UB40’s Labour of Love revisits Billboard
In 1983, when British reggae band UB40 released its fourth studio album Labour of Love, the set was well-received by the music-buying public and critics alike.
Labour of Love topped albums charts in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. It made it to #39 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. However, it fared better five years later when it rose to #14.
Labour of Love peaked at #6 on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart in 2022, its highest position to date on that chart. It returns to the chart this week at #9.
The 10-track set features mostly covers of songs originally recorded by Jamaican acts. They include
Sweet Sensation by the Melodians, Many Rivers to Cross by Jimmy Cliff, Cherry Oh Baby by Eric Donaldson, and Please Don’t Make Me Cry by Winston Tucker.
Labour of Love has been certified platinum in the United States, New Zealand, Canada, and Netherlands.
Still on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart, Legend by Bob Marley and the Wailers is crowned the champ for 312 non-consecutive weeks.
Meanwhile, Best of Shaggy: The Boombastic Collection by Shaggy remains at #2, The Trinity and
Dutty Rock by Sean Paul are #3 and #4, while Stick Figure has back to back entries at #5, #6 and #7 with World on Fire, Wisdom, and Set in Stone.
Exodus by Bob Marley and the Wailers is #8, while Greatest Hits by UB40 completes the Top 10.
PBT by Travis Scott, Tyla and Vybz Kartel remains at #5 for a fourth consecutive week on Billboard’s Rhythmic Airplay.
Moving now to regional charts, where Neto Yuth and Anthony B’s So Long continues to lead the Rebel Vibez Top Ten Canadian Reggae chart.
Come Jesus Come by Sherell Rosegreen spends a second week at #1 on the New York Reggae chart.
One Blood by White Mice crawls from #16 to #13 and Conscious Vibes by Busy Signal steps up from #27 to #25.
Kingston Town by Etana and Dancehall Ball by AJ Brown enter at #29 and #30, respectively.
Over on the South Florida Reggae chart, the new #1 is the remix of Pitta Patta by Ernie Smith and Ed Robinson, which was produced by Mr Vegas’s MV Music label.
Your Grace and Mercy by George Nooks rises from #12 to #10, while Boom Body by Shaggy, Akon, and Aidonia debuts at #22. New at #24 is Conscious Vibes by Busy Signal, while Etana’s Kingston Town steps in at #25.
