UB40 Reveals New Reggae Album ‘Bigga Baggariddim’ With BLVK H3RO, Leno Banton, Inner Circle And More
English Reggae and Pop band UB40 have announced their new ‘reggae collaborations’ album Bigga Baggariddim with artists ‘spanning four continents and seven decades of recording experience’. The artists include House of Shem, Tippa Irie, BLVK H3RO, Inner Circle, Pablo Rider, KIOKO, Gilly G, Slinger, Winston Francis, Leno Banton and General Zooz (Reggae Rajahs).
Bigga Baggariddim will be the group’s 21st studio album.
The band, formed in 1978, has been nominated four times for Best Reggae Album at the Grammys. In a statement released, BLVK H3RO said “UB40 are regarded as legends here in Jamaica. They keep their hearts close to the people and especially the community they come from, and I love how they stay on that path, just trying to uplift people.”
“Over 35 years after the original Baggariddim album, UB40 have reunited with artists who appeared on the 1985 album and collaborated with new, diverse reggae talent from around the world, who sing and deejay over cuts of the same rhythms,” the release added.
Robin Campbell of UB40 said, “We really enjoy collaborations and this is a natural progression from the original Baggariddim, only more international, and a perfect companion to our last album For The Many because it uses the same rhythms/backing tracks, but features some of the reggae friends we’ve met and worked with around the world.”
New Zealand’s roots reggae band House Of Shem appears on three tracks, led by the irresistible Good Vibes Tonight. From India, the Reggae Rajahs’ General Zooz adds more diversity to UB40’s most eclectic album yet and as the founders of Goa’s annual reggae festival, are a testament to India’s rapidly growing reggae scene. They perform on the ear worm, Roots Rocks Reggae.
Joining this selection of international talent are artists from reggae’s homeland of Jamaica, where a new generation of stars has emerged in the past decade, led by Protoje, Koffee and Chronixx. After UB40’s management heard a BBC 1Xtra session showcasing new Jamaican artists, BLVK H3RO and Leno Banton (son of legendary dancehall pioneer Burro Banton) were invited to appear on Bigga Baggariddim.
Veteran Jamaican reggae artists are represented by Winston Francis (whose long list of hits includes Mr Fix It, which UB40 covered on Labour Of Love III) and Inner Circle, whose overdubs on the track Rebel Love gives it their distinctive, platinum-selling Inner Circle Sound.
Bigga Baggariddim tracklist:
- Good Vibes Tonight – UB40 / House of Shem
- On The Road – UB40 / Tippa Irie
- Gravy Train Is Coming – UB40 / BLVK H3RO
- Rebel Love – UB40 / Inner Circle
- Did You See That? – UB40 / Pablo Rider
- You Don’t Call Anymore – UB40 / KIOKO
- Me Nah Leave Yet – UB40 / Gilly G
- Love You Now – UB40 / House Of Shem
- Mi Life Action – UB40 / Slinger
- My Best Friend’s Girl – UB40 / Winston Francis
- Message Of Love – UB40 / House Of Shem
- I’m Alright – UB40 / BLVK H3RO
- Show And Prove – UB40 / Leno Banton
- What Happened To The Have Not’s? – UB40 / BLVK H3RO
- Roots Rock Reggae – UB40 / General Zooz (Reggae Rajahs)
Bigga Baggariddim will be released on June 25 and is available for preorder.