Who Needs Actions When You Got Words is the debut studio album released by British rapper and songwriter Plan B on 26 June 2006. The album was recorded with producers such as Fraser T Smith, Paul Epworth, The Earlies and The Nextmen. The title of the album derives from a line in the Meat Puppets song "Plateau".
Background The vinyl version of the album was released as a double 12" vinyl, and bonus 7" vinyl, containing a total of fourteen tracks. The vinyl version featured the tracks in a slightly different order than the standard release, and also includes "Breakdown", and the Earlies version of "Sick 2 Def", in place of the standard version, however, the track "Everyday" is omitted. A deluxe edition of the album was issued in certain territories in 2007, containing the all-new collaborative single with Epic Man, More is Enough. The album received very favourable reviews from critics in the hip-hop, indie and mainstream communities. In 2006, Q Magazine rated the album sixty-fourth in their 100 Best Albums of 2006. The album reached and peaked at No. 30 on the UK Albums Chart, when it was released on 26 June 2006. In February 2010, three and a half years after its release, the album was certified Silver by British Phonographic Industry for selling over 60,000 copies.
Singles "Kidz / Dead and Buried" was released on 8 September 2005 as the lead single from the album. The single was available as a limited edition 7" vinyl single, limited to 500 copies, and released on Plan B's own record label, Pet Cemetery Records. The promotional CD single was accompanied by the previously unreleased track "Young Girl". A video for "Dead and Buried" features clips from the film Kidulthood, but does not feature Drew. "Sick 2 Def" was released on 3 December 2005 as the second single from the album. The single was available as a two-track CD single and a limited edition 7" vinyl. The single was backed by fellow album track, "No Good". The single was released on 679 Recordings. No music video was filmed for the track. "Missing Links" was released on 18 January 2006, as the third single from the album. The track was only released as a promotional single, due to permission being refused to release the sample of "Pyramid Song" by Radiohead as part of the single. The track was Plan B's first single to have an official accompanying music video. * "More Is Enough" was released as a collaborative single with Epic Man on 21 April 2006. Although not included on the original version of the album, the song appears as the first track on the deluxe edition of the record, Enough is Enough. A music video was filmed for the release, which was available on limited edition 7" vinyl only.
"Mama (Loves a Crackhead)" was released as the album's fifth single on 10 July 2006. The single was Plan B's first single to be released on multiple formats, including limited edition 7" vinyl, CD single and DVD single, and was Plan B's first track to appear on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at No. 41. A music video was released for the track. "No More Eatin'" was released on 30 October 2006 as the album's sixth single. The single lead two exclusive releases - No More Eatin': Live at The Pet Cemetery EP and No More Eatin': The Remixes EP. The single was available on both CD single and limited edition 7" and 12" vinyl. An acoustic music video was filmed for the track. "No Good" was released on 19 February 2007 as the album's seventh and final single. The track's music video was filmed in December 2005 when it appeared as the B-side to the single "Sick 2 Def". The single was released on limited edition 12" vinyl and as a DVD single. For the single release, the track was remixed by Jeremy Wheatley. Although not officially released as singles, music videos were filmed for the "No Good" b-side track "Bizness Woman", featuring Killa Kela, and for the album track, "Charmaine", was released to music channels in April 2007, and the album's title track, "Who Needs Actions When You Got Words", was released as a promotional single in June 2007.
Track listing
Personnel Plan B - vocal, guitar, producer, mixing, art direction
Production Fraser T Smith – producer, mixing Paul Epworth – producer, mixing Eliot James – producer, engineer, mixing Sam Williams – producer, mixing The Nextmen – producer ALX – producer The Earlies – co-producers Jonathan Quarmby – additional producer, mixing Kevin Bacon – additional producer, mixing Finn Eiles – engineer, mixing Jimmy Robertson – engineer, mixing Tesfa Pitt – engineer, programming Alan O'Connell – engineer Tom Knott – engineer Analog Kid – drum programming Brad Ellis – drum programming, mixing Dominic Betmead – mixing John Davis – mastering
Additional musicians NY – backing vocals, additional vocals Akatriel – additional vocals Randolph Matthews – backing vocals Andrew Smith – guitar Tom Knott – guitar Jamie King – guitar Dominic Betmead – guitar, turntables Andy Sheldrake – bass Christian Madden – keyboard Cassell The BeatMaker – drums Richard Young – drums Harry Escott – cello Kai Fish – cello Eliot James – cello, piano Alex Berry – double bass Beni G – turntables
Other personnel Ben Drury – design, additional photography, art direction Neil Gavin – photography Ben Sansbury – graphic design Dan Stacey – A&R Nicky Stein – legal
Sample credits "No Good" incorporates elements of "You're No Good for Me" by Kelly Charles. "Mama (Loves a Crackhead)" incorporates elements of "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)" by Hall & Oates. "Charmaine" incorporates elements "Young Girl" by Gary Puckett & the Union Gap.
