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Tuesday 19 November 2019

Madness, They Call it Madness


Up until about a week ago I never owned anything by Madness apart from the odd download here and there or a song or two on compilations.
They were a great singles band and produced a lot of good songs but I have never felt the urge to splash the cash until now.
Bu what the hell - it is time to start living on the edge and for a whopping 50p in BRICC in Ballantrae I became the proud owner of a slightly battered but perfectly playable Complete Madness CD.
Welcome to The House of Fun

Madness - Madness

Madness - One Step Beyond

Madness - The Prince


17 comments:

  1. Faultless tuneage obvs, but my spidey-sense tells me that the photo at the top isn't of the nutty boys themselves, but rather of a Madness tribute band.

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    1. You may well be right Swede but it's a top picture so it's staying!

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    2. The internet cannot be relied on for proper artist photos, as I've discovered to my own Embarrassment from time to time on Saturday Snapshots.

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    3. Not the first time it has happened on these pages

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  2. We are around the same age so amazed they didn't enter your orbit but the whole 2 Tone movement was obviously not your thing at the time. TS is right though, same pose in the pic above, but not the Nutty Boys. Saw them in our town back in the summer and it was comforting - In 40 years the world have changed so much but one constant has been Madness.

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    1. Got stuff by the likes of the Beat and the Specials Alyson.
      They have been on the radar just didn't have any of their records.
      I would imagine that a Madness gig would be highly entertaining

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    2. It still is yes - Tea towel on the head for Night Boat to Cairo although I now realise that is probably not very PC nowadays, or is it? Simply dressing in the practical headwear of the country. I'll get my coat.

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  3. My favourite Madness song is "Embarrassment" - the opening track on the Complete Madness album. Dark lyrics and great music. 50p for the CD is a great bargain.

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    1. Thought about posting that one to reflect my tardiness in picking up a physical copy of their music FBCB

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  4. " never owned anything by Madness apart from the odd download"
    Over here, nothing at all by them, nothing on the download volumes, no singles, no albums.

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  5. I've had a few singles on 7" which I have picked up secondhand. Very fine and enjoyable band in short format. Not sure if I own anything by them anymore.

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  6. I have a ton of Madness. I think if you have the first two albums and a good comp (for which there are many) for the singles that came after then you should be all set.

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    1. Not forgetting 2009's truly brilliant 'The Liberty Of Norton Folgate'

      well worth investing time into

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    2. No argument from me, RD. Arguably their best album since 1980.

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    3. Good call Rigid Digit, a really tremendous album.

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  7. The Selecter, Madness & Specials. £1.50 a ticket I think (or was it £2?). The Pavilion, Ayr. What a night. They all had singles out in the charts! Thank you to (the very late "Ayr's Voice of Rock") Tom Jones for getting Ayr that gig way back in the day. Madness produced a peerless run of singles for years. The two Madness compilations ("Complete" & "Utter") from back in the day really take some beating. For me a real favourite has to be "Bed and Breakfast Man" from an ealy EP. Lovely. Never dropped the quality.

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    1. A bit of a silly post this one as from my early days of blogging but it describes that 1979 gig in full - They made it as far north as Aberdeen and I think you're right in that it only cost £1.50. Changed days.

      https://jukeboxtimemachine.com/2016/06/26/madness-the-prince-and-the-2-tone-label/

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