Rat in Mi Kitchen explained

Rat in Mi Kitchen
Cover:File:Ratinmikitchen.jpeg
Type:single
Artist:UB40
Album:Rat in the Kitchen
B-Side:"Rat in Mi Kitchen" (version)[1]
Released:[2]
Length:6:58
Label:DEP International
Producer:UB40
Prev Title:All I Want to Do
Prev Year:1986
Next Title:Watchdogs
Next Year:1987

"Rat in Mi Kitchen" is a song written and performed by British reggae group UB40. It features Herb Alpert on trumpet and is the sixth track on their album Rat in the Kitchen. Released as a single on 5 January 1987, it reached number 12 on the UK Singles Chart later the same month, staying on the chart for seven weeks.

Although "Rat in Mi Kitchen" is attributed to the whole group, like many UB40 songs, it was written by Astro. At the time, lead singer Ali Campbell had moved into a new home in Balsall Heath, Birmingham and was troubled by rodents. When asked by Astro if he had any ideas for new songs he replied, "Oh God, I don't care about the album for a minute, I've got a rat in the kitchen!" Astro, who sings lead vocals on the song, wrote the track in response.[3]

The sleeve artwork is by Bob Linney.[4]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1987)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[5] 84
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[6] 23

Year-end charts

Chart (1987)Position
Belgium (Ultratop)[7] 64
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[8] 47
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[9] 41

Notes and References

  1. Rat in Mi Kitchen. . 1987. UK 7-inch single sleeve. DEP International. DEP 25.
  2. New Singles. Music Week. 24. 3 January 1987.
  3. Web site: My first home: Ali Campbell . https://web.archive.org/web/20100502025701/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/propertyadvice/propertymarket/3300538/My-first-home-Ali-Campbell.html . dead . 2 May 2010 . The Daily Telegraph . 6 April 2002 . 14 June 2013 . Greenstreet . Rosanna.
  4. https://www.grooves-inc.com/rat-the-kitchen-virgin-cd-pZZa1-1898014148.html
  5. Book: Kent, David. Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book. St Ives, NSW. 1993. 0-646-11917-6.
  6. European Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 4. 6. 15. 14 February 1987.
  7. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 1987. Ultratop. nl. 25 February 2022.
  8. Web site: Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1987. Dutch Top 40. nl. 25 February 2022.
  9. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 1987. MegaCharts. nl. 25 February 2022.