Top tracks — play these first
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Don't Want to See You Cry Start here — accessible entry with immediate hook
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Bring It on Home to Me — This soulful cover stands out for its emotive vocal delivery and smooth instrumentation, capturing the essence of longing inherent in the original while blending UB40’s distinct reggae style.
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Tracks of My Tears — The band’s rendition is marked by a lush arrangement that transforms the Motown classic into a reflective reggae number, demonstrating their skill in reimagining beloved songs.
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Man Next Door — This track showcases UB40's ability to meld storytelling with rhythmic sophistication, highlighting themes of love and heartache that resonate throughout the album.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album effectively blends reggae grooves with heartfelt covers, though it lacks standout original compositions.
What we noticed
- The album features a consistent mid-tempo groove throughout, with most tracks maintaining a relaxed feel characteristic of reggae.
- The last three tracks slow down the tempo, creating a reflective close to the album that contrasts with the more upbeat earlier selections.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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5/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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5/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady rhythmic journey throughout
- for sunny afternoons
- sing-along love song vibes
- uplifting energy for gatherings
Maybe skip if you
- prefer fast-paced music
- dislike cover songs
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Late Career Highlight — Reintroduces classic love songs, showcasing UB40's enduring appeal in reggae.
- Themes
- reggae reinterpretation· nostalgic covers
- Career context
- Released in 2010, Labour of Love IV marks UB40's return to their roots after a decade-long hiatus from the Labour of Love series, following 1998's Labour of Love III. The album features a collection of covers that showcases their enduring appeal and ability to reinterpret timeless tracks, positioning them as stalwarts of British reggae.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Steel Pulse· Toots and the Maytals· Jimmy Cliff
Tracklist
- 1 Don't Want to See You Cry Start here 3:50
- 2 Get Along Without You Now 3:50
- 3 Bring It on Home to Me 4:35
- 4 Cream Puff 2:50
- 5 Easy Snappin' 3:11
- 6 Holiday 3:43
- 7 Close to Me 3:56
- 8 Man Next Door 5:14
- 9 Tracks of My Tears 3:23
- 10 True, True, True 2:56
- 11 Boom Shaka Lacka 3:33
- 12 You're Gonna Need Me 3:00
- 13 A Love I Can Feel 4:02
- 14 Baby Why 3:35
- 15 Loving Pauper 4:08
- 16 Come on Little Girl 3:38
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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