UB40 and Maxi Priest

Over the course of a career that’s now lasted for well over thirty years, UB40 have made a name for themselves as one of the most successful reggae acts in history. They’ve been successful the world over, but are probably best loved in their native United Kingdom, where they’ve had no fewer than fifty singles make the singles chart. In the U.S., meanwhile, they’ve had two huge number one successes, including “Red Red Wine” - probably their signature song - and their take on Elvis Presley’s classic “Can’t Help Falling in Love”.

It’s difficult to speak too clearly about the current lineup of the group, not least because it’s subject to legal proceedings; there’s now both a UB40 and a ‘UB40 Reunited’, with the latter band boasting original singer Ali Campbell, long-time trumpeter Astro and keyboardist Mickey Virtue. At the heart of the conflict is a spat between Campbell and his brother Duncan, who remains in the original UB40 - who, confusingly, are also still a going concern. Either way, it shouldn’t be allowed to overshadow an impressive legacy, the most important part of which is likely the example that UB40 set, with their diverse ethnic background, for other multi-cultural musical outfits in the UK.

After growing up in the Pentecostal church, Maxi Priest began singing gospel with his parents and eight siblings. After converting to Rastafarianism and going by the name Maxi Priest, the undiscovered singer worked making speaker boxes for Saxon International sound system. By 1983 Priest’s talents were becoming known as he would regularly participate in live dancehall shows, and a year later co-produced Phillip Levi’s “Mi God Mi King” single, which topped the singles charts in Jamaica.

After signing with Virgin Records in 1985, the same year the label issued Priest’s debut album “You’re Safe”. Produced by Paul Robinson the album was recorded with the backing band Caution and spawned the hit UK “In the Springtime”. The singer’s subsequent album “Intentions”, released in 1986, moved away from a traditional reggae style and featured the hits “Strollin’ On” and “Crazy Love”. Only in 1988 however did Priest breakthrough into the mainstream with his eponymous full-length. The album reached No. 25 on the UK Albums chart aided by the No. 1 U.S. single and Cat Stevens cover “Wild World”.

By this point Priest had develop a strong following in the U.S. and the UK, which made his fourth studio album his most popular and success to date. “Bonafide”, released in 1990, debuted at No. 25 in the UK and No. 47 in the U.S., led by the U.S. No. 1 single “Close to You”. The album showcased the singer’s fusion style, introducing R&B and soul sensibilities to reggae rhythms and grooves. A hit compilation was released in 1991 entitled “Best of Me”, and the same year Priest once again reached the U.S. Top 10 with the Roberta Flack duet “Set the Night to Music”.

Despite earning favourable reviews, Priest’s fifth full-length “Fe Real” failed to perform as successfully as its predecessors, and after appearing in the film “Scam”, the singer took a hiatus from recording to launch his own label Dugout. Led by the duet with Shaggy “That Girl”, Priest’s sixth album “Man With the Fun” was released in 1996, and was his most fusion-based record to date. Featuring hip-hop and soul influences “CombiNation” was issued in 1999, followed by the Motown-orientated “2 the Max” in 2004, and “Refused” in 2007. After touring and recording alongside UB40, the compilation album “Maximum Collection”, preceded his 10th studio album “Easy to Love” in 2014.