# One in Ten

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For the LGBT arts organization in Washington, D.C., see [One in Ten (organization)](/source/One_in_Ten_(organization)).

"**One in Ten**" is a song by British [reggae](/source/Reggae) band [UB40](/source/UB40), released in July 1981 by [DEP International](/source/DEP_International) as a single from their second album, *[Present Arms](/source/Present_Arms_(album))* (1981). It became the band's fourth top-ten hit, peaking at number seven on the [UK Singles Chart](/source/UK_Singles_Chart).[1]

## Background and release

The song title refers to the approximately 10% of the local workforce claiming [unemployment benefit](/source/Unemployment_benefit#United_Kingdom) in the band's home region of [West Midlands](/source/West_Midlands_(region)) in the summer of 1981 when the song was recorded and released.[2] It is a protest against the then-[Prime Minister](/source/Prime_minister) [Margaret Thatcher](/source/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](/source/Dub_music) version of the *Present Arms* title track which was included on the dub remix album *[Present Arms in Dub](/source/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

Chart (1981) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)[5] 87 UK Independent Singles (MRIB)[6] 1

## 808 State version

In November 1992, British [electronic](/source/Electronic_music) group [808 State](/source/808_State) released a remix of "One in Ten" as a single from their fourth album, *[Gorgeous](/source/Gorgeous_(808_State_album))* (1993). It became the group's sixth and penultimate top-twenty hit in the UK, peaking at number 17.[7]

### Background and release

808 State's remix has been described as one of the first popular [mash-ups](/source/Mashup_(music)), in this case taking the original UB40 recording and superimposing elements, mainly the vocals and saxophone, onto a track recorded by 808 State.[8][9] Mash-ups had been growing in popularity since the beginning of the 1990s with [Beats International](/source/Beats_International)'s "[Dub Be Good to Me](/source/Dub_Be_Good_to_Me)" in 1990 and "[You Got the Love](/source/You_Got_the_Love)" in 1991 by [the Source](/source/The_Source_(British_group)) featuring [Candi Staton](/source/Candi_Staton), both of which had huge chart success. The remix of "One in Ten" came about after record label [ZTT Records](/source/ZTT_Records) wanted the group to record a song with vocals on so it would gain more [airplay](/source/Airplay).[8]

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.[10] "One in Ten" also saw a release in the US on [Tommy Boy Records](/source/Tommy_Boy_Records).[10]

## Track listings

- **7": ZTT / ZANG 39**

1. "One in Ten" (808 7") – 2:40
1. "One in Ten" (UB40 Vocal) – 4:00

- **12": ZTT / ZANG 39T**

1. "One in Ten" (808 Original Mix) – 4:16
1. "One in Ten" (Fast Fon Mix) – 3:58
1. "One in Ten" (808 7") – 2:40

- **12": ZTT / ZANG 39TX**

1. "One in Ten" (UB40 Vocal) – 4:00
1. "One in Ten" (UB40 Instrumental) – 5:00

- **12": Tommy Boy / TB 553 (US)**

1. "One in Ten" (808 Original Mix) – 4:16
1. "One in Ten" (Fast Fon Mix) – 3:58
1. "One in Ten" (UB40 Vocal) – 4:00
1. "One in Ten" (UB40 Instrumental) – 5:00

- **CD: ZTT / ZANG 39CD & Tommy Boy / TBCD 553 (US)**

1. "One in Ten" (808 7") – 2:40
1. "One in Ten" (808 Original Mix) – 4:16
1. "One in Ten" (Fast Fon Mix) – 3:58
1. "One in Ten" (UB40 Vocal) – 4:00
1. "One in Ten" (UB40 Instrumental) – 5:00

### Charts

Chart (1992–93) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[11] 135 UK Airplay (Music Week)[12] 21 UK Dance (Music Week)[13] 4 UK Club Chart (Music Week)[14] 33

## References

1. UK

1. Gall, Caroline (2009-08-12). ["One in Ten - a statistic, a reminder"](https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/west_midlands/8196911.stm). BBC West Midlands News. Retrieved 2013-06-13.

1. Robinson, Joe (2013-04-08). ["Margaret Thatcher's Musical Legacy: 5 Iron Lady Protest Songs"](https://diffuser.fm/margaret-thatcher-protest-songs/). *Diffuser.fm*. Retrieved 2023-06-27.

1. ["UB 40 - One In Ten"](https://www.discogs.com/master/88752-UB-40-One-In-Ten). *Discogs*. 2 September 1981. Retrieved 2023-06-28.

1. 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](/source/Australian_Recording_Industry_Association) between mid 1983 and 19 June 1988.

1. Lazell, Barry (1997). ["UB40"](https://web.archive.org/web/20040420095209/http://www.cherryred.co.uk/books/indiehits/u.htm). *Indie Hits 1980–1989: The Complete U.K. Independent Charts (Singles & Albums)*. [Cherry Red Books](/source/Cherry_Red_Books). ISBN 0-95172-069-4. Archived from [the original](http://www.cherryred.co.uk/books/indiehits/u.htm) on 20 April 2004. Retrieved 19 December 2020.

1. UK808

1. ["Music Interview: Graham Massey, 808 State"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100410004049/https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/musicandgigs/music-interview-graham-massey-808.6135556.jp). *[Yorkshire Evening Post](/source/Yorkshire_Evening_Post)*. 19 March 2010. Archived from [the original](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/musicandgigs/music-interview-graham-massey-808.6135556.jp) on 10 April 2010. Retrieved 16 July 2023.

1. Humberstone, Nigel (October 1992). ["Art Of The State (SOS Oct 1992)"](http://www.muzines.co.uk/articles/art-of-the-state/9521). *[Sound on Sound](/source/Sound_on_Sound)*. Vol. 7, no. 12. pp. 30–36.

1. ["One in ten | Discography | Zang Tuum Tumb and all that"](https://www.zttaat.com/formats.php?title=513). *www.zttaat.com*. Retrieved 2023-07-14.

1. ["Bubbling Down Under Week commencing 22 February 1993"](https://www.bubblingdownunder.com/2025/02/week-commencing-22-february-1993.html). *Bubbling Down Under*. Retrieved 28 February 2025.

1. ["Top 50 Airplay Chart"](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1992/MW-1992-12-26.pdf). *[Music Week](/source/Music_Week)*. 26 December 1992. p. 18. Retrieved 11 November 2025.

1. ["Top 60 Dance Singles"](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1992/MW-1992-12-12.pdf). *[Music Week](/source/Music_Week)*. 12 December 1992. p. 20. Retrieved 7 October 2025.

1. ["The Record Mirror Club Chart"](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1992/MW-1992-11-07.pdf). *[Music Week](/source/Music_Week), in [Record Mirror](/source/Record_Mirror) (Dance Update Supplemental Insert)*. 7 November 1992. p. 6. Retrieved 1 October 2025.

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