UB40 - Food For Thought Reaction
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ต.ค. 2024
- In this video we're taking in another UB40 song. Everything we know of this band we already love. We just don't know that much. So, we're finally diving in some. Enjoy!
cynthiamartin....
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/ hanierfamily
It’s hard to convey in 2023 the impact this album had when it was released. This was the single that got into the charts and it blew many of us away. Living in Britain at that time was no fairy tale. Unemployment, race riots, and a general feeling of struggle and turmoil.
The “UB40” form on the album cover, (pictured exactly as it looked), was the unemployment benefit card that you took to the local social security office to get your dole money.
The band captured a feeling, a mood, an energy and a longing that we as young people felt. Many of us grew up in multicultural cities and loved Reggae and Ska music, it was the music of the oppressed whether you were white or black. Working class kids in run down schools being taught how to claim government handouts rather than how to get a job.
UB40 made reggae everyone’s music; reggae with a distinctly British twist, just as The Specials gave us Ska music with a hint of punk.
Great days musically, but there’s no way I’d want to return to that grim old country I grew up in.
Tell that to so many who are negative about the life they live in 2023/24. It might be hard now with cost of living, but back in 1980, people had nothing.
UB40 it's right there in the name. I was signing on, they were trying to Sign Off. Then, unfortunately we grew up and lost that fire. Well UB40 did?
@@mikeb7379 those early UB40 years of 1980-81 were the best. They changed in summer 83 and weren't the same after that for me.
My favourite UB40 song alongside 1 in 10. Only two songs I regularly listen too by them. Remember worrying as a kid about whether I’d get a job after school with 1 in 10 people unemployed in the UK at the time.
I just said the exact same thing then I saw your comment 🙃.
! in !0 is a great song, another one of there's that i love is 'Don't Let it Pass You By!'
When UB40 were in touch with their roots - back in the early days, they made some great music before they become limp wristed and commercial .
Absolutely. My favourite song of theirs, and their first single. You're right.they eventually became practically a covers band
Literally killed their chart success in the end!
Absolute nonsense
@@gavinroger2274 There's an element of truth in the first comment. After the early politically charged stuff, it became a mixture of perennial love songs and way too many covers!
@@CAdams6398 I would agree.
Give your ears a treat and listen to the whole album, one of the greatest British debuts.
Really liked the early UB40 albums, glad to see someone featuring this rather than the obvious 'Red red wine' etc. I had a UB40 card for a couple of months between leaving school and starting work, love that album cover.
The song that got everybody hooked on ub40.
That album, signing off, is for me one of the top five albums ever.
Couldn’t agree more mate, up there with the first Clash and Specials albums.
@@Oldgit60 Specials definitely,
Dont know the clash album but now my nose is at me.
@@macker33 it’s fast, young and angry. Bit like I was in 77.
@@Oldgit60 I'm ashamed of myself, its too weeks late and i still havent checked it out.
I'm eager to hear what their version of police and thieves sounds like.
Years ago a UB40 was the card unemployed people in England used to receive unemployment benefits. At the time of writing this album 1 in ten people were unemployed and there early music like this was politically motivated. Then the realised they could make more money doing songs like red red wine I prefer the early stuff but the other stuff is catchy.
UB40 are from Birmingham, they're the type of band where everyone in the city has some sort of personal connection to them 😂
1 in 10 is a fav of mine.
This song was a game changer in the early 80's. Went somewhere new and I liked it within milliseconds. Like Sultans of Swing, Roxanne, Whip It, I Ran, Fools Gold, Tainted Heart, The Message, Once in a Lifetime (Talking Heads), Comfortably Numb, (I know, released Dec 1979, but near enough), Rock Lobster, and so much punk. It got interesting again. The lush over produced offerings were getting replaced with sparer sounds. Back to the tight 3-4 piece bands, reggae influence; i.e. something you could play live on stage in a small club, without a full orchestra and choir. Music rejoiced in a fair bit of quirkiness (Talking Heads, Devo, B-52s) and anger (Grandmaster Flash).
