Red Red Wine

Infobox Single
Name = Red Red Wine


Cover size =
Border =
Caption =
Artist = Neil Diamond
Album = Just for You
A-side =
B-side = Red Rubber Ball
Released = start date|1968|4|13
Format = 7"
Recorded =
Genre =
Length =
Label = Bang
Writer = Neil Diamond
Producer = Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich
Audio sample? =
Certification =
Last single = "New Orleans"
(1968)
This single = "Red Red Wine"
(1968)
Next single = "Brooklyn Roads"
(1968)
Misc =Infobox Single
Name = Red Red Wine


Cover size =
Border =
Caption =
Artist = UB40
Album = Labour of Love
A-side =
B-side = Sufferin'
Released = start date|1983|8|20
Format = 7", 12"
Recorded =
Genre = Reggae
Length =
Label = DEP International (UK)
A&M (US)
Writer = Neil Diamond, arranged by UB40
Producer = UB40, Ray "Pablo" Falconer
Audio sample? =
Certification =
Last single = "I've Got Mine"
(1983)
This single = "Red Red Wine"
(1983)
Next single = "Please Don't Make Me Cry"
(1983)
Misc =

"Red Red Wine" is a song originally written and recorded by Neil Diamond that was then covered by Tony Tribe and more famously by UB40. In the song, the singer finds drinking red wine is the only way to forget a lost love.

Versions

Diamond's version reached number sixty-three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1968. The single version of his recording includes a backing choir not found in any other version. It was also remixed for the compilation "Classics: The Early Years". That same year, Jimmy James and The Vagabonds released a cover version for the UK market. It charted at number thirty-six.

Tony Tribe, a Jamaican Rocksteady singer, recorded a reggae-influenced version in 1969 which reached number forty-six in the UK singles chart. This version is also featured on an album entitled "Bob Marley and the Storey of Reggae". Also in 1969 the song was covered by Swamp-Pop artist Charles Mann. In 1970, a remake by Vic Dana became a minor Billboard Hot 100 hit. In early 1972, country singer Roy Drusky enjoyed a top 20 hit with his cover version.

UB40 made their rendition for their cover versions album "Labour of Love". According to the band, they were only familiar with Tony Tribe's version, and their version featured a lighter, reggae-style flavor compared to Diamond's somber, acoustic ballad. This version reached number one in the UK charts in August 1983, and number thirty-four in the U.S. in March 1984. A U.S. re-release in 1988 of the UB40 cover would then reach number one. This version of the song was featured on the Karaoke Revolution video game.

Although most people think the re-release was prompted by KZZP in Phoenix, it was being played by Bobby Stark a DJ at a dance club in Atlanta called Scenario. After seeing how popular the song had become in the club, the program director at a local radio station added it to his rotation. The Atlanta PD also got his friend at the station in Phoenix to start playing it. With a new buzz about the song the record label decided to re-release it. The re-release version adds a toasted verse by UB40 member Astro, opening: "Red Red Wine, you make me feel so fine/You keep me rocking all of the time".

Diamond later performed a UB40-inspired version of the song on tour. In it, Diamond makes a slight complaint about UB40 misunderstanding the lyrics because of the happy tone to their version. This version was released on Diamond's "The Greatest Hits (1966-1992)".

The Hobos did a cover of this song on their 2004 double album "Radio Jah Jah". The song was also surprisingly covered by Scott Cosado in 2006 with his band Mixed Reviews.

"Red Red Wine" was performed by Tee Set, a Dutch band, in 1968.

The song has also been performed by Cas Haley along with UB40 on the last episode of the season 2 show "America's Got Talent".

In 2001, Capleton released a Dancehall version on the Buy Out Riddim instrumental, best known performed by Sean Paulas the song titled: Like Glue. This was the first time the song was performed on a totally different instrumental. The lyrics were were re-written also.

In 2007, Sean Kingston sampled part of this instrumental for his second single, "Me Love".

In 2008, Sizzla released a dancehall version based on the UB40 version.Rob Pearce originally sang and wrote red red wine with his wife kim

Chart performance

UB40 version

Rob Pearce originally sang and wrote red red wine with his wife kimI believe it was edited and produced by Dalton Pearce too. He was te one humming in the background of the song

References

* The Billboard Book of Number 1 Hits