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One in Ten
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| "One in Ten" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by UB40 | ||||
| from the album Present Arms | ||||
| A-side | "Present Arms in Dub" | |||
| Released | 31 July 1981 | |||
| Genre | Reggae | |||
| Length | 4:31 | |||
| Label | DEP International | |||
| Songwriter | UB40 | |||
| Producers |
| |||
| UB40 singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"One in Ten" is a song by British reggae band UB40, released in July 1981 by DEP International as a single from their second album, Present Arms (1981). It became the band's fourth top-ten hit, peaking at number seven on the UK Singles Chart.[1]
Background and release
[edit]The song title refers to the approximately 10% of the local workforce claiming unemployment benefit in the band's home region of West Midlands in the summer of 1981 when the song was recorded and released.[2] It is a protest against the then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher at a time when there was rising unemployment and inequality in the UK.[3] The song also highlights the inequalities in the UK and around the world, referencing poverty, hunger, suicide, drug addiction and homelessness.
"One in Ten" was released in the UK as a double A-side single with "Present Arms in Dub", a dub version of the Present Arms title track which was included on the dub remix album Present Arms in Dub. Elsewhere, in Europe, "One in Ten" was released as the sole A-side with a different B-side, "Sardonicus", taken from Present Arms. In Australia, "Wildcat", also from the album, was released as the B-side.[4]
Charts
[edit]| Chart (1981) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[5] | 87 |
| Ireland (IRMA)[6] | 18 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[7] | 20 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[1] | 7 |
| UK Independent Singles (MRIB)[8] | 1 |
Certifications
[edit]| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[9] | Gold | 15,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
808 State version
[edit]| "One in Ten" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by 808 State and UB40 | ||||
| from the album Gorgeous | ||||
| B-side | "One in Ten (UB40 Vocal)" | |||
| Released | 30 November 1992 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 2:40 | |||
| Label | ZTT | |||
| Songwriters |
| |||
| Producer | 808 State | |||
| 808 State singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| UB40 singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
In November 1992, British electronic group 808 State released a remix of "One in Ten" as a single from their fourth album, Gorgeous (1993). It became the group's sixth and penultimate top-twenty hit in the UK, peaking at number 17.[10]
Background and release
[edit]808 State's remix has been described as one of the first popular mash-ups, in this case taking the original UB40 recording and superimposing elements, mainly the vocals and saxophone, onto a track recorded by 808 State.[11][12] Mash-ups had been growing in popularity since the beginning of the 1990s with Beats International's "Dub Be Good to Me" in 1990 and "You Got the Love" in 1991 by the Source featuring Candi Staton, both of which had huge chart success. The remix of "One in Ten" came about after record label ZTT Records wanted the group to record a song with vocals on so it would gain more airplay.[11]
The single was originally set for release in the UK and Europe in October 1992 with the ZTT Records catalogue number ZANG 35; however, it was withdrawn before release due to incorrect copyright crediting. It received its release with the catalogue number ZANG 39 at the end of November.[13] "One in Ten" also saw a release in the US on Tommy Boy Records.[13]
Track listings
[edit]- 7": ZTT / ZANG 39
- "One in Ten" (808 7") – 2:40
- "One in Ten" (UB40 Vocal) – 4:00
- 12": ZTT / ZANG 39T
- "One in Ten" (808 Original Mix) – 4:16
- "One in Ten" (Fast Fon Mix) – 3:58
- "One in Ten" (808 7") – 2:40
- 12": ZTT / ZANG 39TX
- "One in Ten" (UB40 Vocal) – 4:00
- "One in Ten" (UB40 Instrumental) – 5:00
- 12": Tommy Boy / TB 553 (US)
- "One in Ten" (808 Original Mix) – 4:16
- "One in Ten" (Fast Fon Mix) – 3:58
- "One in Ten" (UB40 Vocal) – 4:00
- "One in Ten" (UB40 Instrumental) – 5:00
- CD: ZTT / ZANG 39CD & Tommy Boy / TBCD 553 (US)
- "One in Ten" (808 7") – 2:40
- "One in Ten" (808 Original Mix) – 4:16
- "One in Ten" (Fast Fon Mix) – 3:58
- "One in Ten" (UB40 Vocal) – 4:00
- "One in Ten" (UB40 Instrumental) – 5:00
Charts
[edit]| Chart (1992–93) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[14] | 135 |
| Ireland (IRMA)[6] | 19 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[15] | 25 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[16] | 22 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[10] | 17 |
| UK Airplay (Music Week)[17] | 21 |
| UK Dance (Music Week)[18] | 4 |
| UK Club Chart (Music Week)[19] | 33 |
References
[edit]- ^ a b "UB40 Songs and Albums | Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company.
