“Rat In The Kitchen”
By V.Lishbergov (1987), translated by Joris van Drunen Littel.

This record (published under licence by the Melodia firm), "Rat In The Kitchen" (a figure from the childrens' television series "Puppet Show") of the english group UB40 confronts the russian listener with one of the musical styles of modern popmusic, reggae. Like the musical press in their home country writes: ".. at this moment UB40 are one of the professional groups that play reggae, since the well known Bob Marley."

Many people know the odd name of the group from their home country: it's the name of an unemployment benefit application form, form number 40. All eight bandmembers had to apply for the benefit after finishing secondary school. And who knows what had happened to these plain lads from Birmingham, if they didn't have their musical gift.

The first concert of the group took place on February 9, 1979 at an open square for all the workers of their home town Birmingham. A month before was their debute with the songs "King" and "Food For Thought". The musical press in England, who reviewed the record, noticed that UB40 fans could be split into two catergories: one catergory goes to their concerts and buys their records to dance on and have fun with, because the stormy colorful carnaval of rhythm and colors are the cradle of reggae in Jamaica that fascinates both listeners and viewers; However, the other fans find reflections in the songs dealing with problems of modern times, like the songs "Food For Thought" in which the musicians tell the wealthy people of England about the sufferin of the African youth who die of hunger. This social theme doesn't only reflects in the name of the group. The collective takes part in concerts for the "Rock Against Racism" movement and the "Artists Against Apartheid" movement. The group isn't afraid of using hilarity and criticism against inland and foreign politics of the Torie cabinet and against the media.

Specialists admit, that UB40's work is soaked with worries about Western youth, just like the problems of the people their age. And though the musicians are momentary 26 to 27 years old and have gained commercial success, they are modest as formerly, also friendly, and appreciate sincerity and friendship. This could be experienced by russian viewers who saw the concerts of the ensemble, because in October 1986 UB40 gave some guest performances. UB40 consists of white as well as black, it's a medium of musicians from Jamaica, the cradle of reggae.

With this record people can recall the concerts in our country, it makes your home record collection complete and is an addition to the playlists of the youth disco.

V.Lishbergov (1987)

“I am a One in Ten”
By A. Troitskiy, translated by Irina Reese (2006).

"I am a one in ten, a number of the list, even though I don't exist..." These are lyrics from the song "One in Ten" by the English band UB40. "One in ten" is a reference to the unemployed, the "unwanted" people in capitalist counties. As to (the name of the group) UB40, it's the name of the unemployment benefit form.

Social problems have become so acute in the West recently that a whole music movement has formed that speaks about social and political issues and that is reminiscent of a similar music trend in the Sixties. UB40 is one of the most prominent groups of this trend. The band was formed in Moseley, a working-class suburb of Birmingham, where immigrants from West India and Africa and poor white live close together. The band is also multinational. It consists of brothers Ali and Robin Campbell (vocals, guitars), Earl Falconer (bass guitar), Jim Brown and Norman Hassan (drums), Michael Virtue (keyboard), Terrence Wilson (trumpet) and Brian Travers (saxophone).

The first UB40 album, called "Signing Off," was released in the spring of 1980 and was received with great enthusiasm by young people. The songs are sharply critical of capitalist society in Great Britain. One of the songs contains these lyrics: "I'm a British subject, not proud of it while I carry the burden of shame."

As the disk went gold, commercial prospects opened up for the band. But the band members decided not to compromise as they released their second album, "Present Arms," in the summer of 1981. Songs from this album are more philosophical: They are about exploitation in capitalist society and the injustice of it (Don't Slow Down), and about a desire to live your life at somebody else's expense (Sardonicus). Finally, the song "Present Arms" is about disarmament, a subject that is very topical today.

Carnival on Stage
By Victor Glazov, translated by Irina Reese (2006)

After the first performance in Moscow of the British group UB40, there was a lively atmosphere backstage. A good-looking blond-hair man with a saxophone looked at me and said, "Privet" ("hello" in Russian -- Irina Reese). After a couple of minutes, the rest of the group members gathered around us and were ready to answer our questions.

There are eight of them, the core members of UB40: guitar players and vocalists, brothers Ali and Robin Campbell, bass-guitarist Earl Falconer, drummer Jim Brown, saxophone-player Brian Travers, piano player Michael Virtue, keyboard player and a vocalist Norman Hassan, Astro Wilson who plays brass instruments, although at the concert, I also saw a guest drummer and a female vocal duo. "These musicians help us create an atmosphere of a carnival, which is characteristic of reggae music that we play. This music pulsates with emotions of the proud people of Jamaica," explains Brian Travers.

I could see how true these words were during the concert. There was none of the usual "fishing for applause" that some guest performers exhibit, none of acrobatics in the midst of smoke. There was just music, the inner rhythm that ignited the audience and the musicians themselves.

Some may think that the group is just a dance band, although a professional dance band. Such a definition is only true on the surface since reggae music is also about having a social position and a moral choice.

UB40 songs have their fair share of criticism of the state of affairs in today's England, as well as unambiguous expression of solidarity with the black population of South Africa fighting against apartheid.

There are enough simple and laconic songs in their latest album Rat in the Kitchen (1986) that became an instant hit. "In this album, we wanted to express our collective vision of the world and our attitude towards the problems of today's world," the musicians said. And these are not just words: "Sing Our Own Song," which is very popular in Western Europe and which is based on an anthem of South African patriots, was also performed in Moscow. By the admission of UB40 band members, this song has become "the focal point of the whole performance."