UB40’s “Red Red Wine” — Was It Really a “Diamond in the Rough”?

UB40 turned “Red Red Wine” into one of the most recognizable reggae-pop hits of the 1980s. But did they even know they were recording a Neil Diamond song? In this Senior Spinner Deep Dive, we follow the remarkable journey of “Red Red Wine” from Neil Diamond's little-known original recording, through Jamaican singer Tony Tribe's reggae interpretation, and eventually into the hands of UB40. And that's only the beginning. We'll discover why UB40 apparently didn't realize Neil Diamond had written the song, how a British unemployment form gave the band its unusual name, and how “Red Red Wine” became a #1 hit in Britain—only to have a much more complicated journey in America. Then, years after its original release, something extraordinary happened. American radio rediscovered the song, and “Red Red Wine” was given a second chance at the charts. How does a Neil Diamond song travel through Jamaica and Birmingham, England, before becoming one of UB40's signature records? Was “Red Red Wine” really a Diamond in the rough? Crispy, Johnny Dynamite and Danny the Diver follow the trail—and Danny may have taken his “Red Red Wine” research a little too seriously. 🍷 HELP SENIOR SPINNER GROW! Senior Spinner is still a new channel, and every Like and Subscribe really does make a difference. If you enjoy discovering music with me, please hit the Like button, Subscribe, and ring the notification bell. It helps more music fans discover the channel and helps us continue building the Senior Spinner community. Thanks for being part of it! 👇👇 Seee below links for other great YouTube channels and online vinyl record suppliers 👇👇 Nick at the Vinyl Den does an outstanding job with weekly release previews and album reviews.    / @thevinylden   For everything audio equipment related my go to is Randy, the cheap audio man. My complete system is based on his reviews and advice.    / @cheapaudioman   Mike at The In Groove record store has a great weekly new release preview and record store that I purchase from often.    / @theingroove   Billy at Riverbend Records has great previews and record store.    / @billyhurst   John at Max J Records has a great store that I use often, and his Friday night auctions are a must attend. https://www.maxjrecords.com/ Roger at Purchase Street Records is another record store I use, with very competitive pricing. https://purchasestrecords.com/ Darkside Records is one of my top suppliers for both used and new. They have a weekly used records special every Tuesday that can’t be beat for quality, selection, and price. https://shop.darksiderecords.com/ Bordentown Records has an incredible selection, especially with 7” 45’s, and they are always in very clean playing condition. https://the-record-collector.com/ Melinda is a very informative vinyl collector and has a great YouTube channel.    / @melindamurphy