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Reckless (Afrika Bambaataa song)

{{Short description|1988 single by Afrika Bambaataa}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}}

{{Use American English|date=August 2024}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Reckless

| type = single

| image = Afrika Bambaataa Reckless.jpg

| artist = Afrika Bambaataa and Family featuring UB40

| album = The Light

| B-side = Mind Body and Soul

| released = {{start date|1988|02|08}}{{cite magazine|date=6 February 1988|title=Index|magazine=Record Mirror|page=4}}

| recorded =

| studio =

| genre = Funk

| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=54}}

| writer = * Afrika Bambaataa

| label = EMI

| producer =

  • John Robie
  • UB40

| misc = {{Extra chronology

| artist = Afrika Bambaataa

| type = single

| prev_title = Bambaataa's Theme

| prev_year = 1986

| title = Reckless

| year = 1988

| next_title = Sho Nuff Funky

| next_year = 1988

}}

{{Extra chronology

| artist = UB40

| type = single

| prev_title = Maybe Tomorrow

| prev_year = 1987

| title = Reckless

| year = 1988

| next_title = Breakfast in Bed

| next_year = 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.

Release and reception

"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. A music video was filmed in a nightclub featuring the singers and was directed by UB40's saxophonist Brian Travers.{{cite magazine |date=19 March 1988 |title=Vide News |magazine=Music & Media |page=4}}

"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.{{cite magazine |date=20 February 1988 |title=New Singles |magazine=Music Week |page=27}}{{cite magazine |date=19 March 1988 |title=New Singles |magazine=Music Week |page=39}}

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'.{{cite magazine |date=13 February 1988 |title=Singles |magazine=Record Mirror |page=14}} 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".{{cite magazine |date=13 February 1988 |title=Singles |magazine=Number One |page=41}}

Track listings

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

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (1988)

!Peak
position

{{single chart|Flanders|7|artist=Afrika Bambaataa & Family feat. UB40|song=Reckless|rowheader=true}}
scope="row"|Finland (Suomen virallinen lista){{Cite web|date=13 August 2015|title=Sisältää hitin: Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1960: Artistit B - BAS|url=http://suomenlistalevyt.blogspot.com/2015/08/b-bas.html|access-date=2023-07-19|website=Sisältää hitin}}

|21

{{single chart|Ireland2|19|song=Reckless|rowheader=true}}
scope="row"|Italy (Musica e dischi){{cite web|url=http://www.musicaedischi.it/classifiche_archivio.php|title=Classifiche|work=Musica e dischi|language=it}} Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Afrika Bambaata".

|5

{{single chart|Dutch40|5|artist=Afrika Bambaataa and Family|song=Reckless|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Dutch100|4|artist=Afrika Bambaataa & Family feat. UB40|song=Reckless|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|New Zealand|13|artist=Afrika Bambaataa & Family feat. UB40|song=Reckless|rowheader=true}}
scope="row"|Spain (AFYVE){{cite book|last=Salaverri|first=Fernando|title=Sólo éxitos 1959–2012|date=2015|publisher=Fundación Autor-SGAE|isbn=978-84-8048-866-2|edition=1st|location=Spain}}

|4

{{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|17|artist=Afrika Bambaataa and Family|artistid=8264|rowheader=true|refname=UK}}
{{single chart|Billboarddanceclubplay|35|artist=Afrika Bambaataa|rowheader=true}}

References

{{reflist}}

{{Afrika Bambaataa}}

{{UB40}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1988 songs

Category:1988 singles

Category:Afrika Bambaataa songs

Category:UB40 songs

Category:Songs written by John Robie

Category:EMI Records singles