The legacy of punk has been widely recognised, we can see a direct link between the late seventies anarchic punk music and the more politically based new wave groups and indie guitar groups that followed in the 80's all the way through to today's nu punk bands. Another rather more unusual spin off of the punk era was a popularisation and eventual emergence into the charts of Ska/Reggae. In the early days when live punk bands were playing small venues DJ were filling in the time in between acts not with punk records as none of these new acts had been recorded yet but with reggae and Ska records. This led to an awareness of reggae to a young white audience and it wasn't long before home-grown reggae group were springing up alongside the punk influenced new wave bands.
These new British reggae groups tended to be based in parts of the country where there was a large black population and thus London and Birmingham were natural breeding ground for this music. London gave us the short-lived Black Slate and the longer lasting Misty In Roots and Aswad. Birmingham gave us notable acts such Steel Pulse and UB40.
UB40 were distinct from most of the rest in that they were a multiracial outfit consisting of 8 band members led by the two Campbell brothers Ali and Robin. Their sound was also a distinctive blend of the heavy reggae drum and baseline with Ska influenced brass section and melodic ballads. They are probably the best example of what some in the music press labelled misleadingly as 'White Reggae'.
'Signing Off' released in September 1980 is their debut album. It came about on the back of supporting 'The Pretenders' on tour and live exposure on the John Peel Radio One show.
At the time of forming the band members were unemployed along with millions of other people in the country at the time. The distinctive cover of the album is a blown up reproduction of the then unemployment form the UB40, hence the band's name. UB40 were making a clear political stand in expressing the frustrations of youngsters who came out of school and ended up on the dole with seemingly no one in government caring. The music also reflected a deep racial unease in the UK, which led to race riots most notably in Brixton and Toxteth.
I remember seeing UB40 live in early 1981 just after the release of this album and their first single Food For Though/King (it was probably the first gig I ever went to) and I was amazed to see that the audience was made up in equal parts of Swastika wearing Skinheads (attracted by the bands image, short cropped hair and Ska rhythms) and Rasta tuning in to the roots sound and political message. It provided for an interesting atmosphere in the auditorium!
THE ALBUM
1. Tyler 2. King 3. 12 Bar 4. Burden of Shame 5. Adella 6. I Think It's Going to Rain Today 7. 25% 8. Food for Thought 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 tone and political message they wish to impart.
"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 coupled with a large increase in the activities of the racist National Front (now better know as the BNP). In contrast to the harsh political message the music was melodic wave of subtle hypnotic rhythms, drum and base underlying the melancholy saxophone and brass sections.
The second track is half the double-sided single that first broke UB40 in the UK charts and what a brilliant combinations it is. King is a hymn in praise of Martin Luther King the black civil rights leader that was assassinated in 1968.
"King, where are your people now? Chained and pacified. Tried in vain to show them how. And for that you died."
Despite the rather melancholy lyrics this is a tune you can't fail to dance to with its catchy chorus and repetitive roots reggae baseline and the odd bit if Dub mixed in. In fact this is true of all of the tracks on the record even the songs that they deal with fairly depressing themes of injustice, racism, poverty they are always upbeat in the music and great to dance to.
Food For thought was probably the most heard song of the first double-sided single; again the political message was key to the lyrics
"Ivory Madonna dying in the dust, Waiting for the manna coming from the west. Barren is her bosom, empty as her eyes, Death a certain harvest scattered from the skies.
Skin and bones is creeping, doesn't know he's dead. Ancient eyes are peeping, from his infant head. Politicians argue sharpening their knives. Drawing up their bargains, trading baby lives."
To those that know UB40 of a later period they might find this record surprising in it's attitude and commitment. In later years probably flushed with their critical and commercial success the band moved away from this kind of politically engaged music and became a much poppier mainstream act increasingly adapting covers of some of their favourite reggae artist as can be seen on the 'Labour Of Love' albums. I suppose it would seem incongruous for a collection of by then very rich musicians to be still talking about unemployment and inner city squalor however in the early days their sentiment were sincere and they did provide a focus for widespread dissatisfaction with British society.
To say that there isn't a bad track on this album might seem like a cliché but in this case it is true. All the songs seem to blend seamlessly in to one another often the gap between the tracks being very nominal. The album is skilfully balanced in it's choice of tracks and in the running order which is why I always find listening to the CD slightly annoyed that the essentially stand alone final tracks have been tacked on to the end.
The third single is 'I Think It's Going To Rain Today' is also included on the album, again the formula remains the same harsh political message brought to us in sublime musical rhythm evocative of a gentle breeze on long hot summer days.
"Lonely, Lonely, Tin can at my feet. Think I'll kick it down the street, That's the way to treat a friend
Broken windows and empty hall ways Pale dead moon in a sky streaked with grey Human kindness is overflowing And I think it's going to rain today"
Going through track by track is not my style when I write record reviews and normally I would concentrate in giving an overall feel for the record while concentrating of favourite stand out tracks, well in this case it is difficult to pick any stand out track out since the quality of the music is so good. The more serious tone of the album is also broken up with bouncier instrumentals like 'Adella' and 'Reefer Madness'. 'Strange Fruit' is one of the few covers on the album. It is an adaptation of an old song recorded by Billie Holiday, which dealt with the lynching of blacks in the deep south of US.
Madam Medusa does also deserve a separate mention. As I said it was originally a separate 12 inch single included with the main album. It is an extended play and includes some great toasting on the chorus by 'Astro' the Rastafarian vocalist of the band. 'Madam Medusa' is an all out high tempo roots dance track and it makes no apologies for it's lyrical content.
"From the land of shadows Comes a dreadful sight Lady with the marble smile Spirit of the night"
"…She gone off her head We've got to shoot her dead Run for your life before she eat you alive"
For those of us around at that time there was no mistaking the thinly veiled attack on Margaret Thatcher….
The success of UB40 is primarily that they managed to be serious musically and lyrically without coming across as preachy. The music was steeped enough in traditional roots reggae to appeal to black audience whilst at the same time the tunes were catchy enough to have a much broader appeal. It still sound fresh and the band's distinctive hasn't still makes it an unique listening experience, if you don't like reggae you should still give this album a go, its musical appeal is much broader and the songs are so well crafted that they transcend the musical genre.
UB40 were one of the most important British bands of the early 80's and 'Signing Off' is superb album that showcases their commitment to their working class roots their sincerity and talent.
'Signing Off' is available on CD from Play.com for £6.99 delivered and is a bargain!
SIGNING OFF
Although UB40's later records were much more conventionally pop-oriented, even the group's
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1980 debut, SIGNING OFF, doesn't fit neatly in the roots-reggae tradition. The album does feature the expected bass-heavy rhythms and socially conscious lyrics o...
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