- ^ Gall, Caroline (12 August 2009). "One in Ten - a statistic, a reminder". BBC West Midlands News. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
- ^ Robinson, Joe (8 April 2013). "Margaret Thatcher's Musical Legacy: 5 Iron Lady Protest Songs". Diffuser.fm. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
- ^ "UB 40 - One In Ten". Discogs. 2 September 1981. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St. Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 316. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid 1983 and 19 June 1988.
- ^ a b "The Irish Charts – Search Results – One in Ten". Irish Singles Chart.
- ^ "UB40 – One in Ten". Top 40 Singles.
- ^ Lazell, Barry (1997). "UB40". Indie Hits 1980–1989: The Complete U.K. Independent Charts (Singles & Albums). Cherry Red Books. ISBN 0-95172-069-4. Archived from the original on 20 April 2004. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
- ^ "New Zealand single certifications – UB40 – One In Ten". Radioscope. Retrieved 3 October 2025. Type One In Ten in the "Search:" field and press Enter.
- ^ a b "808 State and UB40 Songs and Albums | Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company.
- ^ a b "Music Interview: Graham Massey, 808 State". Yorkshire Evening Post. 19 March 2010. Archived from the original on 10 April 2010. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
- ^ Humberstone, Nigel (October 1992). "Art Of The State (SOS Oct 1992)". Sound on Sound. Vol. 7, no. 12. pp. 30–36.
- ^ a b "One in ten | Discography | Zang Tuum Tumb and all that". www.zttaat.com. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
- ^ "Bubbling Down Under Week commencing 22 February 1993". Bubbling Down Under. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – 808 State & UB40" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
- ^ "808 State vs. UB40 – One in Ten" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- ^ "Top 50 Airplay Chart" (PDF). Music Week. 26 December 1992. p. 18. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
- ^ "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 12 December 1992. p. 20. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
- ^ "The Record Mirror Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 7 November 1992. p. 6. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
One in Ten
View on GrokipediaOriginal UB40 version
Development and recording
"One in Ten" was composed by UB40 drummer Jimmy Brown amid rising unemployment in Birmingham, where rates reached approximately 9.6% in the West Midlands region during the early 1980s economic downturn.[4][5] The track drew direct inspiration from the band's own experiences with joblessness, as several founding members had signed the UK's Unemployment Benefit Form 40— the origin of the group's name—reflecting a local statistic of one in ten people claiming benefits.[6] This socioeconomic context under the Thatcher government shaped the song's stark portrayal of systemic neglect toward the unemployed, positioning it as a protest anthem rooted in the band's reggae influences and community ties.[7] The composition emerged collaboratively within UB40's typical songwriting process, where individual members like Brown contributed lyrics and structure before group refinement, aligning with their pattern of addressing social issues seen in prior tracks from their debut album Signing Off.[8] Development occurred in the lead-up to sessions for the band's second studio album, Present Arms, released in May 1981 via DEP International, with the single following in July.[9] Recording took place at The Music Centre in Wembley, London, where the band captured the track's minimalist reggae arrangement emphasizing rhythmic basslines, horns, and Brown's driving percussion to underscore the lyrical urgency.[10] UB40 co-produced alongside Ray Falconer, with Pete Wandless handling engineering duties and Neil Black assisting; this setup allowed the group to maintain creative control, building on their self-produced debut while incorporating live-feel dubs later compiled in Present Arms in Dub.[11] The core ensemble featured lead vocals and rhythm guitar by Ali Campbell, lead guitar by Robin Campbell, bass by Earl Falconer, keyboards by Michael Virtue, saxophone by Brian Travers, trumpet by Astro (Arthur Wilkinson), and percussion by Norman Hassan, delivering a raw, ensemble sound that captured the era's discontent without overdubs dominating the mix.[11]Lyrics and themes
The lyrics of "One in Ten," written primarily by UB40's Jim Brown and Ali Campbell, depict the existential despair of chronic unemployment through the perspective of an anonymous individual reduced to a mere statistic. The chorus encapsulates this invisibility: "I am the one in ten / A number on a list / I am the one in ten / Even though I don't exist / Nobody knows me / But I'm always there / A statistic, a reminder / Of a world that doesn't care."[9] Verses narrate a downward spiral, from job loss—"Give me a drink or two and I'll tell you what I do / I've lost my job, I've lost my wages"—to futile job searches, family strain, and societal alienation, culminating in resignation: "Sitting by the riverside, watching all the ships go by / One in ten, that's me, forgotten man."