Who You Fighting For? cover

Who You Fighting For?

Released

UB40’s 2005 album — one of the last produced by the original lineup before an acrimonious split — is the most tuneful and lyrically powerful of the band’s long career. Not all of the songs are political, but the most hard-hitting ones are, and titles like “War Poem,” “Sins of the Fathers,” and “Plenty More” (as in “There’s plenty more where that came from/Five megatons of oblivion”) tell you what to expect. The love songs are every bit as fine, though, and Ali Campbell’s declaration that he’s a “One Woman Man” is particularly touching. And the album closes with a lovely cover of The Jamaicans’ “Things You Say You Love.” Magnificent.

Rick Anderson

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