The UB40 - Story of Reggae

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1 General Information
2 Cover
3 Information
- 3.1 Tracklist
- 3.2 Review
4 Screenshots
5 Technical Specs
6 Links

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Arts Documentary published by LWT in 1999 - English narration

[edit] Cover

[edit] Information

After forming in Birmingham, England, in the 1970's, UB40 became one of the world's most influential Reggae bands, spreading the word of this uniquely Jamaican music to an eager international audience. Through fascinating interviews, which display the band's infectious enthusiasm and disarming modesty, this film tells UB40's story form their formation in Birmingham to recording at their own studios with some of the artists who inspired them to play Reggae music artists such as Winston Groovy, Ken Boothe and John Holt. Shot in Jamaica and Birmingham, the programme features a soundtrack of classic UB40 recordings such as Kingston Town One in Ten and Red, Red Wine. This is an extended version of the programme originally made for television's The South Bank Show.

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Kingston Town
One In Ten (Live)
So Bad
Simmer Down
This Is Rock Steady
Reggae Got Soul
One In Ten
Adella
Signing Off
Food For Thought
The Time Has Come
Lively Up Yourself
Soul Rebel
Please Don't Make Me Cry
Red Red Wine (Live Top of the Pops)
Many Rivers To Cross (Live)
Many Rivers
Crying Over You
Reggae Music
Keep On Moving
Under Mi Guinness
Golden Rose
My Best Girl
Train Is Coming
Rough Upbringing
Mr Fix It
Someone Like You

[edit] Review

It is sometimes very easy for me to understand why my family forsook the delights of England and emigrated to Australia. When sitting down to review this documentary, I was immediately taken back to those reasons, for UB40 came from a place very close to where I lived in England - and if you have ever been to the Black Country (otherwise known as the West Midlands nowadays), you might well understand why it became the bastion of "white" reggae. It is therefore perhaps appropriate to briefly detail why Birmingham, England was just the right sort of place to truly launch a reggae sound that has brought this peculiarly Jamaican sound to the wide world.

England of the 1960s was the destination of migrants escaping the ghettos of countries like Jamaica, Pakistan and India. Many of these migrants congregated in the West Midlands, most notably Birmingham and the surrounding towns and cities, including my home town of Wolverhampton. Of course, these migrants brought with them the music of their homelands, and for the Jamaicans that meant ska music, which mutated through rock steady to what is now reggae. As this music pervaded the pubs and clubs, as well as the streets, of Birmingham, it naturally came to the attention of the local "white" population and soon enough became the staple music of much of the younger population of what is not one of the great cities of England. It also became the method of escape from the city for the eight young lads who gathered around Moseley in Birmingham and formed a band named after the unemployment form that they had excellent credentials in completing.

This then is an interesting documentary, made for television, of the rise of that bunch of eight young lads known as UB40 and the influence they have had on the genre of music known as reggae, as well as the people who had an influence upon them. It is comprised of a nice mix of interview material with the band members, filmed live performances of the band and filmed studio performances, occasionally with such influences as Winston Groovy, Ken Boothe and John Holt. Add to that some video footage of such famed reggae performers as Bob Marley and The Wailers and Toots and The Maytals, and this becomes a rather fascinating romp through the story of reggae. Along the way we also get to hear some of the great music that UB40 have produced over the years, in performances that vary from being short snippets to almost complete performances. Whilst by no means a great fan of UB40, I have to confess to a modest interest in their reggae music. Nonetheless, UB40 - The UB40 Story Of Reggae is an extremely interesting documentary. Whilst shorter than I would have liked, and certainly there was scope for somewhat more content here, it gives a nice coverage of the band and their influence on a genre in a global sense. Perhaps more than any other act barring maybe the immortal Bob Marley, UB40 brought reggae music to the four corners of the globe. The programme has been given a very good transfer in all respects and this is certainly a highly recommended documentary for anyone remotely interested in music. If this does not get the foot tapping and the hips swaying, you best check in at the local cemetery... - Ian Morris -