Birmingham reggae stars UB40 set to release new album

A Real Labour of Love is due to be released on March 2, and builds on the momentum the band has gathered in the five years since second vocalist Astro rejoined singer Ali Campbell and keyboardist Mickey Virtue in 2013.

Talking about the album, Ali said: "The first three albums featured the songs we grew up listening to. This one is built around the records we were listening to once UB40 were on the road.”

Between 1983 and 1998 UB40 produced three Labour Of Love albums, featuring hits such as Eric Donaldson’s Cherry Oh Baby, Lord Creator’s Kingston Town and Johnny Osbourne’s Come Back Darling.

The new release - produced by Ali - features tracks such as Stevie Wonder's A Place In The Sun, Dennis Brown's How Could I Leave and Culture's International Herb.

Commenting on the new release, Astro added: “We were spending more time in Jamaica and some of these numbers are the ones we’d hear on the radio and out in the streets.

“The singers of these songs were our heroes. They are quintessential reggae artists.”

A Real Labour of Love is dedicated to former-Simply Red member and long-serving UB40 trombonist John Johnson from Dudley who passed away in 2017. Some of John's work that he recorded before his death features on the album.

The album's artwork - designed by contemporary artist Mark T Smith - was specially commissioned for the release. A first edition print, signed by the artist and the band, is being auctioned with proceeds going to the Teenage Cancer Trust. More details are set to follow.