UB40 - Geffery Morgan (1984)

UB40's first album of original songs since the all-covers set LABOUR OF LOVE dramatically increased their US profile, 1984's GEFFERY MORGAN finds the band moving further into the slick pop-reggae direction of "Red, Red Wine." (The record's title comes from graffiti in the group's Birmingham, England neighborhood that read "Geffery Morgan loves white girls.") The band's political bent is soft-pedaled in favor of romantic "lover's rock" tunes like "If It Happens Again" and the dance-pop track "Nkomo A Go Go." Cleverly, the most socially conscious lyrics on the album, the anti-Thatcher diatribe "As Always You Were Wrong Again" and the taunting "Riddle Me," are couched in the catchiest and most melodic tunes. Incorporating more electronic percussion and synthesizers into the group's formerly rootsy sound both aligns GEFFERY MORGAN with the sound of the UK Top 40 and keeps up with the rapid changes that were beginning to overtake reggae itself. The transformation evident here would soon morph into the electronic sound known as "dancehall."

Tracks:

1. UB40 - Riddle Me
2. UB40 - As Always You Were Wrong Again
3. UB40 - If It Happens Again
4. UB40 - D U B
5. UB40 - The Pillow
6. UB40 - Nkomo A Go-Go
7. UB40 - Seasons
8. UB40 - You're Not An Army
9. UB40 - I'm Not Fooled So Easily
10. UB40 - Your Eyes Were Open