UB40

UB40'S 'Labour of Love' was one of the most offhandedly charming albums of the Eighties.
Temporarily shelving the pungent political commentary of their original material, the
members of the Birmingham combo assembled a collection of exuberant covers of their
favorite reggae and R&B songs. The result was the group's least self-conscious and most
popular album to date. The covers format proved an ideal showcase for UB40's a... More >

The differences are subtle, like everything with this band--rather then being dashed, your high hopes for the sequel succumb to a lingering illness. The beat glides a little too much, the synth washes a little too much, Ali Campbell sings the prize covers a little less and runs them through his voice a little more. And maybe, just maybe, the covers themselves aren't quite as prize. (Grade: B)