[12][5] Thematically, the song critiques the dehumanizing effects of mass unemployment in early 1980s Britain, where official figures showed claimant counts approaching 10% of the workforce amid economic recession and deindustrialization under Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's Conservative government.[13] It portrays the unemployed not as idle but as casualties of systemic neglect, with lines evoking isolation and protest against a "world that doesn't care," aligning with UB40's broader advocacy for working-class struggles in Birmingham's multiracial communities.[9] The track emerged as an anthem for the era's protest movements, reflecting the band's roots—named after the UK's Unemployment Benefit Form 40—and their focus on social realism over escapism.[14] While some interpretations emphasize personal resilience amid hardship, the lyrics prioritize causal links between policy-driven job losses and individual erosion, eschewing romanticization.[15]Release
"One in Ten" was released as the second single from UB40's album Present Arms on 31 July 1981 by the band's independent label DEP International in the United Kingdom.[16][6] The single appeared in 7-inch vinyl format, featuring the A-side track backed by "Present Arms (In Dub)" on the B-side.[16] Present Arms itself had debuted earlier on 29 May 1981, marking UB40's first full-length studio album after their debut Signing Off.[17] The release coincided with high youth unemployment in the UK, estimated at around 25% nationally and over 40% in Birmingham, where the band originated, aligning with the song's thematic focus on economic hardship.[6] No major promotional campaigns beyond standard radio play and live performances were documented for the single's launch, though UB40's growing grassroots popularity in the reggae and two-tone scenes contributed to its visibility.[9]Commercial performance
"One in Ten" was released as a single in July 1981 and debuted on the UK Singles Chart dated 8 August 1981, ultimately peaking at number seven.[18] The track marked UB40's fourth entry in the UK top ten, reflecting strong domestic reception amid the band's rising popularity in the reggae and ska scenes.[19] Internationally, it achieved modest charting, reaching number 87 on the Australian Kent Music Report.[20] In the United States, the single did not register significant chart impact, as UB40's breakthrough there occurred later with covers like "Red Red Wine."[21] On 23 May 2025, the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) awarded "One in Ten" a silver certification, recognizing combined physical sales, downloads, and streaming equivalent to 200,000 units in the UK.[22] This certification underscores the song's enduring commercial viability decades after release, driven by retrospective streaming and compilations featuring the track.[23]Critical and commercial reception
"One in Ten" achieved significant commercial success upon its release in July 1981, peaking at number 7 on the UK Singles Chart and remaining in the top 40 for several weeks.[18] The single's chart performance reflected UB40's rising popularity amid the economic hardships of the early 1980s, with its themes resonating in regions like the West Midlands where unemployment rates approached 10%.[6] No certified sales figures are publicly documented, but its inclusion on the album Present Arms, which sold strongly in the UK, contributed to the band's breakthrough.[24] Critically, the song was praised for its stark depiction of joblessness under Thatcher-era policies, blending reggae rhythms with incisive social commentary that distinguished UB40 from contemporaries. Music critic Robert Christgau, reviewing the parent album Present Arms, acknowledged the band's skill in crafting such tracks but critiqued the overall work for repetitiveness and a "merely liberal" political stance in pieces like "One in Ten," assigning it a B- grade.[25] Retrospective assessments have highlighted its enduring appeal as a "dreamy and mellifluous" protest anthem, rare for the genre's fusion of melancholy melody and militant pessimism.[26] Sources from the era and later affirm its role in elevating UB40's reputation for authentic, groove-driven advocacy, though some noted the band's tendency toward stylistic uniformity across originals.[27]808 State remix
Production and collaboration
The 808 State remix of UB40's "One in Ten" was produced by the Manchester-based electronic group 808 State, who reinterpreted the 1981 reggae original by integrating its acapella vocals with acid house beats, samples from Kraftwerk's "The Model (Das Model)", and additional elements like Tyree's "Acid Crash (House Mix)".[28][29] This production approach created a hybrid track blending reggae rhythms with electronic textures, characteristic of early 1990s rave culture. The primary 808 State-led mixes, including the 7" version (2:40 duration) and Original Mix (4:16), were engineered by Al Fisch and recorded and mixed at Fon Studios in Sheffield.[29][30] Collaboration between 808 State and UB40 involved the reggae band's provision of a fresh vocal take, produced by UB40, which was then layered over 808 State's instrumental bed.[29] Additional production and remixing for the UB40 vocal elements were contributed by Gerry Parchment and Delroy McLean at Abattoir Studios in Birmingham, yielding variants like the UB40 Vocal mix (4:00) and Instrumental (5:04).[31][29] The joint effort, billed as "808 State vs UB40", extended to other mixes such as the Fast Fon Mix (3:58) and Forceable Lobotomy Mix (4:16), culminating in a 1992 single release on ZTT Records that highlighted the convergence of UB40's socially conscious lyrics on unemployment with 808 State's techno experimentation.[29][32]Release
