Craig David And Sway Join Ali Campbell On New Album

May 15 2009 By James Shepherd

Britain’s Craig David and Sway join the line up of international artists featuring on Ali Campbell’s new album ‘Flying High’.

Scheduled for release in June, ‘Flying High’ is Ali Campbell’s third solo album and his first to be recorded since splitting from UB40. Also featuring on the album are Jamaica’s Lady Saw and Shaggy, Germany’s Gentleman and South Africa’s Danny K & The Soweto Gospel Choir. A collection of original material and some well-chosen covers, the album was recorded in London’s Sarm studio and is produced by Ali.

Speaking about recording the song ‘Everways’ with Craig David, Ali recalls: “It was a joy working with Craig, he is totally professional and has done a great job on the track. He is one of the UK's best R ‘n’ B talents and a lovely guy.”

Similarly Craig enjoyed the experience saying “It was great working with Ali, the man is a legend and a consummate professional. ‘Everways’ captures everything that we’ve all come to love about his writing. I look forward to working with him again in the future.”

A song written by Ali and Gentleman for the album is ‘It’s A Crime’ on which British rapper Sway collaborates: “Sway is one of Britain's finest. His rap on the track is so good, I was blown away with his lyric and phrasing – he is a big talent” praised Ali.

Coming from a family of UB40 fans Sway was thrilled to be working with Ali: "It was a great honour working with Ali, I'm a big fan of UB40 and so are my parents, my mum couldn't believe it. The fact that someone of that stature would even consider or acknowledge talent from a younger generation to be worthy of appearing on his album is amazing."

‘Flying High’ is released on June 22nd followed by the single ‘Out From Under’ on June 29th

Following the worldwide success of 2007’s ‘Running Free’, June sees the release of Ali Campbell’s much anticipated third solo album ‘Flying High’, his first to be recorded since splitting from UB40. Ali has one of the UK’s most distinctive and recognisable voices and as lead singer with the world-renowned group UB40, he has sold over 60 million records worldwide, toured across the globe, notched up four number No. 1 world-wide singles, over forty Top 40 UK singles, released 24 studio albums and received an Ivor Novello Award for International Achievement.

Recorded in London’s legendary Sarm Studios ‘Flying High’ is an exquisitely arranged and produced infectious reggae-pop record, made up of a mixture of original material and interesting covers, thoroughly exploring all genres of reggae music, with a release date that makes it a potential soundtrack to the summer.

An Ali Campbell record wouldn’t be an Ali Campbell record without exciting collaborations, superbly written original material and some well chosen, transformed covers and ‘Flying High’ won’t disappoint. Ali restructures and shapes old pop classics with his inventive, artistic vision that only he could convincingly execute and the record includes appearances from an exciting cast of international artists including Craig David, Sway, Jamaica’s Lady Saw and Shaggy, Germany’s Gentleman and South Africa’s Danny K & The Soweto Gospel Choir.

Soaring melodies and reggae rhythms glide and bounce along throughout the album with themes that include conspiracy theories, politics and love. The contagious and moving rendition of ‘Out From Under’ highlights Campbell’s world class vocal ability - the first single to be taken from the new album, this beautiful ballad evokes strong emotions and lyrically may help to shed some light on his departure from UB40. ‘She’s A Lady’, a cover of Tom Jones’ Seventies smash, sees a pair-up with dancehall superstar Shaggy, whose raspy Jamaican rhymes entwine with Campbell’s huge soulful vocals so fluently and with such kick that you’re left wondering why the two haven’t collaborated before.

True reggae lovers will be excited to learn that there is a cover of John Holt’s 1970 lost dub classic ‘My Heart Is Gone’. The haunting original track ‘Nothing Ever Changes (Pierrot)’ sees the pairing of German reggae star Gentleman with Ali and leaves its mark on the listener with its thought provoking lyric, whilst ‘Visions’, another Campbell penned track, sees Danny K and the Soweto Gospel choir join Ali on what is an anthemic and uplifting look at South Africa’s future.

From his days in UB40 to his time pursuing his successful solo career, Ali has always stayed true to his love of reggae and its ongoing capacity for innovation, experimentation and pure enjoyment. ‘Flying High’ is testament to his continuing desire to create and deliver innovative reggae and dub to the world in the shape of an album that, young or old, reggae enthusiast, or not, you definitely won’t want to miss.

Album tracklisting:

1. Nothing Ever Changes featuring Gentleman

2. Out From Under

3. Everways featuring Craig David

4. She's A Lady featuring Shaggy

5. That's Supposed To Hurt

6. What You Gonna Do Bout It featuring Lady Saw

7. Visions featuring Danny K & The Soweto Gospel Choir

8. My Heart Is Gone

9. Don't Shoot The Messenger

10. It's A Crime featuring Sway

11. Flying High

12. My Happiness

Ali and his new band, The Dep Band, will be playing a selection of these new songs, solo material from previous albums, ‘Running Free’ and ‘Big Love’, and old UB40 favourites such as ‘Red Red Wine’ across the UK throughout June and July.

Ali Campbell Tour Dates:

JUNE 2009

Sun 14th Margate Winter Gardens
Fri 19th Bristol Colston Hall
Sun 21st Glasgow Clyde Auditorium
Mon 22nd Newcastle City Hall
Wed 24th Manchester Apollo
Thu 25th Sheffield City Hall
Sat 27th Birmingham NIA Academy
Sun 28th Liverpool Empire
Mon 29th Nottingham Royal Centre

JULY 2009

Thu 2nd London 02 Shepherds Bush Empire
Fri 3rd Ipswich Regent Theatre
Sat 4th Cambridge Corn Exchange


TICKET PRICE:
£30.00 Glasgow, Newcastle, Sheffield, Liverpool, Nottingham, Ipswich, Cambridge

£32.50 Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester, London
24hr Ticket Hotline: 0870 735 5000 www.bookingsdirect.com