Red Red Wine
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| “Red Red Wine” | |||||
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| Single by Neil Diamond from the album Just for You |
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| B-side | Red Rubber Ball | ||||
| Released | April 13, 1968 | ||||
| Format | 7" | ||||
| Label | Bang | ||||
| Writer(s) | Neil Diamond | ||||
| Producer | Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich | ||||
| Neil Diamond singles chronology | |||||
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| “Red Red Wine” | |||||
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| Single by UB40 from the album Labour of Love |
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| Released | August 20, 1983 | ||||
| Format | 7", 12" | ||||
| Genre | Reggae | ||||
| Label | DEP International (UK) A&M (US) |
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| Writer(s) | Neil Diamond, arranged by UB40 | ||||
| Producer | UB40, Ray "Pablo" Falconer | ||||
| UB40 singles chronology | |||||
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"Red Red Wine" is a song originally written and recorded by Neil Diamond that was then covered by Tony Tribe and more famously by UB40 in later years. In the song, the singer finds drinking red wine is the only way to forget a lost love.
- Red, red wine, it's up to you
- All I can do, I've done, but mem'ries won't go
Contents |
[edit] Versions
Diamond's version reached number sixty-three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1968. The single version of his recording includes a backing choir not found in any other version. It was also remixed for the compilation "Classics: The Early Years". That same year, Jimmy James and The Vagabonds released a cover version for the UK market. It charted at number thirty-six.
Tony Tribe, a Jamaican Rocksteady singer, recorded a reggae-influenced version in 1969 which reached number forty-six in the UK singles chart. Also in 1969 the song was covered by Swamp-Pop artist Charles Mann. In 1970, a remake by Vic Dana became a minor Billboard Hot 100 hit. In early 1972, country singer Roy Drusky enjoyed a top 20 hit with his cover version.
UB40 made their rendition for their cover versions album Labour of Love. According to the band, they were only familiar with Tony Tribe's version, and their version featured a lighter, reggae-style flavor compared to Diamond's somber, acoustic ballad. This version reached number one in the UK charts in August 1983, and number thirty-four in the U.S. in March 1984. A U.S. re-release in 1988 of the UB40 cover would then reach number one.
Although most people think the re-release was prompted by KZZP in Phoenix. It was being played by Bobby Stark a DJ at a dance club in Atlanta called Scenario. After seeing how popular the song had become in the club, the program director at a local radio station added it to his rotation. The Atlanta PD also got his friend at the station in Phoenix to start playing it. With a new buzz about the song the record label decided to re-release it. The re-release version adds a toasted verse by UB40 member Astro, opening: "Red Red Wine, you make me feel so fine/You keep me rocking all of the time".
Diamond later performed a UB40-inspired version of the song on tour. In it, Diamond makes a slight complaint about UB40 misunderstanding the lyrics because of the happy tone to their version. This version was released on Diamond's The Greatest Hits (1966-1992).
The Hobos did a cover of this song on their 2004 double album Radio Jah Jah. The song was also surprisingly covered by Scott Cosado in 2006 with his band Mixed Reviews.
"Red Red Wine" was performed by Tee Set, a Dutch band, in 1968.
The song has also been performed by Cas Haley along with UB40 on the last episode of the season 2 show America's Got Talent.
In 2007, Sean Kingston sampled part of this song for his second single, Me Love.
[edit] Chart performance
[edit] UB40 version
| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Dutch Top 40 | 1[1] |
| New Zealand | 1 |
| UK | 1 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 34 (1984) 1 (1988) |
| Preceded by "Give It Up" by KC & The Sunshine Band |
UK number one single (UB40 version) August 28, 1983 |
Succeeded by "Karma Chameleon" by Culture Club |
| Preceded by "Love Bites" by Def Leppard |
Billboard Hot 100 number one single (UB40 version) October 15, 1988 |
Succeeded by "Groovy Kind of Love" by Phil Collins |
[edit] References
- ^ De Nederlandse Top 40, week 39, 1983. Retrieved on 2008-02-24.
- The Billboard Book of Number 1 Hits
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