Red Red Wine

Last updated

"Red Red Wine"
Red Red Wine label.jpg
Single by Neil Diamond
from the album Just for You
B-side "Red Rubber Ball"
Released1967 (1967)
Genre
Length2:42
Label Bang
Songwriter(s) Neil Diamond
Producer(s)
Neil Diamond singles chronology
"New Orleans"
(1968)		"Red Red Wine"
(1967)		"Brooklyn Roads"
(1968)

"Red Red Wine" is a song originally written, performed and recorded by American singer Neil Diamond in 1967 that appears on his second studio album, Just for You . The lyrics are written from the perspective of a person who finds that drinking red wine is the only way to forget his woes.

Contents

UB40 recorded a cover version in 1983 that went to No. 1 in the UK and was moderately successful in the United States. It was rereleased in 1988 and went to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Neil Diamond version

When Diamond left the Bang Records label in 1968, the label continued to release his singles, often adding newly recorded instruments and background vocals to album tracks from his two albums for Bang. For the "Red Red Wine" single, Bang added a background choir without Diamond's involvement or permission. Diamond's version reached No. 62 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1968. Billboard described the single as a "compelling, original folk-flavored ballad." [3] Cash Box called it a "softie featuring a melancholy tale by a figure drowning his sorrow" with "dramatic vocal performance in a neatly styled arrangement." [4]

A live version was released on Diamond's The Greatest Hits (1966–92), but the 1968 single version has never been issued on a vinyl album or CD. However, according to the liner notes in the booklet included in the 1996 box set In My Lifetime, the version of "Red Red Wine" erroneously indicates it is “from Bang single 556” but it is really the original, non-overdubbed mono album master of the track. A review of the original 1996 release of this box set show Diamond also released a live version on Hot August Night (but not as a single.)

Several artists covered the song shortly after Diamond's recording was released:

Charts

Chart (1968)Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 [7] 62

UB40 version

"Red Red Wine"
Red Red Wine.jpg
Single by UB40
from the album Labour of Love
B-side "Sufferin'"
ReleasedAugust 8, 1983 (1983-08-08)
Recorded1982
Genre Reggae
Length
  • 5:20 (album version)
  • 3:01 (short version)
Label
Songwriter(s) Neil Diamond
Producer(s)
UB40 singles chronology
"I've Got Mine"
(1983)		"Red Red Wine"
(1983)		"Please Don't Make Me Cry"
(1983)

UB40 recorded a version of "Red Red Wine" for their album of cover versions, Labour of Love . According to UB40 member Astro, the group's former vocalist and trumpet player, the band was only familiar with Tony Tribe's version and did not realize that the writer and original singer was Neil Diamond. Astro told the Financial Times , "Even when we saw the writing credit which said 'N Diamond,' we thought it was a Jamaican artist called Negus Diamond." [8]

UB40's version features a lighter, reggae-style flavor compared to that of Diamond's somber, acoustic ballad. The UB40 version adds a toasted verse by Astro, opening: "Red Red Wine, you make me feel so fine/You keep me rocking all of the time," which was edited from the single that reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart in August 1983 and No. 34 in the U.S. in March 1984. In the UK, it was the 3rd best-selling single of 1983 with 550 000 sales. [9]

In 1988, UB40 performed the song at the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Concert. Soon after, program director Guy Zapoleon of Phoenix-based KZZP [10] placed the full version, including Astro's "rap", on the station's playlist, and it soon became the station's most popular song. With UB40 ready to release Labour of Love II , A&M Records promotion man Charlie Minor asked UB40 to hold off on releasing the album so that the label could reissue and promote "Red Red Wine." On the Billboard Hot 100 chart of October 15, 1988, the song reached a new peak at No. 1. [11] In September 2014, the Official Charts Company announced that sales in the UK had reached one million. [12]

Neil Diamond has stated that UB40's "Red Red Wine" is among his favorite covers of his songs. [13] He frequently performs the song live using the UB40 reggae arrangement rather than that of the original version.

