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Total Madness
''Total Madness'' is a 2009 compilation CD/DVD album by Madness, released by Union Square Music. It is principally a singles collection, though it also includes two album tracks from their debut album, '' One Step Beyond...''. On release in the UK it reached #11 in the Official Album Charts, making it Madness' second hit album of 2009, the second being '' The Liberty of Norton Folgate'' (#5). Due to licensing problems, none of the four singles that Madness released on Zarjazz Records in 1985-86 are included. The album effectively supersedes the now deleted ''Divine Madness'' collection. ''Total Madness'' should not be confused with the earlier US-only '' Total Madness — The Very Best of Madness''. Promotion Union Square put significant effort into the album's promotion. As well as a TV advert campaign, a large billboard featuring the album's cover was erected on Hanger Lane in London. In addition, there was a flyering campaign during the band's performance at Regent Stree ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Madness (band)
Madness are an English ska and pop band from Camden Town, North London, who formed in 1976. One of the most prominent bands of the late 1970s and early 1980s two-tone ska revival, they continue to perform with six of the seven members of their original line-up.Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Retrieved on 19 June 2007. Madness's most successful period was from 1980 to 1986, when the band's songs spent a total of 214 weeks on the UK Singles Chart. ( UB40 shared the same number of weeks, the largest for any British group in the decade, but over a longer period.), IMDb.com, Retrieved on 10 June 2007. Madness have had 15 singles reach the UK top ten, including " One Step Beyond", " Baggy Trousers" and " It Must Be Love", one UK number-one single " House of Fun" and two number ones in Ireland, "House of Fun" and " Wings of a Dove". "Our House" was their biggest US hit, reaching number 7 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. In 2000, the band received the Ivor Novello Award from the British Ac ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Baggy Trousers
"Baggy Trousers" is a song by English ska/pop band Madness from their 1980 album '' Absolutely''. It was written by lead singer Graham "Suggs" McPherson and guitarist Chris Foreman,Woodstra, Chris. Retrieved on 1 July 2007. and reminisces about school days. ( Mike Barson also received a writing credit in error, the correct McPherson/Foreman credit being used for subsequent releases). The band first began performing the song at live shows in April 1980. Retrieved on 1 July 2007. It was released as a single on 5 September 1980 and spent 20 weeks in UK charts, reaching a high of #3. It was the 28th best-selling single of 1980 in the UK. In October 2017, American punk rock/hip hop band the Transplants released a cover version of the song on their ''Take Cover'' EP. Music and lyrics Suggs later recalled in an interview that "I was very specifically trying to write a song in the style of Ian Dury, especially the songs he was writing then, which ereoften sort of catalogues of p ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
It Must Be Love (Labi Siffre Song)
"It Must Be Love" is a song written and originally recorded and released in 1971 by English singer Labi Siffre on his 1972 album ''Crying Laughing Loving Lying''. It was also recorded by ska/pop band Madness in 1981. Labi Siffre original The original Labi Siffre recording was released as a single in 1971, and reached Number 14 in January 1972 in the UK singles chart. It also appeared on his 1972 album ''Crying Laughing Loving Lying''. In 1994, a version of Siffre's original, with altered lyrics, was featured in an advertisement for Midland Bank. In 2007, it was featured in a UK TV advertisement for Vodafone. Labi Siffre track listing #"It Must Be Love" – 3:42 #"To Find Love" – 1:57 Charts Madness version Madness's version was originally issued as a standalone single in late-1981, reaching #4 on the UK singles chart, and appeared on their UK number one compilation album '' Complete Madness'' the following year, and on many other Madness compilations since. In 1983, it ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
My Girl (Madness Song)
"My Girl" is a song by British ska/pop group Madness from their debut album, '' One Step Beyond...''. It was written by Mike Barson. The song was released as a single on 21 December 1979 and spent 10 weeks on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number 3. The song was reissued in 1992 following the success of the reissued " It Must Be Love". It reached number 27 in the UK Singles Chart. Song history The song first made its way into the band's set when they were performing as The Invaders. The first performance of the song came in July 1978, when it was performed by the band at the "Blind Alley Shop" and simply titled "New Song". Barson originally performed lead vocals, and even sang on the demo for the song, having written the song about his then girlfriend, Kerstin Rodgers. However, Suggs took over the vocal duties before long, and sang the album version of the song. When the group performed the song on ''Top of the Pops'' in January 1980, they were the first band of the new dec ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Embarrassment (song)
"Embarrassment" is a song recorded by ska/ pop band Madness, predominantly written by Lee Thompson, but partially credited to Mike Barson.Woodstra, Chris. Retrieved on July 1, 2007. The band first began performing the song at live shows in April 1980, Retrieved on July 1, 2007. and it was featured on their second studio album, '' Absolutely''. The song was released as a single on 14 November 1980 and spent 12 weeks in the UK singles chart, reaching a high of number 4. The song was remixed for issue as a single, which is different from the album version, although they both have the same running time. Lyrical content The meaning behind the song was particularly dark, considering the band's previous material. Primarily written by Lee Thompson, the plot of the song reflected the unfolding turmoil following the news that his teenage sister, Tracy, had become pregnant and was carrying a black man's child. The subsequent rejection by her family, and the shame felt, was reflected in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Rise & Fall
''The Rise & Fall'' is the fourth studio album by English ska band Madness, released on 5 November 1982 by Stiff Records. This album saw Madness at their most experimental, exhibiting a range of musical styles including jazz, English music hall, and Eastern influences. ''NME'' described it at the time of its release as "the best Madness record". It has often been retrospectively described as a concept album. Though the album was never released in the US, several tracks were later placed on the compilation ''Madness'' (1983), including "Our House", the band's only top 10 hit in America. Content Initially conceived as a concept album about nostalgia for childhood, the concept was eventually dropped, though the original theme is still evident particularly in the title track and the album's major hit "Our House". This theme was also mentioned recently when interviewed as part of T in the Park highlights, where their lead vocalist Suggs claimed that all the band members were told ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chas Smash
