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King / Food for Thought

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Wikipedia article




{{Infobox song

| name = King / Food for Thought

| type = single

| image =

| artist = UB40

| album = Signing Off

| released = 1 February 1980

| recorded =

| genre = Reggae

| length =

| writer = UB40

| label = Graduate

| producer = Bob Lamb

| title = 'King'

| title2 = 'Food for Thought'

| next_title = My Way of Thinking

| next_title2 = I Think It's Going to Rain Today

| next_year = 1980

|misc =

}}

"'King / Food for Thought'" is the debut single by British reggae band UB40. It was released as a double A-side in early 1980 and reached number four on the UK Singles Chart and number one in New Zealand.

"King" is a song written about Martin Luther King Jr.,Larkin, Colin (2011). 'Encyclopedia of Popular Music'. [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=_NNmFiUnSmUC&pg=PA3605&dq=food+for+thought+ub40&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiS05yWkoTOAhUrAcAKHRmKBKwQ6AEILjAB#v=onepage&q=food%20for%20thought%20ub40&f=false p. 3605]. questioning the lost direction of the deceased leader's followers and the state of mourning of a nation after his death.

According to Robin Campbell, the lyrics of "Food for Thought" relate to "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".[http://www.songwritingmagazine.co.uk/interviews/how-i-wrote-food-for-thought-by-ub40s-robin-campbell/12684 "How I wrote... 'Food For Thought' by UB40's Robin Campbell"], 'Songwriting', 15 September 2013 Campbell regards the song as a Christmas song.

The original single version of "Food for Thought" is slightly shorter compared to the 'Signing Off' album version, with the album version including a break using a synthesiser reverb (an early example of their mixing techniques that can be found on their album 'Present Arms in Dub').

"King / Food for Thought" was the first release of a new record label, Graduate Records, a company based, like the band, in Birmingham.[https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=16jp_aFRHdgC&pg=PA60&dq=food+for+thought+ub40&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiS05yWkoTOAhUrAcAKHRmKBKwQ6AEIWTAK#v=onepage&q=food%20for%20thought%20ub40&f=false "UB40 Strength in Numbers"] by Chris Salewicz, 'SPIN', June 1985, pp. 6061 It was the first single to reach the UK top 10 without the backing of a major record company.

Charts



Certifications



See also



*List of number-one singles from the 1980s (New Zealand)

References





Category:1980 songs

Category:1980 debut singles

Category:UB40 songs

Category:Number-one singles in New Zealand

Category:British Christmas songs

Category:UK Independent Singles Chart number-one singles


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