UB40 - "Red Red Wine" (1983)

"Red Red Wine" is a song written and originally recorded by Neil Diamond. It has been covered by Tony Tribe, Jimmy James & the Vagabonds, and more famously by British reggae group UB40, whose version topped the U.S. and UK singles charts. Contrary to popular belief, Bob Marley did not record this song, ever. In the song, the singer finds drinking red wine is the only way to forget a lost love. Labour of Love is the reggae album by UB40, the band's fourth studio album. It was originally released on 1 September 1983 and included the hits, "Red, Red Wine" (UK #1, US #1), "Cherry Oh Baby" (UK #12), "Many Rivers to Cross" (UK #16), and "Please Don't Make Me Cry" (UK #10). The entire album consists of cover versions of songs originally released by the group's musical idols. The most notable track is the cover of Neil Diamond's "Red, Red Wine," which reached #1 in the United Kingdom upon its release. The song was re-released in the United States in 1988, where it also topped the chart. The album and 12" version included a toasted verse by Astro, later copied by Neil Diamond in his live performances. The album reached #1 in the UK and #8 in the United States. With the inclusion of the new version of "Red, Red Wine," the album regained popularity in 1988 and climbed to #15 in the U.S.

Musical Youth - "Pass The Dutchie" (1982)

"Pass the Dutchie" was a song recorded by the British group Musical Youth from their 1982 album The Youth of Today. It was a major hit, holding the number one position on the UK singles charts for three weeks in September and October 1982.


The song was a cover version of the song "Pass the Kutchie" by The Mighty Diamonds, which deals with the recreational use of cannabis, "kutchie" being slang for a cannabis pipe. For the cover version, the song's title was bowdlerized to "Pass the Dutchie", and all obvious drug references were removed from the lyrics; e. g., when the original croons "How does it feel when you got no herb?", the cover version refers to "food" instead. At the time, "dutchie" was used as a slang term to refer to a food cooking pot such as a Dutch oven. It has since become a drug reference in itself, denoting a blunt stuffed with marijuana and rolled in a wrapper from a Dutch Masters cigar.


The song was first championed by radio DJ Zach Diezel and became an instant hit when it was picked up by MCA Records in September 1982. It debuted at #26 on the chart and rose to #1 the following week. In February of the following year, it reached #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in the USA. The song also scored a top 5 success in the Norwegian chart, eventually selling over 4 million copies worldwide. The video, shot partly on the banks of the River Thames in London, across from the Palace of Westminster, was one of the first by black artists to get airplay on MTV.

Bobby McFerrin - "Don't Worry Be Happy" (1988)

"Don't Worry, Be Happy" is a song by musician Bobby McFerrin. Released in September 1988, it became the first a cappella song to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, a position it held for two weeks. On the UK Singles Chart, the song reached number 2 during its fifth week on the chart. At the 1989 Grammy Awards, "Don't Worry Be Happy" won the awards for Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. The song's title is taken from a famous quote by Meher Baba. The original music video stars Robin Williams and Bill Irwin. The "instruments" in the a cappella song are entirely overdubbed voice parts and other sounds made by McFerrin, using no instruments at all. The music video for the song is considerably shorter than the album version. It is ranked #31 on VH1's 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of the 80s.


The Indian mystic and sage Meher Baba (1894–1969) often used the expression "Don't worry, be happy" when cabling his followers in the West. However, Meher Baba communicated variations of the sentiment; fuller versions of the quote—such as, "Do your best. Then, don’t worry; be happy in My love. I will help you" -- also incorporate responsibility ("do your best...") alongside the detachment ("don't worry..."), as well as the master/disciple spiritual relationship ("I will help you").


Originally released in conjunction with the Tom Cruise film "Cocktail" in 1988, the song originally peaked at No. 88 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was re-released the same year and peaked at No. 1 on September 24, 1988. The song also peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Tracks chart and No. 7 on the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart. The song was also a hit in the United Kingdom and peaked at No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart.

Mighty Sparrow - "Salt Fish" (1976)

I first heard this song on the Carribean Island of St. Christopher in the early 1990's (now known as St. Kitts). I was on a local bus with the native islanders and it was so surreal. I felt the root of tropical living when I heard this one.


Mighty Sparrow or Birdie (born Slinger Francisco, July 9, 1935, in Grand Roy, Grenada, West Indies) is a calypso singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Known as the "Calypso King of the World," he is one of the most well-known and successful calypsonians. He has won Trinidad's Carnival Road March competition eight times and has been named "Calypso Monarch" eleven times.


Salt Fish is one of the Funniest songs 'Mighty Sparrow' ever did. If you don't already know 'Salt Fish' was his greatest lover. This is sometimes seen as a very nasty and naughty song (read lyrics).


Saltfish stew is what I like
So doo-doo, give me day and night
I like you food, so don’t find me rude
My favorite, I sure every man in here already eat it


Saltfish
Nothing in the world sweeter than
Saltfish
English, colloquial, Bajans
Saltfish
It’s sweeter than meat
When you want to eat
All saltfish sweet


Very well, I like the taste
Though the smell, sometimes out of place
It hard to take, but make no mistake
I want you to know, it’s because it extra sweet it smelling so boy it’s
Saltfish
Big money does run behind it
Saltfish
Man does lick down man to find it
Saltfish
It’s sweeter than meat
When you want to eat
All saltfish sweet


Some like it hot, some like it cold
No matter what, I take it young or old
When it serve with wine, man does stew it fine
Put no pepper, the bone in the centre does be sweet like sugar


Saltfish
Some men does get drunk to taste it
Saltfish
Some does go and hide to face it
Saltfish
It’s sweeter than meat
When you want to eat
All saltfish sweet


I would die, a happy man
If I close me eye, with piece in me hand
Bury me, in the cemetery
Any money, put a saltfish picture on me tombstone saying


Saltfish
Sparrow was it’s greatest lover
Saltfish
He even adored the odor
Saltfish
It’s sweeter than meat
When you want to eat
All saltfish sweet!