RELEASED 2.11.2009
UB40 performed their first gig in 1979 in their home city of Birmingham. They got their initial break when they were spotted by Chrissie Hynde and invited to support The Pretenders on their upcoming UK tour. Their debut double A side single King / Food For Thought climbed to No.4 in the UK charts in 1980 and their first album Signing Off , released the same year, reached No.2. This concert, filmed at the Sartory-Sale in Cologne in July 1981 for the Rockpalast TV series, followed hot on the heels of the release of their second album Present Arms , which also hit the No.2 spot. The set list is drawn almost exclusively from those two albums and includes all their early hits
Reggae popsters UB40 came to prominence in 1980 when they were invited to support The Pretenders on tour. Their first single, 'Food For Thought', charted at No.4 in the UK and set the precedent for a whole slew of radio-friendly hits. Frontman Ali Campbell's distinctive vocals are perhaps best known for the covers 'Red Red Wine', 'Can't Help Falling In Love', and 'I Got You Babe'. This concert, filmed for German TV series Rockpalast in 1981, showcases material from the band's first two albums, SIGNING OFF and PRESENT ARMS. Tracklisting: 'Present Arms', 'Tyler', 'King', 'Food For Thought', 'The Earth Dies Screaming', 'Don't Let It Pass You By', 'Lamb's Bread', 'Silent Witness', 'Sardonicus', 'One In Ten', 'Madam Medusa', 'Don't Slow Down', 'Dr X', 'Burden Of Shame', 'Signing Off'.