Labour of Love

Infobox Album |
Name = Labour of Love
Type = Cover album
Artist = UB40


Released = September 1, 1983
Recorded = 1983
Genre = Reggae
Length = 39:52
Label = DEP International (UK)
A&M (US)
Producer = Ray Falconer and UB40
Reviews = Allmusic Rating|4.5|5 [http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:s9dfylkjxppb~T1 Review]
*"Rolling Stone" Rating|4|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/ub40/albums/album/166556/review/5945243/labour_of_love link]
Last album = "UB44"
(1982)
This album = "Labour of Love"
(1983)
Next album = "Geffery Morgan"
(1984)

"Labour of Love" is a reggae album by UB40, the band's fourth studio album. It was originally released in September 1, 1983 and included the hits, "Red, Red Wine" (UK #1, US #1), "Cherry Oh Baby" (UK #12), "Many Rivers to Cross" (UK #16), and "Please Don't Make Me Cry" (UK #10).

The entire album consists of cover versions of songs originally released by the group's musical idols. The most notable track is the cover of Neil Diamond's "Red, Red Wine," which reached #1 in the United Kingdom upon its release. The song was re-released in the United States in 1988, where it also topped the chart. The album and 12" version included a toasted verse by Astro, later copied by Neil Diamond in his live performances.

The album reached #1 in the UK and #8 in the United States. With the inclusion of the new version of "Red, Red Wine," the album regained popularity in 1988 and climbed to #15 in the U.S.

In 1989, it was ranked #98 on "Rolling Stone" magazine's list of the 100 greatest albums of the 1980s.

The band would later release two more cover albums, "Labour of Love II" and "Labour of Love III".

The album was accompanied by a video entitled Labour of Love, it consisted of various music videos for the songs and tied together with a storyline showing the band working in the dump yard and relationships with wives, families and girlfriends. The film was directed by Bernard Rose.

Track listing

#"Cherry Oh Baby" – 3:18 (original by Eric Donaldson)
#"Keep on Moving" – 4:37 (original by Johnny Clarke)
#"Please Don't Make Me Cry" – 3:26 (original by Winston Tucker)
#"Sweet Sensation" – 3:42 (original by The Melodians)
#"Johnny Too Bad" – 4:57 (original by The Slickers)
#"Red, Red Wine" – 5:21 (original by Neil Diamond; inspired by Tony Tribe)
#"Guilty" – 3:16 (original by Tiger)
#"She Caught the Train" – 3:17 (original by Joe Monsano)
#"Version Girl" – 3:27 (original by Boy Friday)
#"Many Rivers to Cross" – 4:31 (original by Jimmy Cliff)