A song about the bittersweet solace found at the bottom of a glass.
There are certain songs that, the moment the first note hits the air, transport you back in time. They don’t just evoke a memory; they are a physical sensation, a flicker of a long-lost feeling. For many of us, especially those who came of age in the 1980s, UB40’s rendition of “Red Red Wine” is one such aural time machine. It’s a song that effortlessly bridges the gap between a lazy summer afternoon and a melancholic late-night reflection, an anthem for both parties and private moments of quiet despair.
This enduring classic’s journey to global superstardom is a fascinating tale of mistaken identity, serendipitous timing, and the transformative power of reggae. While it is almost exclusively associated with UB40, the song was originally penned and recorded by the legendary American singer-songwriter Neil Diamond in 1967. His version, a somber, acoustic folk ballad, was a minor hit, peaking at a modest No. 62 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Diamond’s lyrics paint a vivid picture of a man drowning his sorrows in a bottle, using the “red, red wine” to numb the pain of a love lost. The song is a mournful ode to a broken heart, a plea to the liquid comfort in a glass to “stay close to me” and forget the memories that “won’t go.”
The song’s pivotal transformation, however, began not with UB40, but with a 1969 reggae cover by a Jamaican artist named Tony Tribe. It was this specific version, with its relaxed, skanking beat, that the members of UB40—a group of friends from Birmingham, England, who had bonded over their shared love of reggae and political frustration—first heard and fell in love with. In a now-famous twist of fate, the band was completely unaware that the song’s original author was none other than Neil Diamond. As the late great Astro, the band’s toaster, once recalled, they saw the writing credit as “N. Diamond” and assumed it was a Jamaican artist named Negus Diamond. Their blissful ignorance led them to record their own version for their 1983 album of covers, Labour of Love, an ode to the classic reggae tunes that inspired them.
The UB40 version took the mournful ballad and imbued it with a laid-back, yet undeniably vibrant, energy. The addition of Astro‘s spoken-word toasting verse—”Red, red wine, you make me feel so fine / You keep me rocking all of the time”—completely changed the song’s tone, turning a lament into a defiant celebration of escapism. It was a subtle but profound shift in meaning, suggesting that while the wine may be a crutch for sadness, it also brings a temporary feeling of joy and freedom. This new, infectious rhythm captivated audiences across the globe.
Initially released as a single in August 1983, the song was an immediate smash hit in the UK, soaring all the way to No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart and becoming one of the best-selling singles of the year. In the US, its initial release was less successful, charting at a respectable but unremarkable No. 34 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1984. However, it was a re-release in 1988 that cemented its legacy in America. Following a live performance at the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Concert at Wembley Stadium, a radio DJ in Phoenix, Arizona, began playing the longer, album version of the song, which included Astro‘s iconic toasting. The public’s demand for this version exploded, prompting A&M Records to re-release the single. This time, there was no stopping it. In October 1988, five years after its original release, “Red Red Wine” finally hit the coveted No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming a genuine cross-Atlantic phenomenon and one of the most recognizable songs of the decade.
Looking back, the song is a beautiful testament to the power of music to evolve and transcend its origins. It’s a perfect example of how a simple melody and poignant lyrics can be reinterpreted to find a new voice and a new audience. For those of us who remember those days, the sound of that relaxed, bouncing bassline and the smooth vocals of Ali Campbell are more than just a song. They are the background music to our own youthful memories—first loves, fleeting heartbreaks, and the simple, universal truth that sometimes, a good glass of red wine is all you need to make the world feel a little bit more alright.