UB40 : King
On February 13, 1980 UB40 released its debut single, a double A side featuring "Food For Thought" and "King". It topped the independent music chart for three months and peaked at UK#4 on he pop charts, not bad for a single on Graduate, a small independent label from the band's hometown, tBirmingham. "We don't trust anybody and that's one of our strengths," saxophone player Brian Travers would tell Spin in 1985. Another strength, at least in the early days of UB40, is the band's lyrics.
"King" is addressed to the late Martin Luther King, Jr., questioning the lost direction of the deceased leader's followers.
King, where are your people now?
Chained and pacified
Tried in vain to show them how
And for that you died
It is interesting to note not all the critics were taken. Melody Maker said "Disappointing debut from one of the seemingly few new bands playing reggae rather than ska. Nice line in mournful singing, though."
The NME said
"The rhythm track may well be born-again soft centered Black Country reggae, but the melodies and treatments ( especially on 'Food For Thought") sound like those irritatingly haunting themes featured in countless mid-60's continental Riviera romance youth movies. Actually, Blondie has already plundered the genre to perfection with 'Atomic'".
I would just note Blondie's 1980 hit "The Tide is High" would show there was plenty more to plunder. In any case, here's UB40, all eight of them, getting a shot at the big time on "Top of the Pops":
Politician's argue sharpening their knives.
Drawing up their Bargains, trading baby lives.
Yes, UB40 beat Bob Geldolf's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" by four and a half years.
No comments:
Post a Comment