Disc 1
1. Food For Thought
2. King
3. My Way Of Thinking
4. The Earth Dies Screaming
5. Dream A Lie
6. Don’t Let It Pass You By
7. Don’t Slow Down
8. 1 In 10
9. Red Red Wine
10. Please Don’t Make Me Cry
11. Many Rivers To Cross
12. Cherry Oh Baby
13. If It Happens Again
14. I Got You Babe
15. Don’t Break My Heart
16. Sing Our Own Song
17. Rat In Mi Kitchen
18. Maybe Tomorrow

Disc 2
1. Breakfast In Bed
2. Where Did I Go Wrong?
3. I Would Do For You
4. Homely Girl
5. Here I Am (Come And Take Me)
6. Kingston Town
7. Wear You To The Ball
8. Can’t Help Falling In Love
9. Higher Ground
10. Bring Me Your Cup
11. C’est La Vie
12. Reggae Music
13. Superstition
14. Untim My Dying Day
15. Swing Low (The Official England Rugby World Cup Anthem)
16. Kiss And Say Goodbye

Hide Track Listing

UB MAD NOT 2 BUY IT.
this was a big favourite of mine, growing up in the 80's and early 90's. this album is by far the best reggae collection of ub40's. i also bought the ub40 dvd which has a few others which do not feature on the collection. if you want relaxing, soul trippin music this summer, then i suggest this album. totally superb.

this is a must for anyone who not only likes ub40 but enjoyed the 80's and its music.

Complete UB40 - Great value but inferior sound quality
UB40 have been a constant within the music scene for almost 3 decades by now. The first 15 years they were constant hit makers with consistent album sales. It seems that after that period, all of a sudden their time as a big selling artist was up as if the public had had enough.

These 2 CDs cover that period in a thorough manner. Basically, the CDs are simply re-issues of their Best of collections, volume 1 & 2, put into a single packaging. Two songs, Swing Low and Kiss & Say Goodbye are tacked at the end of volume 2; both songs would have been hits had UB40 still retained the popular appeal. Every UB40 Top 20 hit in the UK is here, i.e. until 1995, plus a few other notable singles (excluding Swing Low, UB40 have only had two other minor Top 20 hits since then). The only omission I notice is The Way You Do the Things You Do. It is one of their best known songs in the US but did not, however, even manage for some reason to crack the Top 40 in the UK, making the omission understandable. By excluding that period the listener also is spared the awful cover of Light My Fire included on their Very Best of 1980-2000 collection.

Their music has aged very well and many songs are becoming standard classics, even ones that were standards in other versions. In short, if you like UB40, even casually, this is the set to buy.

I am, still, deducting a star from this great set. It seems that despite being released in 2005, i.e. this combined version of the two volumes, the sound has not been re-mastered in accordance to current standards. My old Volume 1 CD has the exact same sound quality as the version on the volume 1 disk in this set.

I own the US version of the Very Best of 1980-2000 collection and took a few comparison samples. It was unfavourable for this version. On Here I Am the bass, which is prominent in the mix, is much more vibrant and the whole sound staging has audibly more depth on the US version, whilst on Kingston Town the synthesizers are clearer and the slight echo in the singing channel more natural, giving the song more of its special aura. These songs and other newer tracks have an added edge on the US version over the Best of Vol. 1&2 which is in a way analogous to the difference of a brand new LP verses a worn one.

On older tracks the difference is more audible, since the recording technology during the later period is more similar to what is used today. 1 in 10 has a significantly lower and more muddled sound and their first single, Food For Thought, is so vastly different sonic wise it is as if a blanket has been put over the speakers on the Best of Vol. 1&2 version (incidentally, the Left-Right channelling is reverse on the Food For Thought mixes).

Why the songs were not updated sound wise is beyond me, especially in light of the fact that many of the songs obviously have been re-mastered for at least another compilation. Most people won't notice the difference though and I admittedly seldom listen so closely that it matters. This is, however, a drawback.

To summarize, this is an immaculate collection of the hits of UB40 but suffers somewhat from the sound quality. In whole, I recommend this set.


Need to Know!
Five stars for the music, but...
Is this a remastered stuff?

Can't wait for its release!!!
Defo a fabolous compilation of UB40 songs, this one includes Kiss And Say Goodbye for the 2005 latest album Who You Fighting For?. I don't have the old 2 cds and I think It will be better to get this one.

A non-missing compilation for any reggae lover.

Hide Reviews