Interview: UB40’s Ali Campbell on How “Red Red Wine” Took 5 Years to Hit #1

Professor of Rock · Nov 30, 2022 · 20m

Up next two principals from the classic Reggae group UB40, original singer Ali Campbell and toaster the late Astro tell us the compelling story of a song that took 5 years to get to #1! Red Red Wine originally composed and sung by Neil Diamond. In 1983 Red Red Wine went to the top of the charts in the Uk but stalled at #34 in America then 5 years later a DJ played it by accident confusing this band with another one and people starting requesting it. other stations followed suit and in it went viral before the internet.. Word of mouth took it to #1 . Now all these years later UB40 has broken…