In 1983, ‘Labour of Love’ scored UB40 their first number one album. While some of the band’s earliest supporters have poured scorn on the release and derided it for being lightweight, the well-chosen selection of covers earned the band an even bigger fan base. A further shift towards a smart blend of pop and reggae, along with the increased used of drum machines, gave UB40 another hit album with ‘Geffery Morgan’[sic] the following year, with its best known single ‘If It Happens Again’ scoring the band a top ten hit.
Tag Archives: reggae
SUBLIME – Until The Sun Explodes
In their original incarnation, reggae-ska-punk band Sublime left the world with two excellent albums – 1992’s ‘40oz To Freedom’ and 1996’s ‘Sublime’. Between these two essentials, the sketchier ‘Robbin’ The Hood’ presented some great tracks, but lacked the momentum of the other records, with the more obviously finished material joined by narrative skits and acoustic pieces. For the more patient fan, it actually offered a broader insight into how the band worked; never beholden to one style, Bud, Eric and Bradley were always keen to experiment.
THE REAL GONE SINGLES BAR SUMMER SPECIAL 2026
We’ve reached the middle of 2026 already, and for the first half of the year, submissions to our Singles Bar have been coming in fast. Naturally, there hasn’t been the time to highlight everything we’ve enjoyed from week to week, and a lot of great tracks have not made the cut. Passing these by would be an absolute tragedy, so, as is traditional at the end of June, we’ve pulled some of the “best of the rest” together for our SB Summer Special! These were picked from a staggering 230 track selection, but we feel they best capture the Singles Bar spirit. We hope you can spare the time to explore this selection of tunes, and as always, hope you find something new to enjoy. Remember: good music does not have a sell-by date!
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THE REAL GONE SINGLES BAR #157
This visit to the Singles Bar comes absolutely loaded with treats. Among the eight picks you’ll discover a great reggae number, a cameo from a bona fide legend of Britpop, some goth oriented sounds, a riot grrrl inspired banger…and more besides. With a great variety, this represents everything we love about the SB, and hope you’ll find something to love too.
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THE REAL GONE SINGLES BAR #154
The eight picks that make up this selection for the Singles Bar cover a lot of musical ground. Joining a couple of superb singer songwriters, there’s a reggae-centric number from some legends of British ska, a beautiful track that pushes beyond the boundaries of dream pop, a slab of great post punk, and more besides. It’s one of our stronger selections in a while. As always, we hope you find something new to enjoy!
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