Sorry, that should be Tainted Love lol
Add Geno by Dexys Midnight Runners to that list of New Wave stuff from the 77-81 era, which shaped the early 1980s period in the U.K.
I'm really glad that I found your reaction to this. These early songs by UB40 are where the band were really great before they became just a reggae tribute band, they were policital in the beginning talking about life under Thatcherism etc.
That brass is STUNNING it got me before my teens and now 53 it still kills IT WICKED I'VE SEEN THEM TWICE
Most people outside of Britain and of a certain generstion only know UB40 "the covers" band? So oh so glad that you have taken the chance to go back and listen to the genesis of this young group of amazing musicians with a message that they wanted people to hear? Before they became jaded.
UB40s debut album the group at their rawest,I'm pretty sure when they first started playing gigs if you were unemployed & showed your UB40 Unemployment card you got in free
Possibly their best offering "signing off"
The vinyl release I bought came with the 12 inch EP
The quality of the recording stands the test of time - the lyrics of their early recording sadly too.
You need to listen to this whole album, some of the tracks are jyst instrumental but are amazing like "12 bar" and "Adella" also many political songs like "King"
I remember this song very well. It was a hit in Australia around 80. I remember seeing the clip on Countdown or some show. Not too sure about the band going down the cover song route because their originals were very good.
Me too, loved this earlier stuff
I lived two doors away from one of the band members moms I was also at their rehearsals before they were famous . Being so young I didn’t realise it was anything special I thought everyone sang and made music. ☺️
Robin Campbell wrote - “I actually wrote Food For Thought in my flat in Birmingham, just before Christmas one year… so it’s actually a Christmas song! Or rather, it’s inspired by the hypocrisy of Christmas, the fact that there are starving people in Africa and here we are all sat around eating our Christmas dinner and praising the Lord. And people are still dying every day, every minute while we’re doing it. But people tend to forget that because it came out as a single in April."
A UB40 was a UK government unemployment benefit (UB40) card. Back then, You would get about 50 dollars every 2 weeks.
This was my introduction to UB40 way back in 1980. Was watching Sounds with Donnie Sutherland (pop music show in Australia) and the video popped on the screen.
Didn't shake my world.. jus thought it was interesting to see a white guy sing like that. Wish they stuck to this. Sadly, people love the old cover tunes.
So good to hear the early stuff from UB40. As said before 1 in 10 would be lovely to hear you reaction to. As a young white kid growing up in the UK at that time it influenced me so much (along with 2-Tone Ska revival) and for introducing me to the wonderful sounds of Jamaica. PS thank you to my big sis for pushing me this way. 😘
Blimey, this song takes me back to my early teens, loved this song, not heard it in years.
This was a brilliant album and a great debut for such a promising band before they became just a pop chart reggae cover band :-(
Memories flooded in as soon as it started THANK YOU GUY'S
Going way back in time, this song was everywhere. It's aged really well.
David Coverdale released his first solo album after the break up of Deep Purple MK4 entitled White snake , the stand out track in my opinion is Hole in the sky. You might like to hear it
From the album Signing Off, one of my favorite by UB40
We just love that it's an actual 'Unemployment Benefit Form 40' document on the front cover.
@@hanierfamily Until recently I still had my original UB 40 card from when I left school in 1980.
There's a Dub version of the first album, called, Present Arms In Dub.
It has been, and always will be, one of my favourite things ever.
Great band, certainly in the early days.
yep - still got mine
"Present Arms" is the second lp but it is a good listen.
@@SPKdesign1 haha, for years I've been convinced it was first. I stand corrected!
@@Sandy-dd4le It was a long time ago.
"Present Arms", the 12" that came with it and the Dub version are excellent, listen to the 1st one if you get a chance.
@@SPKdesign1 i think all i have of UB40 is the first two, or possibly three albums, plus In Dub.
I didn't know there was a 12 inch with it though, i may have to track it down
I forgot how good this was. They did a great song with Bato Banton called 'Baby Come Back.' Check out the official video, you won't be disappointed. 🙂
Yes Ace Band ! Saw them live in Penzance think it was early 80 or late 79 ! They were so polished and sharp sounding ! The UB 40 is a dole form to fill out before you can get benefits ! Love this tune ! think "King " was off the same album ! Again great variety of choice from you ! Cheers !
