UB40's fortunes changed at the beginning of 1980. They had spent many years performing live and developing a name for themselves when they were asked to join 'The Pretenders' as their support act on a national tour.
The first single with Graduate, their initial label, was a double-A coupling of "Food For Thought" about third-world poverty, and "King", an expression of grief for Dr. Martin Luther King. "King" had seemed to be the favourite with live audiences, but it was "Food For Thought", that got the airplay and became the first hit. The single was released during the tour, without the benefit of major-label marketing or promotio ...More
