Red Red Wine - wikipedia Red Red Wine `` Red Red Wine '' Single by Neil Diamond from the album Just for You B - side `` Red Rubber Ball '' Released 1967 ( 1967 ) Format 7 '' Genre Pop Length 2 : 42 Label Bang Songwriter ( s ) Neil Diamond Producer ( s ) Jeff Barry Ellie Greenwich Neil Diamond singles chronology `` New Orleans '' ( 1968 ) `` Red Red Wine '' ( 1967 ) `` Brooklyn Roads '' ( 1968 ) `` New Orleans '' ( 1968 ) `` Red Red Wine '' ( 1968 ) `` Brooklyn Roads '' ( 1968 ) `` Red Red Wine '' is a song originally written, performed, and recorded by American singer Neil Diamond in 1967. It is included on Neil 's second studio album, Just for You. The lyrics are sung from the perspective of a person who finds that drinking red wine is the only way to forget his woes. When Neil left the Bang Records label in 1968, Bang continued to release Neil Diamond singles, often adding newly recorded instruments and background vocals to album tracks from the two Neil Diamond albums that Bang had issued. For the `` Red Red Wine '' single, Bang added a background choir without Neil 's involvement or permission. Diamond 's version reached number sixty - two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1968. A live version was released on Diamond 's The Greatest Hits ( 1966 -- 92 ) but the 1968 single version has never been issued on a vinyl album or CD. The song was covered by several artists shortly after Diamond 's recording was released. In 1968, the Dutch singer Peter Tetteroo ( from the band Tee Set ) had a hit with a cover of the song in Netherlands. Tony Tribe covered the song in 1969 in a reggae - influenced style. In 1983, UB40 recorded the best known version of the song, in a lighter reggae style. The UB40 version topped the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart. Diamond later performed a UB40 - inspired version of the song while on tour. Contents 1 Chart performance 2 UB40 version 2.1 Charts 2.2 Certifications 2.3 Chart successions 3 Other cover songs 4 References Chart performance Chart ( 1968 ) Peak position U.S. Billboard Hot 100 62 UB40 version `` Red Red Wine '' Single by UB40 from the album Labour of Love B - side `` Sufferin ' '' Released 8 August 1983 ( 1983 - 08 - 08 ) 1988 -- 2000 ( re-releases ) Format 7 '' 12 '' Recorded 1982 Genre Reggae fusion Length 5 : 20 Label DEP ( UK ) A&M ( US ) Virgin Songwriter ( s ) Neil Diamond Producer ( s ) Ray `` Pablo '' Falconer UB40 UB40 singles chronology `` I 've Got Mine '' ( 1983 ) `` Red Red Wine '' ( 1983 ) `` Please Do n't Make Me Cry '' ( 1983 ) `` I 've Got Mine '' ( 1983 ) `` Red Red Wine '' ( 1983 -- 2000 ) `` Please Do n't Make Me Cry '' ( 1983 ) UB40 recorded their rendition for their album of cover versions, Labour of Love. According to UB40 member Astro, the group 's former vocalist and trumpet player, they were only familiar with Tony Tribe 's version and did not realise that the writer was in fact Neil Diamond. Astro told the Financial Times, `` Even when we saw the writing credit which said ' N Diamond, ' we thought it was a Jamaican artist called Negus Diamond. '' UB40 's version features a lighter, reggae - style flavor compared to Diamond 's somber, acoustic ballad. The UB40 version adds a toasted verse by Astro, opening : `` Red Red Wine, you make me feel so fine / You keep me rocking all of the time '', which was edited from the single that reached number one on the UK Singles Chart in August 1983 and number 34 in the United States in March 1984 but not from the version that reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 a few months after being performed at the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Concert in 1988. In September 2014, the Official Charts Company announced that sales in the UK had reached one million. Songwriter Neil Diamond has stated that it is one of his favorite covers of his songs. Diamond frequently performs the song live using the UB40 reggae arrangement as opposed to the original version. Charts Chart ( 1983 -- 2001 ) Peak position Australia ( Kent Music Report ) Austria ( Ö3 Austria Top 40 ) 5 Canada ( RPM ) Germany ( Official German Charts ) 12 Ireland ( IRMA ) Netherlands ( Dutch Top 40 ) New Zealand ( Recorded Music NZ ) Norway ( VG - lista ) 10 Sweden ( Sverigetopplistan ) 14 Switzerland ( Schweizer Hitparade ) 8 UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) US Billboard Hot 100 Certifications Region Certification Certified units / Sales Canada ( Music Canada ) Gold 5,000 New Zealand ( RMNZ ) Gold 5,000 United Kingdom ( BPI ) Gold 1,245,324 United States ( RIAA ) Gold 500,000 sales figures based on certification alone shipments figures based on certification alone Chart successions Preceded by `` Give It Up '' by KC & The Sunshine Band UK number - one single 3 September 1983 -- 17 September 1983 ( 3 weeks ) Succeeded by `` Karma Chameleon '' by Culture Club Preceded by `` Love Bites '' by Def Leppard Billboard Hot 100 number - one single 15 October 1988 ( 1 week ) Succeeded by `` A Groovy Kind of Love '' by Phil Collins Other cover songs Swedish group Tom & Mick & Maniacs released their version of the song in 1967. This appears to be the first recorded version of the song. Jimmy James and The Vagabonds released a cover version the same year as Diamond 's version ( 1968 ), for the UK market. It charted at number thirty - six. In 1968, singer Peter Tetteroo, of Dutch beat group Tee Set, released a cover version that reached number six on the Dutch top - 40 chart. Tony Tribe, a Jamaican singer, recorded a reggae - influenced version in 1969 which reached number forty - six on the UK Singles Chart, this became Trojan Records first chart hit and has been included in numerous reggae compilations since. The song was also covered in 1969 by singer Charles Mann. In 1970, a remake by Vic Dana became a minor Billboard Hot 100 hit, peaking at number 72 and reached number 30 on the Adult Contemporary chart. In early 1972, singer Roy Drusky enjoyed a top 20 hit with his version, reaching number 17 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and number 16 on the Canada Country chart. Mexican ballad band Los Rehenes recorded a Spanish version named Vino Tinto ( lit. Red Wine ). The Hobos included the song on their 2004 double studio album, Radio Jah Jah. `` Red Red Wine '' was also performed by Peter Tetteroo, former singer of 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 two show America 's Got Talent. In 2001, singer Elan Atias released a dancehall version on the Buy Out Riddim instrumental, best known performed by Sean Paul, with the song entitled, `` Like Glue ''. This was the first time the song was performed on a totally different instrumental tracking. The lyrics were also re-written. In 2008, Sizzla also released a dancehall single ( `` No Time To Gaze '' ) based on the UB40 version. In March 2017, Andrew Bogut posted the UB40 version on his Twitter to signify he was joining the Cleveland Cavaliers -- the team 's colours include the darkish red `` wine ''. References Jump up ^ Lisi, Brian. `` The untold story behind UB40 's hit reggae song ' Red Red Wine ' - NY Daily News ''. Jump up ^ Moss, Liv ( 22 September 2014 ). `` Now That 's What I Call A Million tracklisting revealed ! ''. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 September 2014. Jump up ^ `` Singer / songwriter Neil Diamond here, AMA ! ''. Reddit. 16 October 2014. Retrieved 17 October 2014. Jump up ^ Kent, David ( 1993 ). Australian Chart Book 1970 -- 1992 ( Illustrated ed. ). St. Ives, N.S.W. : Australian Chart Book. p. 316. ISBN 0 - 646 - 11917 - 6. N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid 1983 and 19 June 1988. Jump up ^ `` Austriancharts.at -- UB40 -- Red Red Wine '' ( in German ). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Jump up ^ `` RPM Weekly February 18, 1984 ''. Jump up ^ `` Musicline.de -- UB40 Single - Chartverfolgung '' ( in German ). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH. Jump up ^ `` De Nederlandse Top 40, week 39, 1983 ''. Archived from the original on 14 September 2008. Jump up ^ `` Charts.org.nz -- UB40 -- Red Red Wine ''. Top 40 Singles. Jump up ^ `` Norwegiancharts.com -- UB40 -- Red Red Wine ''. VG - lista. Jump up ^ `` Swedishcharts.com -- UB40 -- Red Red Wine ''. Singles Top 100. Jump up ^ `` Swisscharts.com -- UB40 -- Red Red Wine ''. Swiss Singles Chart. Jump up ^ `` Official Singles Chart Top 100 ''. Official Charts Company. Jump up ^ `` UB40 Chart History ( Hot 100 ) ''. Billboard. Jump up ^ `` Canadian single certifications -- UB40 ''. Music Canada. Jump up ^ `` NZ Top 40 Singles Chart -- 20 November 1983 ''. Recorded Music NZ. Jump up ^ `` British single certifications -- UB40 ''. British Phonographic Industry. Enter UB40 in the search field and then press Enter. Jump up ^ Copsey, Rob ( 19 September 2017 ). `` The UK 's Official Chart ' millionaires ' revealed ''. Official Charts Company. Jump up ^ `` American single certifications -- UB40 ''. Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH Jump up ^ Roberts, David ( 2006 ). British Hit Singles & Albums ( 19th ed. ). London : Guinness World Records Limited. p. 565. ISBN 1 - 904994 - 10 - 5. Jump up ^ `` History - Trojan Records ''. Jump up ^ Andrew Bogut ( @ andrewbogut ) ( 1 March 2017 ). `` UB40 - Red Red Wine '' ( Tweet ) -- via Twitter. Neil Diamond singles discography Singles 1960s 1962 `` You Are My Love at Last '' `` I 'm Afraid '' 1963 `` At Night '' 1966 `` Solitary Man '' `` Cherry, Cherry '' `` I Got the Feelin ' ( Oh No No ) '' 1967 `` Girl, You 'll Be a Woman Soon '' `` Thank the Lord for the Night Time '' `` Kentucky Woman '' `` Some Day Baby '' 1968 `` New Orleans '' `` Red Red Wine '' `` Brooklyn Roads '' `` Two - Bit Manchild '' `` Shilo '' `` Sunday Sun '' 1969 `` Brother Love 's Travelling Salvation Show '' `` Sweet Caroline '' `` Holly Holy '' Singles 1970s 1970 `` Shilo '' `` Until It 's Time for You to Go '' `` Soolaimon '' `` And The Grass Wo n't Pay No Mind '' `` Solitary Man '' `` Cracklin ' Rosie '' `` He Ai n't Heavy, He 's My Brother '' `` Do It '' 1971 `` I Am... I Said '' `` Done Too Soon '' `` I 'm a Believer '' `` Stones '' 1972 `` Song Sung Blue '' `` Play Me '' `` Walk on Water '' 1973 `` Cherry, Cherry '' `` The Long Way Home '' `` The Last Thing on My Mind '' `` Be '' `` Skybird '' `` Longfellow Serenade '' `` Morningside '' `` I 've Been This Way Before '' `` The Last Picasso '' 1976 `` If You Know What I Mean '' `` Do n't Think... Feel '' `` Beautiful Noise '' 1977 `` Stargazer '' `` Lady - Oh '' `` Desiree '' 1978 `` God Only Knows '' `` Let Me Take You In My Arms Again '' `` I 'm Glad You 're Here With Me Tonight '' `` You Do n't Bring Me Flowers '' `` The Dancing Bumble Bee / Bumble Boogie '' 1979 `` Forever in Blue Jeans '' `` Say Maybe '' `` The American Popular Song '' `` September Morn '' Singles 1980s 1980 `` That Kind '' `` The Good Lord Loves You '' `` Dancing in the Street '' `` Love on the Rocks '' 1981 `` Hello Again '' `` America '' `` Yesterday 's Songs '' 1982 `` On the Way to the Sky '' `` Be Mine Tonight '' `` Rainy Day Song '' `` Heartlight '' `` I 'm Alive '' `` Turn Around '' UB40 Jimmy Brown Robin Campbell Earl Falconer Norman Hassan Brian Travers Duncan Campbell Ali Campbell Yomi Babayemi Jimmy Lynn Mickey Virtue Astro Studio albums Signing Off Present Arms UB44 Labour of Love Geffery Morgan Baggariddim Rat in the Kitchen UB40 Labour of Love II Promises and Lies Guns in the Ghetto Labour of Love III Cover Up Homegrown Who You Fighting For ? TwentyFourSeven Labour of Love IV Getting Over the Storm Compilation albums The Singles Album More UB40 Music The UB40 File The Best of UB40 -- Volume One The Best of UB40 -- Volume Two The Very Best of UB40 1980 - 2000 Greatest Hits Love Songs Live albums UB40 Live Remix albums Present Arms in Dub Dub Sessions Singles `` Food for Thought '' `` One in Ten '' `` Do n't Slow Down '' `` Red Red Wine '' `` Please Do n't Make Me Cry '' `` Many Rivers to Cross '' `` If It Happens Again '' `` Sing Our Own Song '' `` Rat in Mi Kitchen '' `` 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 Ca n't Help ) Falling in Love With You '' `` Higher Ground '' `` Swing Low '' See also UB40 discography DEP International Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Red_Red_Wine&oldid=840021472 '' Categories : 1967 songs 1968 singles 1983 singles 1988 singles Neil Diamond songs UB40 songs Billboard Hot 100 number - one singles Dutch Top 40 number - one singles Number - one singles in New Zealand RPM Top Singles number - one singles UK Singles Chart number - one singles Songs written by Neil Diamond Reggae songs Songs about alcohol Bang Records singles Hidden categories : Articles with hAudio microformats Singlechart usages for Austria Singlechart usages for Germany Singlechart usages for New Zealand Singlechart usages for Norway Singlechart usages for Sweden Singlechart usages for Swiss Singlechart usages for UK Singlechart called without artist Singlechart called without song Singlechart usages for Billboardhot100 Certification Table Entry usages for Canada Certification Table Entry usages for New Zealand Certification Table Entry usages for United Kingdom Certification Table Entry usages for United States Use dmy dates from July 2011 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch Français Italiano Latina Norsk Norsk nynorsk Polski Simple English Svenska Edit links This page was last edited on 7 May 2018, at 06 : 40. 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Question: who wrote the original song red red wine
Answer: American singer Neil Diamond