Cathal Joseph "Carl" Smyth (born 14 January 1959), also known as Chas Smash, is an English singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. His career spans more than 40 years. Smash came to prominence in the late 1970s as secondary vocalist, trumpet player and dancer for the English band Madness, with whom he was associated from their inception until 2014. In addition to trumpet, Smyth plays the bass guitar (having initially joined Madness as a bassist), acoustic guitar and other percussion instruments. He performs lead vocals on a few Madness tracks, such as " Michael Caine", " Wings of a Dove", " One Step Beyond" and "Madness (Is All in the Mind)". Initially an occasional songwriter, he became a more frequent contributor and was credited as co-writer on the band's international hit "Our House". Early years Cathal Joseph Smyth was born on 14 January 1959, in Middlesex Hospital, Fitzrovia, London, England, and grew up in Marylebone. As a child he went by the name of Carl. His par ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Our House (Madness Song)
"Our House" is a song by British ska and pop band Madness. It was released as the lead single from their fourth studio album, '' The Rise & Fall'', on 12 November 1982. The song charted within the top ten in several countries, and was the band's biggest hit on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. It won the category Best Pop Song at the May 1983 Ivor Novello Awards. About Released in November 1982, it peaked at No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart. "Our House" was their biggest hit in the US, reaching No. 7 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 in 1983. On the US rock chart, the song peaked at No. 9, and it reached No. 21 on the US dance chart. It received heavy airplay by radio stations. The B-side, "Walking with Mr. Wheeze", is an instrumental. The title is a play on "Groovin' with Mr. Bloe", a 1970 instrumental hit by the session group Mr. Bloe. Music video The band portrays a working-class family in the video, including one with a stubbly face, dressed in an apron and bonnet, playing the mot ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Complete Madness
''Complete Madness'' is the first greatest hits album by ska/pop group Madness (band), Madness. It was released in 1982 in music, 1982 and included Madness' biggest hits from their first three studio albums and the stand-alone singles. ''Complete Madness'' spent 99 weeks on the UK charts, peaking at number 1. Content This compilation includes the original Single (music)#7-inch format, 7-inch single mixes of most tracks (''House of Fun'' being an exception). The vinyl and initial CD releases have shortened fade-outs for many tracks, to reduce the running time of each side of the original LP version. The first time the songs appeared in full for this compilation was on the 2003 Virgin CD reissue. The original Australian version of the album, issued some months later than in the UK, replaces ''In the City'' with 13th UK single ''Driving in My Car''. Music video An accompanying video cassette was also released, containing all thirteen of the group's music videos up to that point (th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mike Barson
Michael Barson (born 21 April 1958) is a Scottish-born multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and composer. In a career spanning more than 40 years, Barson came to prominence in the late 1970s as the keyboard player for the band Madness. Early years Barson was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. He grew up in North London with his two brothers, Dan and Ben, who are also musicians (with Ben being one of Roland Gift's collaborators). He is often known by the nicknames "Monsieur Barso" or "Barzo". Prior to forming Madness, Barson and fellow future Madness member Lee Thompson gained some notice as graffiti artists in the mid-1970s. After reading about the emerging New York graffiti scene, they spray-painted their nicknames ("Mr B" and "Kix") along with two friends' names "Cat" and "Columbo" around north London. They managed to spray their nicknames on George Melly's garage door, prompting Melly to write a newspaper article declaring: "If I ever catch that Mr B, Kix and Columbo, I'm goin ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lee Thompson (saxophonist)
Lee Jay Thompson (born 5 October 1957), nicknamed Kix or El Thommo, is an English multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, and composer. In a career spanning more than 40 years, Thompson came to prominence in the late 1970s as a founder and saxophonist for the English ska band Madness. Early years Prior to forming Madness, Thompson and future Madness keyboardist Mike Barson gained some notoriety as graffiti artists in the mid-1970s. After reading about the emerging New York graffiti scene, they spray-painted their nicknames ("Kix" and "Mr B") along with two friends' names "Cat" and "Columbo" around North London. They managed to spray their nicknames on George Melly's garage door, prompting Melly to write a newspaper article declaring: "If I ever catch that Mr B, Kix and Columbo, I'm going to kick their arses". Music career Thompson founded Madness with Mike Barson and Chris Foreman in 1976, and wrote the group's debut single, "The Prince". Among the other songs, he wrote ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
House Of Fun
"House of Fun" is a song by English ska/pop group Madness, credited to Mike Barson and Lee Thompson. Retrieved on 28 June 2007. It was released as a one-off single on 14 May 1982 and reached number one in the UK Singles Chart, spending nine weeks in the charts. Retrieved on 27 June 2007. The song was re-released in 1992, reaching number 40. It is the band's only number one single in the UK and in 2015 the British public voted it as the nation's 8th favourite 1980s number one in a poll for ITV. Recording The song was originally recorded under the title "Chemist Facade", without the "Welcome to the House of Fun" chorus. While the song was being recorded, head of Stiff Records Dave Robinson insisted that the song should have a chorus, so band member Mike Barson immediately wrote the "Welcome to the House of Fun" refrain on his piano. Retrieved on 22 August 2007. At this point, the song had already been recorded, and the management decided not to re-record the whole song. In ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