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1983–2001)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report) [14] 2
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) [15] 5
Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) [16] 1
Denmark (Hitlisten) [17] 2
Ireland (IRMA) [18] 1
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) [19] 1
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [20] 1
Norway (VG-lista) [21] 10
South Africa (Springbok Radio/Radio Orion) [22] 1
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [23] 14
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) [24] 8
UK Singles (OCC) [25] 1
US Billboard Hot 100 [26] 1
West Germany (Official German Charts) [27] 12

Year-end charts

Chart (1983)Position
Australia (Kent Music Report) [28] 32
Chart (1988)Position
United States (Billboard) [29] [30] 39

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [31] Gold50,000^
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [32] Gold45,000‡
Netherlands (NVPI) [33] Gold100,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ) [34] Gold10,000*
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [35] Gold30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI) [36] 2× Platinum1,245,324 [37]
United States (RIAA) [38] Gold500,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Other cover versions

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Can't Help Falling in Love</span> 1961 single by Elvis Presley

"Can't Help Falling in Love" is a song written by Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore, and George David Weiss and published by Gladys Music, Inc. The melody is based on "Plaisir d'amour", a popular French love song composed in 1784 by Jean-Paul-Égide Martini. The song was initially written from the perspective of a woman as "Can't Help Falling in Love with Him", which explains the first and third line ending on "in" and "sin" rather than words rhyming with "you".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maybe Tomorrow (The Jackson 5 song)</span> 1971 single by the Jackson 5

"Maybe Tomorrow" is a hit single recorded by American soul family quintet the Jackson 5, in 1971. "Maybe Tomorrow" was included on the Jackson 5's album of the same title, and was also featured on Goin' Back to Indiana. The song was released again in 2009 via a Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers' remix, with an orchestral arrangement by Rob Mounsey, from a compilation album The Remix Suite.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Say a Little Prayer</span> 1967 song by Burt Bacharach and Hal David

"I Say a Little Prayer" is a song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David for Dionne Warwick, originally peaking at number four on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart in December 1967. On the R&B Singles chart it peaked at number eight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Got You Babe</span> 1965 single by Sonny Bono & Cher

"I Got You Babe" is a song performed by American pop and entertainment duo Sonny & Cher and written by Sonny Bono. It was the first single taken from their debut studio album, Look at Us (1965). In August 1965, the single spent three weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States where it sold more than one million copies and was certified Gold. It also reached number one in the United Kingdom and Canada.

"Breakfast in Bed" is a soul–R&B song written by Muscle Shoals songwriters Eddie Hinton and Donnie Fritts for Dusty Springfield. It takes a knowing spin on the line "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me", the title of a song that had previously been a number one hit for her in the UK. After being released on her 1969 album Dusty in Memphis, it was recorded and popularized the same year by Baby Washington. Harry J produced three reggae versions in 1972, by Lorna Bennett, Scotty, and Bongo Herman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Can See Clearly Now</span> Song by Johnny Nash

"I Can See Clearly Now" is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Johnny Nash. It was the lead single from his twelfth album, I Can See Clearly Now (1972), and achieved success in the United States and the United Kingdom when it was released in 1972, reaching number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box charts. It also reached number one in Canada and South Africa. The song has been covered by many artists throughout the years, including a hit version by Lee Towers that reached no. 19 in the Dutch Top 40 in 1982, and another recorded by Jimmy Cliff for the motion picture soundtrack of Cool Runnings that peaked at no. 18 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Master Blaster (Jammin')</span> 1980 single by Stevie Wonder

"Master Blaster (Jammin')" is a 1980 song by American singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder, released as the lead single from his nineteenth studio album, Hotter than July (1980). It was a major hit, spending seven weeks at number one on the US Billboard R&B singles chart, reaching number five on Billboard's pop singles chart in the fall of 1980 and peaking at number two on the UK Singles Chart, and number one in New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walk On By</span> 1964 single by Dionne Warwick

"Walk On By" is a song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David for singer Dionne Warwick in 1963. Warwick's recording of the song peaked at number 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 1 on the Cash Box Rhythm and Blues Chart In June 1964 and was nominated for a 1965 Grammy Award for the Best Rhythm and Blues Recording.

