Did You Know Ub40 Didn't Write 'Red Red Wine'? the True Neil Diamond Origins Explained

What is the story behind Did You Know Ub40 Didn't Write 'Red Red Wine'? the True Neil Diamond Origins Explained? Get the answers in this feature article.

Q1: Did Neil Diamond write "Red Red Wine" for UB40?
No. Neil Diamond wrote and recorded "Red Red Wine" in 1967 as a solo acoustic track on his 1968 album Just for You. UB40 did not record their cover until 1983, sixteen years after Diamond penned the lyrics.

Q2: Why did UB40 think "Red Red Wine" was written by someone else?
UB40 only knew the 1969 rocksteady cover by Jamaican artist Tony Tribe. Because the vinyl sleeve listed the songwriter as "N. Diamond," the band assumed it was a Jamaican rocksteady songwriter rather than the famous American folk-pop singer.

Q3: What was the impact of Astro's rap verse on the track?
Astro’s toasted rap verse introduced traditional Jamaican deejay chanting to mainstream global audiences. The verse altered the song’s emotional tone from Diamond’s original heartbreak into a buoyant, party-ready celebration.

Q4: How did the song reach number one in the United States years after release?
While it hit number one in the UK in 1983, the track only peaked at number 34 in the US. In 1988, radio station KZZP in Phoenix revived the track on local airwaves, sparking nationwide station demand that drove the single to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in October 1988.