UB40 - Food For Thought Reaction

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  • čas přidán 31. 01. 2023
  • 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.scentsy.ca
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    / hanierfamily
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Komentáře • 104

  • @lennylush09
    @lennylush09 Před rokem +11

    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.

    • @danjames5552
      @danjames5552 Před rokem +2

      I just said the exact same thing then I saw your comment 🙃.

    • @colinglen4505
      @colinglen4505 Před rokem +1

      ! in !0 is a great song, another one of there's that i love is 'Don't Let it Pass You By!'

  • @seanmacleod1724
    @seanmacleod1724 Před rokem +9

    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.

    • @MrMarcy76
      @MrMarcy76 Před 2 měsíci +1

      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.

    • @mikeb7379
      @mikeb7379 Před měsícem

      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?

    • @MrMarcy76
      @MrMarcy76 Před měsícem

      @@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.

  • @cyclops60
    @cyclops60 Před rokem +4

    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.

  • @macker33
    @macker33 Před rokem +7

    The song that got everybody hooked on ub40.
    That album, signing off, is for me one of the top five albums ever.

    • @Oldgit60
      @Oldgit60 Před rokem +1

      Couldn’t agree more mate, up there with the first Clash and Specials albums.

    • @macker33
      @macker33 Před rokem

      @@Oldgit60 Specials definitely,
      Dont know the clash album but now my nose is at me.

    • @Oldgit60
      @Oldgit60 Před rokem +1

      @@macker33 it’s fast, young and angry. Bit like I was in 77.

    • @macker33
      @macker33 Před rokem

      @@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.

  • @Oldgit60
    @Oldgit60 Před rokem +5

    Give your ears a treat and listen to the whole album, one of the greatest British debuts.

  • @Adam_Le-Roi_Davis.
    @Adam_Le-Roi_Davis. Před 10 měsíci +3

    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.

  • @heathcornbeef
    @heathcornbeef Před rokem +3

    That brass is STUNNING it got me before my teens and now 53 it still kills IT WICKED I'VE SEEN THEM TWICE

  • @daviddeath6029
    @daviddeath6029 Před rokem +4

    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.

  • @nicensleazy1892
    @nicensleazy1892 Před rokem +33

    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 .

    • @normandavidtidiman9918
      @normandavidtidiman9918 Před rokem +5

      Absolutely. My favourite song of theirs, and their first single. You're right.they eventually became practically a covers band

    • @sherbert500
      @sherbert500 Před rokem +1

      Literally killed their chart success in the end!

    • @gavinroger2274
      @gavinroger2274 Před rokem +2

      Absolute nonsense

    • @CAdams6398
      @CAdams6398 Před rokem +4

      @@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!

    • @pflynn581
      @pflynn581 Před rokem +1

      ​@@CAdams6398 I would agree.

  • @liveitup67
    @liveitup67 Před rokem +5

    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.

    • @HappyAitch
      @HappyAitch Před rokem +1

      Me too, loved this earlier stuff

  • @trufflehund
    @trufflehund Před rokem +4

    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).

    • @trufflehund
      @trufflehund Před rokem +1

      Sorry, that should be Tainted Love lol

    • @MrMarcy76
      @MrMarcy76 Před 2 měsíci

      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.

  • @sevenwilliams3485
    @sevenwilliams3485 Před 5 měsíci +2

    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. ☺️

  • @suzannemiddleton6890
    @suzannemiddleton6890 Před rokem +4

    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"

  • @heathcornbeef
    @heathcornbeef Před rokem +1

    Memories flooded in as soon as it started THANK YOU GUY'S

  • @alistairmcdougall8390
    @alistairmcdougall8390 Před rokem +2

    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

  • @a760541
    @a760541 Před rokem +3

    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.

  • @mikeb7379
    @mikeb7379 Před měsícem

    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.

  • @BigSlinky7
    @BigSlinky7 Před rokem +2

    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. 😘

  • @betagombar9022
    @betagombar9022 Před rokem +1

    Blimey, this song takes me back to my early teens, loved this song, not heard it in years.

  • @joshua.910
    @joshua.910 Před rokem +2

    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.

  • @JoelJB60
    @JoelJB60 Před rokem +2

    From the album Signing Off, one of my favorite by UB40

    • @hanierfamily
      @hanierfamily  Před rokem

      We just love that it's an actual 'Unemployment Benefit Form 40' document on the front cover.

    • @SPKdesign1
      @SPKdesign1 Před rokem +1

      @@hanierfamily Until recently I still had my original UB 40 card from when I left school in 1980.

  • @colrhodes377
    @colrhodes377 Před rokem +2

    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

  • @Sandy-dd4le
    @Sandy-dd4le Před rokem +4

    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.

    • @nicensleazy1892
      @nicensleazy1892 Před rokem +2

      yep - still got mine

    • @SPKdesign1
      @SPKdesign1 Před rokem +1

      "Present Arms" is the second lp but it is a good listen.

    • @Sandy-dd4le
      @Sandy-dd4le Před rokem +1

      @@SPKdesign1 haha, for years I've been convinced it was first. I stand corrected!

    • @SPKdesign1
      @SPKdesign1 Před rokem +1

      @@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.

    • @Sandy-dd4le
      @Sandy-dd4le Před rokem +1

      @@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

  • @Packard63
    @Packard63 Před rokem +1

    Loved every thing that UB40 put out and this was one of their best.

  • @ghichens3418
    @ghichens3418 Před rokem +1

    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 !

  • @colinglen4505
    @colinglen4505 Před rokem +1

    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. 🙂

  • @MrSpikeMilligan
    @MrSpikeMilligan Před rokem +1

    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."

  • @SPKdesign1
    @SPKdesign1 Před rokem +2

    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.

