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The Surprising Journey of 'Red, Red Wine': From a Neil Diamond Ballad to a UB40 Anthem
Most people know UB40's reggae classic 'Red, Red Wine,' but few realize it's a cover. The song was originally a somber ballad written and performed by Neil Diamond in 1967 before being transformed into the global anthem we know and love today.
Crank up the radio on a summer afternoon, and you're bound to hear it: the smooth, laid-back reggae rhythm and familiar toast of UB40's “Red, Red Wine.” It’s a song synonymous with good times, sunshine, and carefree vibes. For millions, it's a quintessential 80s reggae anthem. But what if we told you the song's origins lie not in Kingston, Jamaica, but in the melancholic mind of a young, pre-“Sweet Caroline” singer-songwriter from Brooklyn? Prepare to have your musical world shaken: the iconic track was originally written and performed by the one and only Neil Diamond.
The Solitary Sipper: Neil Diamond's Original
Long before it was a party starter, “Red, Red Wine” was a somber ballad. Released in 1967 on his album Just for You, Neil Diamond’s version is a slow, mournful tune about drinking to forget a lost love. There's no upbeat rhythm or celebratory toast; it's a song of pure heartbreak. The lyrics, “Red, red wine, go to my head / Make me forget that I still need her so,” hit differently when delivered with Diamond's gravelly, sorrow-filled voice. The original is a powerful, emotional piece, but it was not one of his major hits at the time.
The Jamaican Connection: Tony Tribe's Reggae Twist
The song's transformation began not with UB40, but with a Jamaican artist named Tony Tribe. In 1969, Tribe recorded a cover of “Red, Red Wine” in a much more upbeat, rocksteady style. This version gave the song its first taste of reggae flavor and became a modest hit in the UK. It was this cover, not Diamond's original, that planted the seed for what would become a global phenomenon. Tony Tribe’s version served as the crucial bridge between a sad American ballad and a British reggae chart-topper.
An Accidental Anthem: UB40's 'Labour of Love'
Fast forward to 1983. The Birmingham-based band UB40 was recording Labour of Love, an album dedicated to covering songs from the reggae artists they grew up admiring. They remembered Tony Tribe's version of “Red, Red Wine” and decided to create their own rendition. The band had absolutely no idea that Neil Diamond was the original writer. They thought they were covering a reggae classic. In an interview with The Guardian, UB40's lead singer Ali Campbell recalled their discovery:
“We had no idea that Neil Diamond wrote it. We only knew the Tony Tribe version and we loved it. It was a reggae standard. The first we knew that Neil Diamond had written it was when we saw the writing credits on the sleeve. We were horrified.”
UB40 gave the song its now-famous light, melodic reggae arrangement and, most importantly, added a new, toasted verse by MC Astro. The iconic “Red, red wine, you make me feel so fine / You keep me rocking all of the time” was a UB40 original, a spontaneous addition in the studio that forever changed the song's character from one of sorrow to one of celebration.
The Writer's Reaction: A Toast to Success
The song became a massive success, hitting #1 in the UK in 1983 and, after a re-release, #1 in the US in 1988. So, what did Neil Diamond think of this reggae band from England turning his heartbreak ballad into a party anthem? He loved it. Diamond has often said that UB40's version is one of his favorite covers of his own songs. The immense success and royalties certainly didn't hurt, but he genuinely appreciated their interpretation. He even began performing “Red, Red Wine” in concert in the reggae style, much to the delight of audiences who were finally connecting the dots. The song’s incredible journey from a lonely ballad to a global reggae smash is a testament to the transformative power of music, where a simple tune about heartbreak can accidentally become a worldwide celebration.