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Reckless (Afrika Bambaataa song)

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"Reckless"
Single by Afrika Bambaataa and Family featuring UB40
from the album The Light
B-side"Mind Body and Soul"
ReleasedFebruary 8, 1988 (1988-02-08)[1]
GenreFunk
Length3:54
LabelEMI
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • John Robie
  • UB40
Afrika Bambaataa singles chronology
"Bambaataa's Theme"
(1986) 		"Reckless"
(1988) 		"Sho Nuff Funky"
(1988)
UB40 singles chronology
"Maybe Tomorrow"
(1987) 		"Reckless"
(1988) 		"Breakfast in Bed"
(1988)

"Reckless" is a song by American rapper Afrika Bambaataa featuring British reggae band UB40. It was released as a single in February 1988 from Bambaataa's album The Light, and peaked at number seventeen on the UK Singles Chart.[2]

Release and reception

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"Reckless" was produced by John Robie and features lead vocals by UB40's Ali Campbell, with UB40 providing the instrumentation on the song. It also features guest vocals by Malibu and Lizzie Tear.[1] A music video was filmed in a nightclub featuring the singers and was directed by UB40's saxophonist Brian Travers.[1][3]

"Reckless" was released in February 1988 with the B-side "Mind Body and Soul", only by Bambaataa, which was produced by Jazzy Jay. Initially, only one twelve-inch format of "Reckless" was released, a 'Wildstyle' mix. However, this was later followed by a 'Soca Chant Zouk' mix on February 22 and a 'Full Fon' remix on March 21.[4][5]

Reviewing for Record Mirror, Andy Strickland described "Reckless" as having "downright infectious rhythms from this unlikely pairing" and that it is "not as heavy as previous Bambaataa collaborations like 'Time Zone', [but] this lighter approach should assure him of a hit. Bambaataa fans will probably cry 'sell out' but UB40 followers will love it. It's in a different class to 'I Got You Babe' even if the singalong chorus is a steal from the original 'Going Bock To My Roots'.[6] For Number One, Andrew Panos gave the song three out of five starts, describing it as "straightforward go ahead funk. And the rather odd combination works surprisingly well".[7]

Track listings

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7": EMI / EM 41

  1. "Reckless" – 3:54
  2. "Mind Body and Soul" – 2:46

12": EMI / 12 EM 41

  1. "Reckless" (Vocal Wildstyle Mix) – 7:10
  2. "Mind Body and Soul" (Part 1 Vocal) – 5:53
  3. "Mind Body and Soul" (Part 2 Serious Instrumental Mix) – 5:56

12": EMI / EMX 41

  1. "Reckless" (The Soca Chant Zouk Mix) – 8:09
  2. "Mind Body and Soul" (Part 3 Vocal Instrumental Mix) –
  3. "Mind Body and Soul" (Part 4 Echo Mix) –

12": EMI / EMXS 41

  1. "Reckless" (The Full Fon Remix) – 7:20
  2. "Mind Body and Soul" (Part 1 Vocal) – 5:53
  3. "Mind Body and Soul" (Part 2 Serious Instrumental Mix) – 5:56

CD: EMI / CDEM 41

  1. "Reckless" – 3:58
  2. " Reckless" (The Soca Chant Zouk Mix) – 8:13
  3. "Mind Body and Soul" – 2:48

Charts

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Chart (1988) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[8] 7
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[9] 21
Ireland (IRMA)[10] 19
Italy (Musica e dischi)[11] 5
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[12] 5
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[13] 4
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[14] 13
Spain (AFYVE)[15] 4
UK Singles (OCC)[2] 17
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[16] 35

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Index". Record Mirror. February 6, 1988. p. 4.
  2. ^ a b "Afrika Bambaataa and Family: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  3. ^ "Vide News". Music & Media. March 19, 1988. p. 4.
  4. ^ "New Singles". Music Week. February 20, 1988. p. 27.
  5. ^ "New Singles". Music Week. March 19, 1988. p. 39.
  6. ^ "Singles". Record Mirror. February 13, 1988. p. 14.
  7. ^ "Singles". Number One. February 13, 1988. p. 41.
  8. ^ "Afrika Bambaataa & Family feat. UB40 – Reckless" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  9. ^ "Sisältää hitin: Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1960: Artistit B - BAS". Sisältää hitin. August 13, 2015. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  10. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Reckless". Irish Singles Chart.
  11. ^ "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Afrika Bambaata".
  12. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Afrika Bambaataa and Family" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  13. ^ "Afrika Bambaataa & Family feat. UB40 – Reckless" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  14. ^ "Afrika Bambaataa & Family feat. UB40 – Reckless". Top 40 Singles.
  15. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (2015). Sólo éxitos 1959–2012 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 978-84-8048-866-2.
  16. ^ "Afrika Bambaataa Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard.
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