UB40’s UB45 is the latest album by the top selling reggae band to debut on the U.K. Official Albums Chart. The 14 track album released April 19, 2024 via SoNo Recording Group/Evo Music has re-recorded versions of their classics, and debuts at #5. This is their first entry on the chart since “Unprecedented” (November 2022) featuring breakout members Ali Campbell and Astro which peaked at #8 for one week.
The 4 time Grammy nominated reggae group now has a record 36 entries (across all uses of the name), including live albums to hit the the UK Albums Chart since their first album “Signing Off” (August 9, 1980) which peaked at 2, and lasted 71 weeks on the chart.
The new album is a salute to the band’s first performance 45 years ago at The Hare & Hounds Pub in Kings Heath, Birmingham for a friend’s birthday on 9 February 1979.
UB45, their 21st studio album has “Food For Thought,” their first recording as well as classics such as Red Red Wine, Cherry Oh Baby and Kingston Town which was certified Platinum in the U.K. a year ago.
Home, a new song is released as a single is the opening track on the album.
Group member Robin Campbell reflects in a 2021 interview promoting their Bigga Baddariddum album, on the band’s role in introducing reggae to people all over the world 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 go 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.
UB40 goes on a multi-city tour in Australia this fall, starting in Saturday 12th of October at the
Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre. See full dates below:
UB40 AUSTRALIAN TOUR DATES 2024
Saturday 12 October
Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre, Gold Coast
Sunday 13 October
Eatons Hill (Outdoor), Brisbane
Wednesday 16 October
Hordern Pavilion Sydney
Thursday 17 October
Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne
Friday 18 October
AEC Theatre, Adelaide
Sunday 20 October
Red Hill Auditorium, Perth