    • @normandavidtidiman9918
      @normandavidtidiman9918 Před rokem +1

      I saw them in December 1979 when they were 3rd on the bill behind Selector & The Beat.

    • @Sandy-dd4le
      @Sandy-dd4le Před rokem +2

      @@normandavidtidiman9918 That's a good night out!!

    • @normandavidtidiman9918
      @normandavidtidiman9918 Před rokem +1

      @@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.

  • @brettfrench6121
    @brettfrench6121 Před rokem +1

    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.

  • @kimbirch1202
    @kimbirch1202 Před rokem +1

    UB40 also have a brilliant tribute band.

  • @jeee6835
    @jeee6835 Před 7 měsíci +1

    Everyone does red red wine ub40 reaction. I love you have done food for thought. Great song.

    • @hanierfamily
      @hanierfamily  Před 7 měsíci

      We know Red Red Wine by heart.

    • @MrMarcy76
      @MrMarcy76 Před 2 měsíci

      Also If It Happens Again from 1984, which is post their 1980-81 sound, but still better than Red Red Wine.

  • @OkcBK
    @OkcBK Před 8 měsíci +1

    Hell of a song to see performed live! Rip Brian & Astro

  • @darrenwestbury8569
    @darrenwestbury8569 Před rokem +2

    Once again thank you for playing on of my suggestions

    • @hanierfamily
      @hanierfamily  Před rokem

      Our pleasure. This was great.

    • @darrenwestbury8569
      @darrenwestbury8569 Před rokem +1

      I hope you get some good views from this tune

    • @darrenwestbury8569
      @darrenwestbury8569 Před rokem +1

      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

  • @sherbert500
    @sherbert500 Před rokem +1

    Early ub40 were great as others have said, loved the baggariddim album with a different take on some of the hits!

  • @chuckbradley1
    @chuckbradley1 Před rokem +1

    A UB40 was a UK government unemployment benefit (UB40) card. Back then, You would get about 50 dollars every 2 weeks.

  • @MrSirusDvirus
    @MrSirusDvirus Před rokem +4

    This was a brilliant album and a great debut for such a promising band before they became just a pop chart reggae cover band :-(

  • @druidswillow1052
    @druidswillow1052 Před rokem +1

    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'.......!

  • @kadiummusic
    @kadiummusic Před rokem +2

    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. 😎

    • @heathcornbeef
      @heathcornbeef Před rokem +2

      I've seen THE BEAT 👏👏👏

    • @normandavidtidiman9918
      @normandavidtidiman9918 Před rokem +3

      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.

    • @charlesappleby8049
      @charlesappleby8049 Před rokem +3

      Loved the early UB40 and The Earth Dies Screaming was my favourite song of theirs as well

    • @kadiummusic
      @kadiummusic Před rokem +1

      @@normandavidtidiman9918 Didn't realise that, thanks. 👍😎

  • @MrMarcy76
    @MrMarcy76 Před 2 měsíci

    My uncle says this reminds him of the bleak summer of 1980 in the U.K., but May was hot that year.

  • @lordlost08
    @lordlost08 Před 11 měsíci +1

    The part about Christmas is referring to people in the west overeating at Christmas while people are starving overseas i.e "Food for Thought"

  • @alecjohnson5269
    @alecjohnson5269 Před 9 měsíci +1

    UB40 brilliant band

  • @ylt123
    @ylt123 Před rokem +1

    Excellent album.

  • @scottyscot8
    @scottyscot8 Před 25 dny

    Signing off,Present Arms and Present Arms in dub,chuck everything else in the bin,sold us out,shame,they were great🎼🎵🎵🎶🎶❤️

  • @DennisNelson-ee2il
    @DennisNelson-ee2il Před rokem +4

    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

    • @Sandy-dd4le
      @Sandy-dd4le Před rokem +4

      I'll second Steel Pulse, awesome UK Reggae act!

    • @charlesappleby8049
      @charlesappleby8049 Před rokem +1

      I also endorse Steel Pulse......Chant a Psalm would be my recommended introduction.

    • @karmannghiaman1041
      @karmannghiaman1041 Před rokem +1

      A bit like early UB40, early Aswad is equally good but my personal favourite UK reggae band has to be Misty in Roots!

    • @Sandy-dd4le
      @Sandy-dd4le Před rokem +1

      @@karmannghiaman1041 i still play Live At The Counter Eurovision regularly, great band!

    • @karmannghiaman1041
      @karmannghiaman1041 Před rokem +2

      @@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!

  • @MrMarcy76
    @MrMarcy76 Před 2 měsíci

    Guys, could you check out King and also My Way of Thinking. Both from 1980. Their dub reggae period was the best.

  • @mizedhamza5242
    @mizedhamza5242 Před rokem +1

    Just 🎩

  • @simonwilkins2082
    @simonwilkins2082 Před rokem +2

    Great album, 2nd album( present arms) very good then all they did were second rate covers…

  • @joe2tonepringle352
    @joe2tonepringle352 Před rokem +1

    (imo) only .... signing off was their best album ..Present Arms was good too

  • @shawnngatai4745
    @shawnngatai4745 Před 10 měsíci +1

    Try Tyler... sardonicus...chur!

  • @DennisNelson-ee2il
    @DennisNelson-ee2il Před rokem +5

    Signing off,UB40s first,and most political album,is a brilliant album.Burden of Shame is a great track.

    • @karmannghiaman1041
      @karmannghiaman1041 Před rokem +1

      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?

  • @reighneedaze5876
    @reighneedaze5876 Před rokem +2

    Their first two albums were brilliant but it all went down hill after that.

  • @britishtechnosea9591
    @britishtechnosea9591 Před rokem +2

    great band used to see them live in the day and had their stuff.. shame they went all light and turned to crap