Present Arms (album)
| Present Arms | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Standard vinyl/CD cover art | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 29 May 1981 | |||
| Genre | Reggae | |||
| Length | 47:09 | |||
| Label | DEP International | |||
| Producer | Ray Falconer, Bob Lamb, UB40 | |||
| UB40 chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Christgau's Record Guide | A−[2] |
| Record Mirror |  [3] |
| Smash Hits | 7½/10[4] |
| Uncut | 8/10[5] |
Present Arms is the second album by UB40 and was released in 1981. It spent 38 weeks on the UK album charts, reaching number 2. An album of original songs, it spawned two top 20 hits in 'One in Ten' (number 7) and 'Don't Let It Pass You By/Don't Slow Down' (16).
Like their first album Signing Off, Present Arms contained many socially and politically charged lyrics, from the anti-militant title track to 'Sardonicus' which was linked to both President Ronald Reagan and Risus sardonicus, an ironic smile on tetanus victims' faces, The UK top-ten hit "One in Ten" was an attack on Thatcherism. The album also touches on a subject very dear to UB40's heart: 'Lamb's Bread' and 'Don't Walk On The Grass' are written as part of the band's longstanding campaign for the legalisation of cannabis. Musically, the album continued in the heavy, reverb-drenched, mellifluous style of the debut.
The title track has been used to open UB40 concerts from the mid 1990s onwards, usually with the blasting horn section beginning the concert.
As with Signing Off, Present Arms was critically acclaimed and commercially successful in the UK.
A dub version of this album called Present Arms in Dub was released soon after.
Track listing LP
Disc One (Album)
Side 1
- "Present Arms" – 4:08
- "Sardonicus" – 4:29
- "Don't Let It Pass You By" – 7:45
- "Wildcat" – 3:04
Side 2
- "One in Ten" – 4:32
- "Don't Slow Down" – 4:28
- "Silent Witness" – 4:15
- "Lamb's Bread" – 4:48
Disc Two (EP)
With the original 1981 release was a 12" single (7" single in some countries) containing two instrumental tracks. These were added to the CD album.
- "Don't Walk on the Grass" – 5:07
- "Dr X" – 5:20
Track listing CD
- "Present Arms" – 4:08
- "Sardonicus" – 4:29
- "Don't Let It Pass You By" – 7:45
- "Wildcat" – 3:04
- "One in Ten" – 4:32
- "Don't Slow Down" – 4:28
- "Silent Witness" – 4:15
- "Lamb's Bread" – 4:48
- "Don't Walk on the Grass" – 5:07
- "Dr X" – 5:20
Personnel
- UB40
- Astro – Trumpet, Vocals, Toasting
- Jimmy Brown – Drums, Vocals
- Ali Campbell – Vocals, Guitar
- Robin Campbell – Vocals, Guitar
- Earl Falconer – Bass Guitar
- Norman Hassan – Percussion, Trombone
- Brian Travers – Saxophone
- Michael Virtue – Keyboards
- Production
- Ray "Pablo" Falconer – Producer
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands (NVPI)[6] | Gold | 50,000^ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[7] | Platinum | 300,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
- ^ Ogg, Alex. "Present Arms – UB40". AllMusic. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
- ^ Christgau, Robert (1990). "UB40: Present Arms". Christgau's Record Guide: The '80s. Pantheon Books. ISBN 0-679-73015-X. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
- ^ Gardner, Mike (6 June 1981). "Present Cards". Record Mirror. p. 14.
- ^ Hillier, Beverly (11–24 June 1981). "UB40: Present Arms". Smash Hits. Vol. 3, no. 12. p. 29.
- ^ Thomson, Graeme (April 2015). "UB40: Present Arms – Deluxe". Uncut. No. 215. p. 96.
- ^ "Dutch album certifications – UB 40 – Present Arms" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved 10 June 2019. Enter Present Arms in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1984 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
- ^ id MUST BE PROVIDED for UK CERTIFICATION.
