UB40’s original member Robin Campbell says the U.K. band played a lead role in introducing reggae to people in places like Australia after Bob Marley died in 1981.
“Marley, was the guy who broke the ice, he was the global ambassador for reggae first in the 70s and then we came along in the 80s. Our growth was pretty much after Marley passed away in 81. Once we got going it was non-stop for us, it never let up at all. We have had 50 top 40 hit in the U.K., which not many bands have achieved,” Campbell said in a 2021 interview promoting their Bigga Baddariddum album.
UB40 is one of the most successful reggae bands of all time having sold over 80 million records worldwide. Most of their hits were cover versions and they have collaborated with artists like Pato Banton, Madness, Chrissie Hynde, and Lady Saw. They hold the record, alongside Madness, for the most weeks spent by a group on the UK singles charts during the 1980s.
In 2011 after selling 70 million records, four original members declared bankruptcy due to the financial collapse of their management company. The judge declared saxophonist Brian Travers, drummer Jimmy Brown, trumpet player Terence Oswald, and percussionist Norman Hassan “insolvent,” allowing their assets, including royalties, to be seized to settle debts.
Since then the group has made several changes and release albums under their name. UB40’s latest effort UB45 has debuted at #7 on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart dated May 4, 2024. The album recorded by the band’s latest iteration excluding Ali and Astro was released April 19.
UB45, debuted at #5 on the U.K. Official Albums chart last week commemorating the band’s 45th anniversary, with re-recorded tracks like “Food For Thought” and well-known hits such as “Red Red Wine” and “Kingston Town.”
The U.K. reggae band, which started in 1978, has a total of six No. 1 Billboard Reggae Albums. Their “Greatest Hits,” which is a weekly regular on the chart released on October 18, 2008, topped the Billboard Reggae Albums chart for 10 weeks starting on October 25, 2008, maintaining a presence for 292 weeks.
While Bob Marley & the Wailers’ “Legend: The Best Of Bob Marley & The Wailers” is back at #1 this week (May 4) for 225 weeks. The album is also the second longest charting album on the Billboard 200 albums chart , behind Pink Floyd’s Dark Side Of The Moon.
Dutty Classics by Sean Paul and Best Of Shaggy: The Boombastic Collection maintain their positions at #2 and #3.
Stick Figure’s World on Fire, Set In Stone and Wisdom are at 4, 5 and 6 respectively.
Marley’s Exodus moves to #8 pushing Welcome To Jamrock by Damian Marley down to #3.
Rounding off the top ten is Kaya by Bob Marley and The Wailers.
The weekly Billboard Reggae Albums chart curates the most popular albums, as compiled by Luminate, based on multi-metric consumption blending traditional album sales, track equivalent albums and streaming (audio + video) equivalent albums.