<i>Labour of Love</i> 1983 studio album by UB40

Labour of Love is the fourth studio album by British reggae band UB40, and their first album of cover versions. Released in the UK on 12 September 1983, the album is best known for containing the song "Red Red Wine", a worldwide number-one single, but it also includes three further UK top 20 hits, "Please Don't Make Me Cry", "Many Rivers to Cross" and "Cherry Oh Baby". The album reached number one in the UK, New Zealand and the Netherlands and the top five in Canada, but only reached number 39 in the US on its original release, before re-entering the Billboard 200 in 1988 and peaking at number 14 as a result of "Red Red Wine"'s delayed success in the US.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You're the First, the Last, My Everything</span> 1974 single by Barry White

"You're the First, the Last, My Everything" is a song recorded by American singer and songwriter Barry White from his third studio album, Can't Get Enough (1974). The song was written by White, Tony Sepe and Peter Radcliffe and produced by White. It reached number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the UK Singles Chart. The song was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in 1974, and certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), also in 1974.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solitary Man (song)</span> 1966 single by Neil Diamond

"Solitary Man" is a song written by American musician Neil Diamond, who recorded the song for Bang Records in late January 1966. It has since been covered many times, notably by T. G. Sheppard, Gianni Morandi, Chris Isaak, Johnny Cash and HIM.

"Kingston Town" is a 1970 song by Lord Creator about Kingston, Jamaica, released as a single on producer Clancy Eccles' Clandisc label. It was also recorded in 1989 by reggae group UB40 and was released as the second single from their album Labour of Love II, reaching number four on the UK Singles Chart and number one in France and the Netherlands.

"Please Don't Make Me Cry" is a song written and originally recorded by Winston Groovy in 1970.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baby, Come Back (The Equals song)</span> 1966 single by the Equals

"Baby, Come Back" is a song by English band the Equals from their 1967 album Unequalled Equals. Written by Eddy Grant, the song was originally released as a B-side in 1966 and was later released as a single in continental Europe before being released as a single in the UK in 1968. "Baby, Come Back" charted in multiple countries, including number one on the Belgian, Rhodesian and UK charts in 1967 and 1968.

"Homely Girl" is a song by American vocal group the Chi-Lites. Released in 1973, it reached number five on the UK Singles Chart, number three on the US Hot Soul Singles chart, and number 54 on the US Billboard Hot 100. A cover by UB40 also became a hit between 1989 and 1991 in several countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love of the Common People</span> 1967 single by The Four Preps

"Love of the Common People" is a song written by John Hurley and Ronnie Wilkins, eventually released in 1970 on John Hurley's album John Hurley Sings about People, but first sung in January 1967 by the Four Preps. The Four Preps' recording was not a hit, but, later in 1967, the Everly Brothers and Wayne Newton would each issue their versions of the song, both of which "bubbled under" in the US charts; Newton's version peaked at No. 106, the Everlys' at No. 114. However, the Everly Brothers' recording was a major hit in Canada, peaking at No. 4. In 1968, Irish artist Joe Dolan with backing group the Drifters recorded a version which hit the top 10 on the Irish Singles Chart, but did not chart elsewhere.

The discography of UB40, a British reggae band, consists of 20 studio albums, 19 compilation albums, six live albums, four remix albums, 65 singles and a number of appearances with other artists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Here I Am (Come and Take Me)</span> 1973 song by Al Green

"Here I Am (Come and Take Me)" is a 1973 song by Al Green, the second single released from his album Call Me. The song reached number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the Hot Soul Singles chart. It was certified as a gold record by the Recording Industry Association of America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You'll Never Get to Heaven (If You Break My Heart)</span>

"You'll Never Get to Heaven (If You Break My Heart)" is a song composed by Burt Bacharach, with lyrics by Hal David. It was originally recorded by Dionne Warwick in 1964, who charted at number 34 in the US Billboard Hot 100 with her version. It was covered by the Stylistics in 1973, who reached number 23 in the US with their cover.

