Labour of Love
UB40 are not great innovators, but they are great imitators, and, in a sense,Labour of Lovemade them thePat Booneof reggae. Featuring a handsome and clean-cut (by reggae standards) white singer, Ali Campbell, UB40 covered Jamaican standards and turned millions of Americans and Europeans on to another form of black music. Interestingly enough, the album's smash hit, "Red Red Wine," was a cover of a rocksteady cover of aNeil Diamondtrack. Being that UB40 had the pick of the reggae litter,Labour of Loveis chock full of stellar material. FromJimmy Cliff's "Many Rivers to Cross" to theMelodians' "Sweet Sensation" toJohnny Clarke's "Keep On Moving,"Labour of Lovestill serves as an excellent reggae starter kit.--Bill Crandall