This was recorded over three or four sessions in Dec 1979 and mid 1980. This and their second lp "Present Arms" and the companion dub lp "Present ArmsIn Dub" are in my opinion the best of what they did. A lot of what followed, but not everything, was cover versions rather than original material.
Their first lp was very political with "Madam Medusa", one of the best tracks, being a swipe at Margaret Thatcher, the Prime Minister of the time.
I saw them in December 1979 when they were 3rd on the bill behind Selector & The Beat.
@@normandavidtidiman9918 That's a good night out!!
@@Sandy-dd4le Yeah,lucky to catch them then. I think I remember liking them then,although being first on a two tone bill was tough.
Loved every thing that UB40 put out and this was one of their best.
If you like reggae,another band worth checking out is Steel Pulse with some great political track's like Ku Klux Klan.Another politically motivated band is Chumbawamba:on the day the nazi died
I'll second Steel Pulse, awesome UK Reggae act!
I also endorse Steel Pulse......Chant a Psalm would be my recommended introduction.
A bit like early UB40, early Aswad is equally good but my personal favourite UK reggae band has to be Misty in Roots!
@@karmannghiaman1041 i still play Live At The Counter Eurovision regularly, great band!
@@Sandy-dd4le As do I. The John Peel sessions is also good but I'm trying to get a copy of Live in Sweden but they're rare and costs ridiculous money!
My fave track by UB40 by a long chalk followed by '1 in 10' & 'Sing our own Song' I think your cat may have thought you were playing 'Rat in mi Kitchen'.......!
Early ub40 were great as others have said, loved the baggariddim album with a different take on some of the hits!
Everyone does red red wine ub40 reaction. I love you have done food for thought. Great song.
We know Red Red Wine by heart.
Also If It Happens Again from 1984, which is post their 1980-81 sound, but still better than Red Red Wine.
Signing off,UB40s first,and most political album,is a brilliant album.Burden of Shame is a great track.
That and Tyler are fantastic. Have you seen the footage of One In Ten where they're joined by Mikey Dread for Roots and Culture?
Hell of a song to see performed live! Rip Brian & Astro
The part about Christmas is referring to people in the west overeating at Christmas while people are starving overseas i.e "Food for Thought"
My uncle says this reminds him of the bleak summer of 1980 in the U.K., but May was hot that year.
Once again thank you for playing on of my suggestions
Our pleasure. This was great.
I hope you get some good views from this tune
Have you guys heard of a band called
Haircut 100
If not check out these tracks
Fantastic day
Favourite shirt (boy meets girl)
Love plus one
This band was big in the UK in the early 80's
Fantastic day is one of those songs that jusy puts a smile on your face
Guys, could you check out King and also My Way of Thinking. Both from 1980. Their dub reggae period was the best.
I bought UB40's first single which was a double A side... The Earth Dies Screaming & Dream A Lie. I still think it's their finest work and maybe the purist example of what they were all about. If you're looking for more in this vein check out Hands Off She's Mine by the Beat, another fantastic Ska feel band that came out of the 80's in the UK and had numerous big hits. 😎
I've seen THE BEAT 👏👏👏
This (Food For Thought/King) was their first single. I think Earth Dies Screaming/Dream A Lie was their third single after My Way of Thinking.
Loved the early UB40 and The Earth Dies Screaming was my favourite song of theirs as well
@@normandavidtidiman9918 Didn't realise that, thanks. 👍😎
Great album, 2nd album( present arms) very good then all they did were second rate covers…
Signing off,Present Arms and Present Arms in dub,chuck everything else in the bin,sold us out,shame,they were great🎼🎵🎵🎶🎶❤️
(imo) only .... signing off was their best album ..Present Arms was good too
UB40 brilliant band
UB40 also have a brilliant tribute band.
Their first two albums were brilliant but it all went down hill after that.
Just 🎩
Excellent album.
Try Tyler... sardonicus...chur!
great band used to see them live in the day and had their stuff.. shame they went all light and turned to crap