Ali Campbell and Astro were members of the original UB40 band but left in 2008 over what Campbell termed “managerial issues” He has since formed his own version of UB40 with Astro.
Campbell’s version of UB40 have a new album “Unprecedented”. The album was recorded in 2021 shortly before Astro’s death as the result of a short undisclosed illness.
“Astro’s death came as such a shock, and I’m still reeling from it. This album is now more poignant and special than either of us could have imagined when we were recording it. Astro heartbreakingly passed just two weeks after we’d finished the final mixes, so this is a way of keeping his memory alive,” said Campbell.
Fans of “Red Red Wine” will recognize the signature sound of UB40 on “Unprecedented” – an album of both original and cover tunes. Four of the songs were recorded in Jamaica and include some of the nation’s own reggae musicians.
The album is being offered as a two LP set in the traditional black vinyl, a limited edition two LP white vinyl, a single CD, a limited edition cassette tape, and as a digital download.
The tracklisting for “Unpresedented”:
“Caught You in a Lie”
“Do Yourself a Favour”
“Emperors Wore No Clothes”
“Happy Includes Everyone”
“Heaven in Her Eyes”
“Lean on Me”/”In Aid of NHS Charities Together”
“Lean on Me”
“Mellow”
“Stay Another Day”
“Sufferer” – the first single
“Sunday Morning Coming Down”
“Unprecedented”
“We’ll Never Find Another Love”
“What Have I Done”
Campbell’s UB40 has some concert dates coming up:
July 15 at the Kubix Festival in Sunderland, UK
July 23 at the Ghaxaq Music Festival in Ghaxaq, Malta
July 29 at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, UK
July 30 at The Hastings Reggae Festival in Hastings, UK
Aug 6 at the Marbella Arena in Marbella, Spain
Aug 12 at the Royal Windsor Racecourse in Windsor, UK
Aug 22 at Pavilhao do Arade in Parchal, Portugal
Aug 26 at Da Capo Alzey in Alzey, Germany
Aug 27 at the W-Festival in Oostende, Belgium
Oct 2 at Promisland in Main Beach, Australia
feature photo credit: courtesy of Universal Music