On September 2, 2013, UB40 will release their new album ‘Getting Over The Storm’, the reggae stars’ 20th studio album, and their first since 2010’s ‘Labour of Love IV’.
Like many of UB40’s previous albums, the group’s original material is complemented by a smattering of cover versions and interpretations. Interestingly, amongst the five original UB40 songs, the covers recorded for ‘Getting Over The Storm’ were originally written and recorded by country music artists.
Knowing that country music is loved by Caribbean audiences, UB40’s sax player Brian Travers said: “We’ve all spent a lot of time in Jamaica, and country music is very much part of the fabric. It’s an honest music, just like reggae. The two genres really sit together well.”
UB40’s MCAstro adds: “In the Caribbean, there are very few households that do not own a Jim Reeves album. I certainly had them in my house, as did all my West Indian friends when I was growing-up. When you’d go their houses you’d always see Jim Reeves staring back at you from the Blue Spot Gramophone! Country music and Jamaica are so finely entwined.”
The genesis for the country covers dates back to 1990, when UB40 were recording the UK Number 6 single I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight with their friend, the late Robert Palmer. Robin Campbell said: “Robert really wanted to record the Randy Travis song called On The Other Hand, so we recorded it together. However, we were unable to reach an agreement with Robert’s estate for use of his vocal on the track, so the version you hear on the album now features Duncan (Campbell) singing instead. Then the idea of covering some other country songs really intrigued us, so we started trawling through our favourite country albums and settled on songs such as George Jones’ ‘Getting Over The Storm’, Jim Reeves’ ‘He’ll Have To Go’, Willie Nelson’ ‘Blues Eyes Crying In The Rain’ and Vince Gill’s ‘If You Ever Have Forever In Mind’.”
“It’s not a country album, though.” states Robin. “It’s a UB40 album. It’s a reggae album. We’ve just covered some country tunes.”
As with all of UB40’s albums since 2005’s ‘Who You Fighting For’, all of the tracks were cut live in the studio. Robin Campbell: “We don’t use studios like we used to. It’s like a rehearsal set-up, where we sit in a circle and play together. It helps get the vibe right.”
The album will be available to pre-order from Amazon.co.uk and iTunes from Monday 8 July. All fans pre-ordering the album from iTunes will receive a download of the single Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain as an ‘instant grat’ purchase.
There is also a limited edition version of the album available from here. Limited to just 200 copies, the album will include a 12x12 poster signed by the band.
UB40 will play UK tour dates in September to support the release of the album.
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Like many of UB40’s previous albums, the group’s original material is complemented by a smattering of cover versions and interpretations. Interestingly, amongst the five original UB40 songs, the covers recorded for ‘Getting Over The Storm’ were originally written and recorded by country music artists.
