UB40 - Signing Off (Vinyl LP)

UB40 – Signing Off is the debut album by Birmingham band UB40, released on 29 August 1980 on the independent label Graduate Records. It was recorded mostly in producer Bob Lamb's flat in Moseley, Birmingham. The album reached No. 2 in the UK charts; the double A-side single “King” / “Food For Thought” released ahead of it reached No. 4. The title refers to signing off unemployment benefit, just as the band name refers to the British unemployment form UB40. This copy is a 1983 German repress (Graduate / Intercord, cat. no. INT 136.700).

Pressing details

• Label / Cat. no.: Graduate Records INT 136.700
• Format: Vinyl LP, Album
• Pressing: DE reissue
• Country: Germany
• Year of this pressing: 1983 (original: 1980)
• Genre: Reggae, Dub, Pop

Condition

• Condition: Second hand
• Media: NM-
• Cover: VG+

Graded to Goldmine standard (see Vinyl Grading). The images are our own scans of the actual copy for sale (SKU UB SP1).

Tracklist

Side A

1. Tyler (UB40)
2. King (UB40)
3. 12 Bar (UB40)
4. Burden Of Shame (UB40)
5. Reefer Madness (UB40)

Side B

1. Adella (UB40)
2. I Think It's Going To Rain Today (Randy Newman)
3. 25% (UB40)
4. Food For Thought (UB40)
5. Little By Little (UB40)
6. Signing Off (UB40)
7. Strange Fruit (Lewis Allan)

Personnel

UB40: Ali Campbell (vocals, rhythm guitar), Robin Campbell (lead guitar, vocals), Earl Falconer (bass), Jim Brown (drums), Norman Hassan (percussion, congas), Brian Travers (tenor saxophone, melodica), Mickey Virtue (keyboards), Astro (toasting). Produced by Bob Lamb, Ray “Pablo” Falconer and UB40.

FAQ

Is the bonus 12" included?
No. The 1980 UK first edition came with an extra three-track 12". This German edition is a single LP that already includes “Reefer Madness” and “Strange Fruit”; “Madam Medusa” is not on it.

Is this the original pressing?
No. The album was first released in 1980 in the UK on Graduate Records (GRADLP 2). This copy is a 1983 German repress distributed by Intercord.

What does Media NM- / Cover VG+ mean?
NM- (Near Mint minus) means the record is close to new with at most minimal signs of play. VG+ (Very Good Plus) means the sleeve shows light wear. All grades are explained on our Vinyl Grading page.

Do you have more records by UB40?
Yes, for example UB40 – Signing Off (LP + 12") and UB40 – UB44. More titles are in our Reggae, Ska & Dub collection.