit and Reefer Madness were included as an additional 12 inch single bonus record, on the CD all the tracks are obviously on the same disc and to some extent this distorts the balance of the music and album.
From the very start of the record the band leaves you in now doubt about the musical ... ..."Tyler is guilty the white judge has said so
What right do we have to say it's not so"
Although the themes of the song is the conviction of an innocent black man for murder by a racist court in Louisiana the sentiments that it was expressing tuned in to the feelings that existed in the UK too at the time. This was a period of police brutality, inflammatory 'Sus' laws, and increasingly oppressive race policies by the newly elected Tory government ...
Mauri 11.05.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Signing Off - UB40
Advantages: Brilliant musicianship, great songs Disadvantages: None
...number of punk bands.
Signing Off starts with Tyler which is about a black youth found guilty of a crime he did not commit. The songs construction and production is very understated and with Brian Travers beautiful saxophone treatment plaintively wailing beneath. Much of UB40s strength comes from theexcellence of Travers and fellow brass players Norman Hassan and Michael Virtue. It is Travers who carries this album though along with Ali Campbell ... ...Finally comes the title track Signing Off which is yet another instrumental which ahs a cheery beat. There is a passing thought that Signing Off was part debut album part demo album. It was produced on UB40s own label –Graduate - and partly by the late Ray Falconer whose brother Earl was the very accomplished bass player. Other production on the album was credited to Bob Lamb.
With the album a bonus single was also given which features ‘Madame ...
polydeuces 16.09.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Signing Off - UB40
Advantages: British reggae at its best Disadvantages: A bit too serious for their own good
...feel.
Their debut album, Signing Off, was released in September 1979 and stayed on the charts for a staggering 71 weeks. The cover art was based on the unemployment benefit card from which the band take their name. It was an excellent piece of work, combining a soulful and rootsy dub feel with political lyrics to create a very satisfying and effective whole.
There was a whole slew of memorable songs on the album and as a whole it was a truly memorable ... ...subject matter and sensibilities.
Signing Off was a masterpiece of its genre, as distinctive as anything in the post punk era, classy and cool, where the Specials were manic and driving. UB40 were very very different and very very lovely.
The album was ushered in by the breathtaking double A-side single King/Food For Thought which was a refreshing, boozy blast of romance and politics which was probably UB40’s ultimate statement.
From the land ...
dave27 19.10.2000 (05.07.2004)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Signing Off - UB40
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