Signing Off

Although UB40's later records were much more conventionally pop-oriented, even the group's 1980 debut, SIGNING OFF, doesn't fit neatly in the roots-reggae tradition. The album does feature the expected bass-heavy rhythms and socially conscious lyrics of songs like "Food for Thought" (which condemns the Ethiopian famine a full four years before Band Aid brought it to attention) and the gospel-tinged "King". However, lead singer Ali Campbell also essays a left-field cover of the early Randy Newman chestnut "I Think It's Going to Rain Today", a mopey ballad more closely associated with the likes of Dusty Springfield than Bob Marley. Like many classic-era reggae albums, SIGNING OFF also includes deep, heavy dub mixes--in this case, the fiery "Tyler" (which becomes "25%") and "Adella" (which is turned into "12 Bar"). The CD edition also includes all of the tracks from a limited-edition 21-minute EP that was packaged with early vinyl copies of SIGNING OFF.

Q (6/00, p.62)
- Ranked #83 in Q's "100 Greatest British Albums"

Q (12/93, p.145)
- 4 Stars - Excellent - "...SIGNING OFF surfed along the 2-Tone wave with slowed down beats, anti-Thatcher rants, inspired cover versions and the vocal interplay of Robin and Ali Campbell. It sounds better than anything [UB40's] recorded since..."