‘Lost Tapes” recorded by Midlands music legends UB40 have been released by the widow of a former Black Country music shop owner who first discovered the band.

Entrepreneur David Virr signed the Birmingham musicians in 1979, after being inspired to start his own record label by the late DJ John Peel.

His Graduate Records business originally began as a record shop in Wolverhampton Street, Dudley, in the late 1960s. At one time, it was one of six across the Midlands.

Mr Virr released UB40’s first single Food for Thought, which reached number four in the charts in January 1980.  It was followed by two further singles and their first album called Signing Off in August 1980. Mr Virr parted company with the band when they signed to a new label.

The Hagley-born father of three first began restoring the lost tapes of live 1980 performances recorded in London shortly before he died from a rare illness, aged 58, in 2006.

He asked his friend and long-time associate George Krstic of Kidderminster-based BiziB Music for help with restoring and protecting the tapes but did not live long enough to see the project come to fruition.

The album, titled ‘UB40 – The Lost Tapes’ has been released on EMI Virgin.

At the moment, it is only available on the internet but there are plans to sell it via major stores in the future.

Mr Virr’s widow Tina, aged 46, of Shrawley, near Worcester, who now runs Graduate Records, believes the album is a fitting tribute to her late husband and his musical career.

She added: “He remembered these tapes were in the loft and was concerned that they would get damaged and be lost forever.

“He was determined to restore the tapes so they could be saved and be heard by fans of the band.”

During his career Mr Virr had worked with other successful artists including The Maisonettes, who had a top ten hit in 1983 with Heartache Avenue.

In 1995, Graduate Records released Stourport singer/songwriter Clifford T. Ward’s album Julia & Other Stories.

For further information log on to www.graduate.valtex.co.uk