Undivided Roots (Island, 1990)

I'm not sure why Undivided Roots never became as much of a household name as some other British acts.  I mean, this 5-piece band had a likeable sound -- smooth, British lovers rock that would easily fit in on Island's Strictly for Lovers -- strong songwriting and instrumentation, and the backing of Island Records, but have you ever heard any of their material?  Unless your a big fan of '80s British lovers rock (They actually had a fairly high profile for a while over there.), probably not.  Well, don't think that their relative obscurity is an indication of the quality of their music; the proficiently executed lovers vibe on Undivided Roots, their only Island album, won't disappoint.  The album collects re-recordings of their '80s UK hits, presumably with a crisper sound.  Some tunes are of a so-so nature (including two of their most popular tracks, "Party Nite" and "Rock Dis Ya Music"), but mostly this album is solid, and a couple of tunes -- "Stranger to My Eyes" and the cautionary "Never Get Away" -- sound like bona fide classics.  In fact, I had to check to make sure they weren't remakes (They're not.).  Undivided Roots featured Don Campbell, who has since gone on to have a successful solo career in the UK, while band members Carlton "Bubblers" Ogilvie, Tony Phillips, and Fish Brown have become members of the Ruff Cutt band.