There's great excitement as it has been announced that UB40 is headlining the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games. It will make for the perfect Brummie end to a glorious 12 days of sport and fun in the city - centred, of course, around the Raging Bull.

We thought it would be fun to look at UB40's top 10 songs, according to Classic Rock History. It includes favourites that spring to everyone's mind straight away, such as Red Red Wine and I Got You Babe.

But there are also some of the list that you may have forgotten over the years. We were interested to see which tune was given the number one slot.

Read more:What to expect at the Commonwealth Games closing ceremony

So here is Classic Rock History's top 10 UB40 songs in reverse order, together with their reasons for choosing them.

10. Kiss and Say Goodbye

This was UB40's final single in the UK singles chart back in 2005. It was a cover of The Manhattans' song released nearly 30 years earlier.

Classic Rock History says: "It was a heartfelt, soulful reggae performance by the group that served to be every bit as tearful as the 1976 original performed by The Manhattans.

UB40's Ali Campbell performing at the NEC in 2001
UB40's Ali Campbell performing at the NEC in 2001

9. Here I Am (Come and Take Me)

A reggae twist on an Al Green classic from 1973, UB40 made it their own and turned it into a top 10 hit, peaking at number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100, and charting in the top ten in New Zealand, Australia and the Netherlands. It reached number 46 on the UK singles chart.

Classic Rock History says: "The trumpeting with a reggae-pop twist came from UB40’s album, Labour of Love II, and was every bit as soulful a performance in 1990 as it was in 1973."

8. The Way You Do The Things You Do

A smash hit for The Temptations in 1964, UB40 added their trademark reggae-pop to this classic in 1990. It charted globally, reaching number six on the US Billboard Hot 100, number 11 in France, number 15 in the Netherlands and number 49 in the UK.

Classic Rock History says: "The Temptations made “The Way You Do the Things You Do” a smash hit in 1964 as one of the most popular R&B songs of all time from the group. UB40 threw in their trademark reggae-pop to record and release the song in 1990 as one of the tracks in their album, Labour of Love II. For UB40, it worked well enough to have the playful classic reach number six on the US Billboard Hot 100."

7. Breakfast in Bed (featuring Chrissie Hynde)

This collaboration reached number six in the UK singles chart and was their tenth studio release. It was a cover of a Muscle Shoals song first released in 1969 then popularized by Baby Washington that same year.

Classic Rock History says: "The 1988 cover by Chrissie Hynde and UB40 took the soulful R&B ballad and threw in a reggae twist, mixed with a soft pop-style influence."

UB40 at the NEC in 2001 celebrating their 21st anniversary and joined by special guest Chrissie Hynde
UB40 at the NEC in 2001 celebrating their 21st anniversary and joined by special guest Chrissie Hynde


6. Higher Ground

Higher Ground was a worldwide success, hitting number eight in the UK, the Netherlands and New Zealand. It reached number 16 on the US Billboard Mainstream Top 40.

Classic Rock History says: "From UB40’s tenth studio album, Labour and Lies , 1993’s soft, synthesizer-fused “Higher Ground” was a global charting success with its mix of reggae and pop influence."

5. Kingston Town

A classic UB40 tune that was released back in 1989, Kingston Town was originally performed in 1970 by Lord Creator. It reached number four in the UK and number six on the Eurochart Hot 100. It was also a top ten hit in Germany, Australia, Belgium, Ireland and Switzerland.

Classic Rock History says: "For the group, the empty auditorium sound, influenced by the sounds of reggae mixed with pop sparked the song into an easy-listening hit that saw chart-topping success."

4. I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight (featuring Robert Palmer)

Originally a 1967 Bob Dylan hit, I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight was covered by UB40 and Robert Palmer in 1990.

Classic Rock History says: "The pair up of Palmer and the reggae-pop group influenced the song’s playout to reach a new audience that saw it reach number one in New Zealand and chart within the top ten among the nations of Australia, Austria, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, and the UK. On The US Billboard Alternative Airplay, the song peaked at number 11."

3. I Got You Babe (featuring Chrissie Hynde)

This 1965 Sonny and Cher anthem was a huge hit for UB40 and Chrissie Hynde in 1985. It f eatured on the band’s sixth studio album, Baggariddim and became certified gold in the UK and the US.

Classic Rock History says: "I Got You Babe was a classic hit originally performed by Sonny and Cher in 1965 and was a chart-topping, platinum-certified hit for the duo as a ballad the two proclaimed their love for each other. In 1985, UB40 and Chrissie Hynde teamed up to do the same.

"For them, it was also a chart-topping hit, at least in Ireland, Netherland, New Zealand, and the UK. On US soil, the US Billboard Hot 100 charted the cover song as high as number twenty-eight."

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2. Red Red Wine

This had to be a close contender for the number one slot. Originally performed by Neil Diamond in 1967, UB40 transformed it into a massive hit, reaching number one on the UK Singles Chart and the US Billboard Hot 100 as well as topping charts across Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland and the Netherlands.

Classic Rock History says: " UB40’s cover version in 1983 from the band’s fourth studio album, Labour of Love, turned the song into chart-topping success. Where the song did not chart number one, it was number two in Australia and Denmark, number five in Austria, number seven in Poland, number eight in Switzerland, number ten in Norway, and number fourteen in Sweden. The song also earned platinum certification with the UK’s BPI, and gold certification in Canada, New Zealand, and the US."

1. (I Can’t Help) Falling in Love with You

The number one UB40 had to be their reggae classic version of Elvis Presley's ballad (I Can’t Help) Falling in Love with You. Released in 1993 on the Promises and Lies album, this cover had even more number one spots than the king's original. It reached number one on virtually every US Billboard music chart, throughout Europe and the Oceania nations.

Classic Rock History said: "The full orchestral of UB40’s performance was more complex than the simplicity of Presley’s, which was in the band’s favour as both the fans and the critics couldn’t help falling in love with the song themselves."

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