Rare releases
Following are some highlights on special and rare releases. Some of these releases are promotional only and not for sale in shops, other releases are unofficial (bootleg) releases. I usually find these kind of releases at record-fairs or bid on them at Ebay. Please take notice that some of these releases can be hard to find and are quite unique. I sadly can't help you find them.

Russian flexis Recently discovered are various (shaped) flexi discs from Russia. Most of these discs were made in the city of Kaliningrad at around 1993/94. The regular (square) shaped flexis have sleeves with UB40 logos and pictures. All the shaped ones have pictures of the former Soviet army. Tracks include: Tell It Like It Is, Can't Help Falling In Love, Watchdogs, Don't Blame Me, Kingston Town and others. The flexis come in all shapes and colors including flowers, a rooster, a policeman. Colors include red, yellow, orange, translucent orange, green, blue.

Promos Several releases were first given a limited promotional pressing. Some branches of the Virgin offices released country specific promos, mainly France has released very special promos on vinyl and cd. One promo is really rare and it seems there are only a few available. Virgin France promoted the new "Promises & Lies" album with a 5-track cd-single. This single has two very special tracks only available on this release. Two songs of the "Promises & Lies" album are extended with a few more minutes! Both "Higher Ground", with Astro toasting in the middle of the songs, as "Now & Then" have extended instrumental versions. Other promos include various USA promos with special mixes including "Here I Am (Come and take me)" with special dance versions. Virgin also released CDR promos for Rudie with singer Nilo and an even more rare promo of Cover Up with South African singer Ringo. Other CDR's include special mixes or unmastered songs! All are very collectable!

 

Press kits There are a few rare video and dvd press kits available on UB40. The albums "Homegrown" and "Who You Fighting For" had video press kits made including interviews with band members. The dvd for "Who You Fighting For" includes some exclusive footage of the band performing "I'll be on my way" in the studios. Other press kits include pre-recorded answers to interview questions and a full recording of the interview the band gave before their 21st Birthday gig.

 

Test pressings Several releases were first given a test pressing, the so called white labels. This record of "Red Red Wine" includes an exclusive cut of the song, mixing the toasting of the album version with the 7" version into a 4 minute radio version. The mix was never offically released but found on this A&M Records / Electrosound test pressing. I have several other first pressings in my collection on white label including "Don't Let It Pass You By", "Baby", "Here I Am (come and take me)" and "Tell Me Is It True".

 

Acetates Very rare and unique are acetate test pressings of which usually one is made, straight from the master tapes. The manufactering of acetates is a whole different process as making a regular vinyl release. The acetate is chemically attached to a metal or aluminum carrier, and the recording is engraved into the plate (not pressed as with vinyl records). Sound quality is a lot better than vinyl, more dynamics and lower bass, but acetates are sensitive to damage. Acetates are made to test if the recording sound fine on record, to test track order, fade-in and fade-out times and such. Usually the band approves their release after listening to the acetate or first vinyl white label test pressings. Nowadays the record companies use CD-recordables to test all that. I have a few acetates in my collection, the one pictured above is the double sided 12" acetate to 12 DEP 3. "Folitician" on the b-side starts with Jim drumming a bit longer intro to the song which was later omitted from the official vinyl 12".

 

Rat In The Kitchen - Russian release "Rat In The Kitchen" is the only official Russian release by UB40, available on the Melodia label. UB40 signed a contract with Melodia while touring the CCCP late 1986. Melodia re-released the album after one year with a different colored label. A total of 5 different issues of this same album are available from Russia.

 

Krugozor magazines These are two Russian Flexi Disc magazines entitled "Krugozor" with UB40 medley mixes on them. The 1982 version has "Sardonicus / Present Arms" on it, and the 1987 magazine has a mix of "Watchdogs/The Elevator / Sing Our Own Song" on it. Flexi Discs are thin plastic singles. Both magazines have blue colored discs (33 RPM) and feature info on UB40 in Russian with exclusive band photography.

 

Polish postcards These are Polish picture postcards with a clear top layer in which they engraved the music so you can actually play these on your record player! I have three of these cards, "C'est La Vie", "Promises & Lies" and "Reggae Music" out of a series of approximately 15.

 

Mighty Reel NME music magazine of late 1982 contained a free cassette album "Mighty Reel" featuring an exclusive dubmix of "Forget The Cost" only available on this release. The mix has an additional 4 minutes added to the album version, a mix done by Mikey Dread from the same sessions where he mixed "Sufferin'" and "Mek-Ya-Rok".