Release history Region Date Label Format Catalog United Kingdom 26 June 2006 679 CD 5051011497926 2xLP + 7" 505101149791 Australia 19 November 2006 2xCD CTX334CD
Chart performance
Weekly charts Chart (2006)PeakpositionUK Albums Chart30
Certifications Country CertificationUnited KingdomGold
Tour
Live band Plan B – vocals, guitar Tom Wright-Goss – guitar Andy Sheldrake – bass Cassell The BeatMaker – drums Beni G – DJ, turntables
Support acts Example (July 2006, January–February 2007) Professor Green (January–February 2007) Hadouken! (January–February 2007) Killa Kela (January–February 2007)
Tour dates Date City Country Venue Leg 1: United Kingdom13 May 2006LeedsUnited KingdomThe Faversham31 May 2006LondonThe Macbeth12 July 2006NewcastleCarling Academy Newcastle13 July 2006GlasgowKing Tut's Wah Wah Hut14 July 2006BirminghamCarling Academy 2 Birmingham15 July 2006LiverpoolCarling Academy 2 Liverpool18 July 2006NottinghamRescue Rooms19 July 2006ManchesterAcademy 321 July 2006LondonMean Fiddler22 July 2006BristolAshton Court23 July 2006BrightonConcord 2 Leg 2: Festivals12 August 2006Osaka JapanIntex Osaka13 August 2006ChibaChiba Marine Stadium26 August 2006ReadingUnited KingdomLittle John's Farm27 August 2006LeedsBramham Park28 August 2006EdinburghThe Liquid Room12 November 2006ParisFranceLa Cigale Leg 3: United Kingdom & Ireland28 January 2007DublinIrelandThe Village30 January 2007PrestonUnited Kingdom53 Degrees31 January 2007BirminghamCarling Academy 2 Birmingham1 February 2007LeedsThe Cockpit2 February 2007GlasgowThe Arches3 February 2007SheffieldThe Leadmill7 February 2007ManchesterAcademy 28 February 2007CardiffUniversity Solus9 February 2007LondonShepherd's Bush Empire10 February 2007BristolAnson Rooms12 February 2007CambridgeThe Junction13 February 2007LiverpoolCarling Academy 2 Liverpool14 February 2007NorwichWaterfront15 February 2007SouthamptonUniversity22 February 2007LondonFopp Leg 4: United States12 March 2007New York CityUnited StatesJoe's Pub13 March 2007Los AngelesCinespace15 March 2007AustinTrinity Lounge16 March 2007301 Chicon Street17 March 2007Zero Degrees17 March 2007Beauty Bar Leg 5: Australia19 May 2007LondonUnited KingdomScala24 May 2007MelbourneAustraliaDing Dong Lounge26 May 2007SydneyThe Basement Leg 6: Festivals16 June 2007LondonUnited KingdomHyde Park17 June 2007LeedsHarewood House21 June 2007New York CityUnited StatesHiro Ballroom23 June 2007PiltonUnited KingdomWorthy Farm29 June 2007IstanbulTurkeySolar Beach8 July 2007BaladoUnited KingdomBalado20 July 2007TrenčínSlovakiaTrenčín Airport4 August 2007FavershamUnited KingdomMount Ephraim Gardens18 August 2007ChelmsfordHylands Park24 May 2007StaffordshireWeston Park
Festivals and other miscellaneous performances
As part of Nasty Fest As part of Ashton Court Festival As part of Summer Sonic Festival As part of Reading and Leeds Festivals As part of T on the Fringe As part of Les Inrocks Festival As part of SXSW As part of Wireless Festival As part of Glastonbury Festival As part of Radar Live Festival As part of T in the Park As part of Pohoda Festival As part of Electric Gardens As part of V Festival
References
External links
Who Needs Actions When You Got Words at Metacritic