Labour of Love

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Labour of Love
Cover album by UB40
Released	September 1, 1983
Recorded	1983
Genre	Reggae
Length	39:52
Label	DEP International (UK) A&M (US)
Producer	Ray Falconer and UB40
Professional reviews
All Music Guide Review Rolling Stone link
UB40 chronology
UB44 (1982) Labour of Love (1983) Geffery Morgan (1984)

Labour of Love is a reggae album by UB40, the band's fifth studio album. It was originally released in September 1, 1983 and included the hits, "Red, Red Wine" (UK #1, US #1), "Cherry Oh Baby" (UK #12), "Many Rivers to Cross" (UK #16), and "Please Don't Make Me Cry" (UK #10).

The entire album consists of cover versions of songs originally released by the group's musical idols. The most notable track is the cover of Neil Diamond's "Red, Red Wine," which reached #1 in the United Kingdom upon its release. The song was re-released in the United States in 1988, where it also topped the chart. The album and 12" version included a toasted verse by Astro, later copied by Neil Diamond in his live performances.

The album reached #1 in the UK and #8 in the United States. With the inclusion of the new version of "Red, Red Wine," the album regained popularity in 1988 and climbed to #15 in the U.S.

In 1989, it was ranked #98 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 100 greatest albums of the 1980s.

The band would later release two more cover albums, Labour of Love II and Labour of Love III.

[edit] Track listing

1. "Cherry Oh Baby" – 3:18 (original by Eric Donaldson)
2. "Keep on Moving" – 4:37 (original by Johnny Clarke)
3. "Please Don't Make Me Cry" – 3:26 (original by Winston Tucker)
4. "Sweet Sensation" – 3:42 (original by The Melodians)
5. "Johnny Too Bad" – 4:57 (original by The Slickers)
6. "Red, Red Wine" – 5:21 (original by Neil Diamond; inspired by Tony Tribe)
7. "Guilty" – 3:16 (original by Tiger)
8. "She Caught the Train" – 3:17 (original by Joe Monsano)
9. "Version Girl" – 3:27 (original by Boy Friday)
10. "Many Rivers to Cross" – 4:31 (original by Jimmy Cliff)

v • d • e UB40 Ali Campbell Albums Signing Off · Present Arms · Present Arms in Dub · UB44 · The Singles Album · UB40 Live · More UB40 Music · Labour of Love · Geffery Morgan · Baggariddim · The UB40 File · Rat in the Kitchen · The Best of UB40 - Volume One · Labour of Love II · Promises and Lies · Guns in the Ghetto · Labour of Love III · The Very Best of UB40 · Cover Up · Who You Fighting For? Singles "Food for Thought" · "One in Ten" · "Red Red Wine" · "Please Don't Make Me Cry" · "Many Rivers to Cross" · "I Got You Babe" · "Breakfast in Bed" · "Homely Girl" · "Kingston Town" · "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" · "The Way You Do the Things You Do" · "(I Can't Help) Falling in Love With You" · "Higher Ground" · "Reasons"