UB40's second album Present Arms (1981) is often overlooked by their later fans. Especially in the United States, where it took until the early nineties for the CD to be reissued. That is certainly a shame, because if you listen to Present Arms in the right context, you can understand the shift from the serious roots reggae on Signing Off to the covers of good old reggae and rocksteady hits on Labor
… Of Love a lot better. This is the first time that trumpet player Astro is given a more prominent role as the group's own toaster. With its deep toaster voice, it provides a perfect contrast to Ali Campbell's sweeter notes. Although the album was only one hit in the UK (One In Ten), it is completely on par with its better known predecessor.more
