Althea & Donna Still Not Paid For Their Hit ‘Uptown Top Ranking’ As Song Becomes Certified Gold In The UK (400,000)

Uptown Top Ranking has been certified Gold according to the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). The single has now surpassed 400,000 streams and sales-equivalent units in the UK. It was previously certified Silver (200,000 units) on October 16, 2020, and remains the only certified single by Althea & Donna.

The duo told WMV last year that they have not been paid for their biggest hit since it was recorded more than 50 years ago. “We are still working on it, we in litigation,” said Donna Reid when WMV contacted her on Friday to share the news of the Gold certification.

Althea and Donna shared little-known history of the track that made them stars at ages 17 and 18, as well as the decades-long challenges that followed.

Both artists rejected the myth that they were plucked from the streets of Kingston.
Althea clarified:

“We were never found on the streets; we would like to make that clear again.”

She had already begun recording professionally at 13, while both singers attended some of Jamaica’s top high schools — Queens, Immaculate, and St. Andrew.

A Global Hit Born From a Spontaneous Moment

The idea for the song emerged casually while the pair were hanging out with friends during a beach weekend in Ocho Rios.

“I said one thing, and she said one thing, and the song was made,” Donna recalled.

Jacob Miller of Inner Circle later brought them to Joe Gibbs’ studio, where they recorded the track with legendary engineer Errol Thompson — unaware that it would soon skyrocket to #1 in the UK.

Fast Fame, Major Labels & a Million-Dollar Contract

As the record climbed the charts, the teenagers performed across Europe, including on Top of the Pops. In London, Island Records and Virgin Records fought to sign them. They ultimately signed with Virgin in a deal worth more than $250,000 at the time (equivalent to $1.2 million in 2024).

They released one album, Up Town Top Ranking, featuring a re-recorded version with Sly & Robbie.

47 Years Without Royalties

Despite the song’s continued success — now underscored by its Gold certification — Althea and Donna revealed they have never received royalties for the original 1977 recording.

That version is now owned by BMG, with publishing controlled by Round Hill Music, following a series of catalog acquisitions. Their attempts to seek legal representation were repeatedly disrupted.

“Every lawyer we got… he bought them out within days,” Donna said.
“How does that happen?”

They said they were not consulted or compensated for later re-releases by Trojan Records or for international covers, samples, and commercial uses over the decades. Other reggae veterans, including Horace Andy, have reported similar experiences with historical royalty non-payment.