# Who Needs Actions When You Got Words

Professional ratings :
| Review scores ||
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic | |
| Blender | |
| The Guardian | |
| NME | |
| Pitchfork Media | (7.5/10) |
| PopMatters | |
| Rolling Stone | |
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.

## 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 |
| United Kingdom | 26 June 2006 | 679 | 2xLP + 7" | 505101149791 |
| Australia | 19 November 2006 | 679 | 2xCD | CTX334CD |

## 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 Kingdom ||||
| 13 May 2006 | Leeds | United Kingdom | The Faversham |
| 31 May 2006 | London | United Kingdom | The Macbeth |
| 12 July 2006 | Newcastle | United Kingdom | Carling Academy Newcastle |
| 13 July 2006 | Glasgow | United Kingdom | King Tut's Wah Wah Hut |
| 14 July 2006 | Birmingham | United Kingdom | Carling Academy 2 Birmingham |
| 15 July 2006 | Liverpool | United Kingdom | Carling Academy 2 Liverpool |
| 18 July 2006 | Nottingham | United Kingdom | Rescue Rooms |
| 19 July 2006 | Manchester | United Kingdom | Academy 3 |
| 21 July 2006 | London | United Kingdom | Mean Fiddler |
| 22 July 2006 | Bristol | United Kingdom | Ashton Court |
| 23 July 2006 | Brighton | United Kingdom | Concord 2 |
| Leg 2: Festivals ||||
| 12 August 2006 | Osaka | Japan | Intex Osaka |
| 13 August 2006 | Chiba | Japan | Chiba Marine Stadium |
| 26 August 2006 | Reading | United Kingdom | Little John's Farm |
| 27 August 2006 | Leeds | United Kingdom | Bramham Park |
| 28 August 2006 | Edinburgh | United Kingdom | The Liquid Room |
| 12 November 2006 | Paris | France | La Cigale |
| Leg 3: United Kingdom & Ireland ||||
| 28 January 2007 | Dublin | Ireland | The Village |
| 30 January 2007 | Preston | United Kingdom | 53 Degrees |
| 31 January 2007 | Birmingham | United Kingdom | Carling Academy 2 Birmingham |
| 1 February 2007 | Leeds | United Kingdom | The Cockpit |
| 2 February 2007 | Glasgow | United Kingdom | The Arches |
| 3 February 2007 | Sheffield | United Kingdom | The Leadmill |
| 7 February 2007 | Manchester | United Kingdom | Academy 2 |
| 8 February 2007 | Cardiff | United Kingdom | University Solus |
| 9 February 2007 | London | United Kingdom | Shepherd's Bush Empire |
| 10 February 2007 | Bristol | United Kingdom | Anson Rooms |
| 12 February 2007 | Cambridge | United Kingdom | The Junction |
| 13 February 2007 | Liverpool | United Kingdom | Carling Academy 2 Liverpool |
| 14 February 2007 | Norwich | United Kingdom | Waterfront |
| 15 February 2007 | Southampton | United Kingdom | University |
| 22 February 2007 | London | United Kingdom | Fopp |
| Leg 4: United States ||||
| 12 March 2007 | New York City | United States | Joe's Pub |
| 13 March 2007 | Los Angeles | United States | Cinespace |
| 15 March 2007 | Austin | United States | Trinity Lounge |
| 16 March 2007 | Austin | United States | 301 Chicon Street |
| 17 March 2007 | Austin | United States | Zero Degrees |
| 17 March 2007 | Austin | United States | Beauty Bar |
| Leg 5: Australia ||||
| 19 May 2007 | London | United Kingdom | Scala |
| 24 May 2007 | Melbourne | Australia | Ding Dong Lounge |
| 26 May 2007 | Sydney | Australia | The Basement |
| Leg 6: Festivals ||||
| 16 June 2007 | London | United Kingdom | Hyde Park |
| 17 June 2007 | Leeds | United Kingdom | Harewood House |
| 21 June 2007 | New York City | United States | Hiro Ballroom |
| 23 June 2007 | Pilton | United Kingdom | Worthy Farm |
| 29 June 2007 | Istanbul | Turkey | Solar Beach |
| 8 July 2007 | Balado | United Kingdom | Balado |
| 20 July 2007 | Trenčín | Slovakia | Trenčín Airport |
| 4 August 2007 | Faversham | United Kingdom | Mount Ephraim Gardens |
| 18 August 2007 | Chelmsford | United Kingdom | Hylands Park |
| 24 May 2007 | Staffordshire | United Kingdom | Weston 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