"One in Ten" was released as the second single from UB40's album Present Arms on 31 July 1981 by the band's independent label DEP International in the United Kingdom.[16][6] The single appeared in 7-inch vinyl format, featuring the A-side track backed by "Present Arms (In Dub)" on the B-side.[16] Present Arms itself had debuted earlier on 29 May 1981, marking UB40's first full-length studio album after their debut Signing Off.[17] The release coincided with high youth unemployment in the UK, estimated at around 25% nationally and over 40% in Birmingham, where the band originated, aligning with the song's thematic focus on economic hardship.[6] No major promotional campaigns beyond standard radio play and live performances were documented for the single's launch, though UB40's growing grassroots popularity in the reggae and two-tone scenes contributed to its visibility.[9]Commercial performance
"One in Ten" was released as a single in July 1981 and debuted on the UK Singles Chart dated 8 August 1981, ultimately peaking at number seven.[18] The track marked UB40's fourth entry in the UK top ten, reflecting strong domestic reception amid the band's rising popularity in the reggae and ska scenes.[19] Internationally, it achieved modest charting, reaching number 87 on the Australian Kent Music Report.[20] In the United States, the single did not register significant chart impact, as UB40's breakthrough there occurred later with covers like "Red Red Wine."[21] On 23 May 2025, the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) awarded "One in Ten" a silver certification, recognizing combined physical sales, downloads, and streaming equivalent to 200,000 units in the UK.[22] This certification underscores the song's enduring commercial viability decades after release, driven by retrospective streaming and compilations featuring the track.[23]Reception
The 808 State remix of "One in Ten" elicited mixed responses from critics, with some praising its genre-blending groove and others decrying the stylistic clash between UB40's reggae elements and the producers' electronic style. In a December 12, 1992, Melody Maker review of the single, Jennifer Nine argued that Ali Campbell's wistful vocals and the track's original loose rhythm were ill-suited to 808 State's "glittering bastard whooshing, aluminium and gun-metal prowess," likening the result to a mismatched "shotgun wedding headed for heartache."[33] Reviews of versions appearing on 808 State's 1993 albums Gorgeous and Forecast similarly divided opinion. Creem's Vincent Katz highlighted the track's effective use of a hip-hop drum riff, organ chops, and pulsating electronics, aligning it with the group's signature sound.[34] The Boston Globe's Jimmy Crawley called the Gorgeous rendition an "enchanting remix" and a standout that blended seamlessly into the album.[34] The Sydney Morning Herald's Lynden Barber described it as a "naggingly attractive reworking" featuring Campbell's vocals, evoking early 1980s pop influences.[34] Conversely, The Washington Post's Mark Jenkins deemed the Forecast inclusion "an unsurprising remix of the early UB40 single," a disappointment given 808 State's reputation for innovation.[35] Retrospective commentary has occasionally positioned the track as an early proto-mashup, crediting its fusion of reggae vocals over breakbeats for presaging later electronic-reggae crossovers, though contemporary critiques emphasized its uneven execution over pioneering aspects.[36]Formats and track listings
UB40 single formats
The UB40 single "One in Ten" was primarily released as a 7-inch vinyl single in 1981 by DEP International in the United Kingdom.[37] UK 7-inch vinyl (DEP International – 7 DEP 2, July 1981)| Side | Track | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| A | "One in Ten" | 4:31 |
| AA | "Present Arms in Dub" | 3:02 |
808 State single formats
The 808 State remix single of UB40's "One in Ten" was issued in multiple physical formats in 1992, primarily by ZTT Records in the United Kingdom, with additional releases in the United States via Tommy Boy Records.[32] These included 12-inch vinyl, 7-inch vinyl, compact disc, and cassette, featuring variations of the remix alongside shorter edits and UB40's original vocal and instrumental versions.[32] Release dates centered on November 30, 1992, for the UK editions.[39] The UK 12-inch vinyl single (ZTT ZANG 39T, 4509-91452-0) played at 45 RPM and came in a gatefold sleeve designed to accommodate additional remix discs.[39] Its track listing comprised:- Side A: "One In Ten (808 Original Mix)" – 4:16
- Side B1: "One In Ten (Fast Fon Mix)" – 3:58
- Side B2: "One In Ten (808 7")" – 2:40[39]
| Track | Title | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | One In Ten (808 7") | 2:41 |
| 2 | One In Ten (808 Original Mix) | 4:17 |
| 3 | One In Ten (Fast Fon Mix) | 3:55 |
| 4 | One In Ten (UB40 Vocal) | 4:00 |
| 5 | One In Ten (UB40 Instrumental) | 5:00 |
- "One In Ten (808 Original Mix)" – 4:16
- "One In Ten (Fast Fon Mix)" – 3:58
- "One In Ten (808 7")" – 2:40[32]