Anthony Mossop, known professionally as Tony Tribe and Tony Kingston, was a Jamaican vocalist. He charted at No. 46 on the UK Singles Chart with a reggae version of Neil Diamond's "Red Red Wine", becoming Trojan Records's first UK chart entry, and inspired UB40's version, which charted at No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart and the Billboard Hot 100. He also performed at the 1969 Caribbean Reggae Festival. He then moved to Canada and released several singles there including "I Am the Preacher", which charted at No. 65 on the RPM charts, and then an album.

References

  1. ↑ Molanphy, Chris (April 28, 2017). "The Rogue DJ Edition". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate . Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  2. ↑ Sheffield, Rob (2004). "Neil Diamond". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. p. 233-234. ISBN   0-7432-0169-8.
  3. ↑ "Spotlight Singles" (PDF). Billboard. March 16, 1968. p. 78. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  4. ↑ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. March 16, 1968. p. 16. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  5. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 565. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  6. ↑ "History - Trojan Records".
  7. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012. Record Research. p. 237.
  8. ↑ Lisi, Brian (January 16, 2017). "The untold story behind UB40's hit reggae song 'Red Red Wine' - NY Daily News". New York Daily News .
  9. ↑ "Official Top 40 Best Selling Singles of 1983". UK Official Charts.com. The Official UK Charts Company. March 19, 2021.
  10. ↑ Molanphy, Chris (April 28, 2017). "Hit Parade: The Rogue DJ Edition". Slate. ISSN   1091-2339 . Retrieved October 20, 2019.
  11. ↑ "35 Years After 'Red Red Wine,' UB40's 'Labour of Love' Continues". Billboard. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
  12. ↑ Moss, Liv (September 22, 2014). "Now That's What I Call A Million tracklisting revealed!". Official Charts Company . Retrieved September 22, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Singer/songwriter Neil Diamond here, AMA!". Reddit. October 16, 2014. Retrieved October 17, 2014.
  14. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St. Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 316. ISBN   0-646-11917-6. N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid 1983 and June 19, 1988.
  15. ↑ "UB40 – Red Red Wine" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  16. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 4468." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  17. ↑ "Danish Charts Archive?". November 11, 2009.
  18. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Red Red Wine". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  19. ↑ "De Nederlandse Top 40, week 39, 1983". Archived from the original on September 14, 2008.
  20. ↑ "UB40 – Red Red Wine". Top 40 Singles.
  21. ↑ "UB40 – Red Red Wine". VG-lista.
  22. ↑ "South African Rock Lists Website - SA Charts 1969 - 1989 Acts (U)" . Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  23. ↑ "UB40 – Red Red Wine". Singles Top 100.
  24. ↑ "UB40 – Red Red Wine". Swiss Singles Chart.
  25. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  26. ↑ "UB40 Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  27. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – UB40 – Red Red Wine" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  28. ↑ "Kent Music Report – National Top 100 Singles for 1983". Kent Music Report . Retrieved January 22, 2023– via Imgur.com.
  29. ↑ "1988 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 100, no. 52. December 24, 1988. p. Y-20.
  30. ↑ "Billboard Top 100 – 1988" . Retrieved October 3, 2016.
  31. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – UB40 – Red Red Wine". Music Canada.
  32. ↑ "Danish single certifications – UB40 – Red Red Wine". IFPI Danmark . Retrieved May 23, 2022.
  33. ↑ "Dutch single certifications – UB 40 – Red Red Wine" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers . Retrieved May 4, 2024.Enter Red Red Wine in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1983 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  34. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – UB40 – Red Red Wine". Recorded Music NZ . Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  35. ↑ "Spanish single certifications – UB40 – Red Red Wine". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España . Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  36. ↑ "British single certifications – UB40 – Red Red Wine". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  37. ↑ Copsey, Rob (September 19, 2017). "The UK's Official Chart 'millionaires' revealed". Official Charts Company.
  38. ↑ "American single certifications – UB-40 – Red Red Wine". Recording Industry Association of America.
  39. ↑ "JIMMY JAMES & THE VAGABONDS | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". OfficialCharts.com .
  40. ↑ "TONY TRIBE | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". OfficialCharts.com .
  41. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 70.
  42. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 110.
  43. ↑ "Duke & Jones & Louis Theroux Capitalize On A Viral Trend With New Song "Jiggle Jiggle"". Genius. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.