UB40 released the album Labour of Love in 1983.
Released in the United Kingdom on 12 September 1983, Labour of Love was UB40’s fourth studio album and their first devoted entirely to cover versions. The Birmingham group reworked songs by Jamaican and Caribbean artists, presenting them through its accessible blend of reggae, pop and post-punk influences.
The album’s most famous track was “Red Red Wine,” a reggae interpretation of a song written and first recorded by Neil Diamond. UB40’s version became a worldwide hit, although its major American success arrived later: the single topped the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1988 after being reissued. The album also included “Many Rivers to Cross,” “Cherry Oh Baby” and “Please Don’t Make Me Cry.”
Labour of Love reached number one in the UK, New Zealand and the Netherlands. Its success changed how UB40 was perceived, moving the band from politically focused early records toward a long-running series of cover albums. The title was later reused for three additional UB40 albums, but the 1983 original is the one that began the sequence.