Customer Reviews

Madness

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Madness's first two albums didn't sell well in the US, and the band was dropped by Sire. Their third and fourth albums were never released in the US. However, when "Our House" was issued as a single, and hit the US Top Ten, Geffen rushed out this compilation to re-introduce the group to American listeners.

Made up of tracks from the first, third, and fourth albums, plus two single tracks, this is a decent compilation. While not as definitive a one-disc overview as "Complete Madness", all the songs are good selections, and give you a good idea of this unique band's range and depth; and for American buyers, it's cheaper than the imports. A good place to start.

Save for an underground movement of ska-loving kids, the U.S. was a bit slow to catch on to the two-tone explosion of the late seventies/early eighties. Sire initially released One Step Beyond and Absolutely, but as Madness failed to generate the big big numbers record companies crave, Sire scandalously ignored their 3rd and 4th albums, 7 and the Rise and Fall. That decision temporarily waylaid the spread of Madness in the U.S. In fact, if it hadn't been for my little brother bringing home Absolutely and One Step Beyond, I might have been one of many who had never heard of this band before 'Our House' hit the airwaves.

Because ska was still largely unknown to mainstream America in 1982, 'Our House' fell like an atomic bomb and sent people scurrying for anything Madness-related they could get their hands on. The success of this single cannot be overstated. Despite its pop-like qualities, it revitalized interest in ska overnight and Sire practically fell over themselves to release this eponymously-named recording, or as we affectionately called it, the 'Eight-Ball Album.'

In addition to tracks from their 1st, 3rd, and 4th records, this collection also contains the superb and hard to find 'House of Fun,' the brilliant cover of the sixties classic, 'It Must Be Love,' and of course, 'Our House.'

I remember seeing the vespa riding/trenchcoat wearing skinheads during my first year of high school, failing to connect them to the music I had been listening to for the last couple years. Such is the life of a pre-teen, I suppose, but it also goes to show that music is just that, music, and more than a lifestyle. Even a nerdy kid like myself, one without any sense of the lifestyle two-tone represented, could enjoy Madness.

And I did. Immensely.

This record represents the American attempt to reintroduce music that should have been a hit from the beginning, and on that note it succeeds... in spades. It also shows how clueless record companies were to the breadth of music the eighties had to offer.

"Our House" is definitely the flagship song of this compilation of tunes from Madness. The music on this CD takes me back to the early, fun, days of MTV. That was how I first learned about Madness -- their videos of "Our House" and "One Step Beyond" made those songs instant hits in my book. But, alas, times change, groups break up, and the fun brand that MTV once was is no more the video music channel it used to be.

OK, OK, I'll get back to the CD. I enjoy the overt British influences in Madness, the up-beat tempo, and fun that exudes from the CD as it spins. It sounds like the group really enjoyed themselves as they worked.

Great fun. 5 stars!

Alan Holyoak

When it comes to the legendary Madness, there are two titles that come to mind. 1) One Step Beyond- This album is sacro-sanct! 2)Madness- This is probably the most underrated recording of the entire era. With Our House, Primrose Hill, and Welcome to the House of Fun, this CD has it all. I bought this back in the 80's in Tijuana on spring break. Of course it was a bootleg cassette tape but it etched itself into my memory for life. Don't cheat yourself out of a great experience. Buy this CD today!

I originally purchased the cassette in high school in one of those 20 tapes for a penny deals from Columbia House where its safe to take a flyer on a questionable group. I hadn't heard their music for years until the recent jean ad came out with "It Must Be Love" as the theme music. I couldn't get the song out of my head so I ordered it the next week. The songs are better than I remembered them! Even the depressing ones like "Cardiac Arrest" and "Blue Skin Beast" have a toe-tapping fun feel to them.

In fareness, they aren't for everyone. My wife can't stand any of the songs. But the sames things I like about the Madness attitude are what bug her about me! Ha Ha!

"I remember way back when/everything was true and then/we would have such a very good time such a fine time/and I remember how we'd play/simply waste the day away/then we'd say/nothing could come between us/two dreamers". There you go. Seriously, this is an excellent introductory collection to Madness, but if you're really interested in the band, One Step Beyond, Absolutely, The Rise and Fall, and Keep Moving would give you a better idea. Still, this is the best place to get the brilliant House of Fun.

half of this album is tracks from the excellent "the rise and fall" album, possibly their finest hour. (excellent tracks like "primrose hill" and "blue skinned beast".) the rest is just tacked-on earlier hits like night boat to cairo. do yourself a favor, if you're going to buy anything, get "the rise and fall" for the more serious side of madness (and "our house"), and maybe a compilation like "complete madness" for the hits.

Wow, awesome CD. It has every song that you want from Madness. This is a fun CD and it has everything in one place. Great for sitting in trafic, it lowers the GRRRR level!
Fantastic!

Great Cd, even after all these years and the best thing is- it's so inexpensive to buy years later. All great tracks
on this disc. I but it again after hearing "Night Boat To Cairo" on XM Radio and it brought back so many memories.
I don't know why Ska never really took off hear in the states because it has so much energy and tends to be positive
which puts you in a great state of mind. Buy this disc and explore others by Madness, you won"t be dissapointed.

when i was 9, my uncle handed me this battered cd he said he didn't want anymore. after i got past the first track, vague memories of watching mtv after kindergarden began to surface. i began to sway and hum to 'our house'. its six years later and the 2-tone beat hasn't left since! madness will live forever and this cd is one of the best ways to get the scope of their original sound!