Customer Reviews

Complete Madness

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought this tape (or rather my parents did for me) while living in England way back in 1982. Although only known for their song "Our House" in the United States it's safe to say that Madness ruled the British charts in the early eighties. Released on the STIFF label in the UK "Complete Madness" represented the best of the band's early work. Songs like "Embarrasment", "Baggy Trousers", and "Night Boat to Cairo" just make me jump around the room playing air saxophone! Full of fun, catchy SKA sounds that Smash Mouth, No Doubt and other imitators only wish they could reproduce. Not for every taste but highly recomended.

This is a slightly different version of the CD that is available in the UK (well the one i bought at least). The UK has the FULL One Step Beyond starting and song, as well as Our House. All the songs are brilliant, and if you have to own a Madness CD then this is a good one to own, if you can get the UK release, with the Black and White CD then even better.

This album is non-stop Madness. If you like Madness, this offers all their early singles (which is when they had their characteristic sound) back to back. The best thing ever to come out of ska. And all their fans would agree that their earlier stuff is the best. These tunes are delightful, pure, fun and full of energy. If you're not familiar with Madness, then this is your best introduction, and you'll either love it or hate it. But love is more likely. Who could not fall for a tune as happy as 'It Must Be Love'? (You'll find that one in that great Jeff Goldblum film, The Tall Guy. What's more, Madness are so good, they're the only band ever to appear twice on The Young Ones.) Get the picture?

All these songs show a true spirit of what MADNESS was all about. LIttle known fact is that the song "IN THE CITY" was orginally written for a 30 second car commercial in Japan. I saw a program back in the mid 80's on Madness and they showed the commercial. Quite funny. Any CD after this one is more or less a waste of time. If you like this CD, look into ONE STEP BEYOND, ABSOLUTELY.

- if you can find it, that is! Much better than the previously mentioned piece of dreck. This has the best selection of their work, and "Our House" is nowhere to be found, thank God. Only one problem: the spoken (shouted) intro of "One Step Beyond" is shortened a bit, but as soon as that sax rips in, I cease to care.