On September 27th, 2012, Madness delivered an unforgettable performance at the renowned Roundhouse venue in London, England, as part of the prestigious iTunes Festival. This historic event marked a significant moment in the band's legacy, ...
Work Rest and Play
The *Work Rest and Play* EP by Madness, originally released in 1980, received a special reissue for Record Store Day (RSD) 2020 to celebrate its 40th anniversary. This limited-edition pressing, highly sought after by collectors, features the ...
Catalogue Number: BMGCAT430DSV
A Proper Party
In 2021, BMG unveiled an exquisite gift for fans of Madness: a meticulously curated playlist brimming with an eclectic array of tunes tailored to suit diverse occasions and emotions. From the sun-soaked vibes of Summer to the amorous melodies ...
Summer Madness
In 2021, BMG unveiled an exquisite gift for fans of Madness: a meticulously curated playlist brimming with an eclectic array of tunes tailored to suit diverse occasions and emotions. From the sun-soaked vibes of Summer to the amorous melodies ...
One Step Beyond… (Expanded Edition)
One Step Beyond... was Madness’ seminal debut album, recorded in 3 weeks and originally released in October 1979. It peaked at number 2 in the UK and took up residency in the UK Album Chart, where it stayed for more than a year. The album – ...
Catalogue Number: BMGCAT590CD
Madness, By Mike
Check out this six-track compilation EP available on all major streaming services and listen to some of the Madness songs written by Mike Barson from the single My Girl in 1979 to the 2023 single C'Est La Vie from the album The Theater of the ...
Catalogue Number: 4099964 029178
Madness, By Suggs
Check out this six-track compilation EP available on all major streaming services and listen to some of the Madness songs written by Suggs from the 1980 single Night Boat to Cairo to If I Go Mad from the 2023 album The Theater of the Absurd ...
Catalogue Number: 4099964 029185
One Step Beyond…
How different it might have been, though. In the early days, the band played "One Step Beyond" simply as a short instrumental introduction to the main set. Some nights, they played the theme from "Hawaii 5'0". Some nights, they played the ...
My Girl
Elvis Costello, a former Stiff artist, unwittingly provided the musical backbone for “My Girl.” Mike Barson had gone along to the first Stiff Records package tour, which featured Ian Dury and the Blockheads, Nick Lowe, Larry Wallis, Wreckless ...
Night Boat To Cairo
The opening fog-horn sound of Lee's baritone sax certainly conjures up visions of a pea-souper over the English Channel. Still, I'm not sure about the River Nile … and then "it's just gone monsoon," the monsoon being a seasonal wind that ...
Believe Me
"Believe Me" was one of the earliest original songs by Madness. It was written by John Hasler and Mike Barson. Hasler used to write many things, including poems, songs and even the first two pages of a novel. He would give his lyrics to Mike so ...
Land Of Hope & Glory
Not only did Lee write "Land of Hope & Glory," but he sang it with Suggs, getting just one or two lines in. There was never going to be any argument about that, though. As Clive says, "Lee's songs sounded great.
The Prince (2-Tone Version)
Based loosely on Prince Busters 'Earthquake'* this track was taken from a session recorded at the tiny Pathway Studios in Highbury, London. The other 2 tracks recorded were the b side, Madness, and a version of My Girl (with Barso on vocals) ...
Tarzan’s Nuts
Practically an instrumental with a few lines of banter to kick it all off, it's hardly surprising that these days, the band has a very shaky recollection of how the song came about.
In The Middle Of The Night
The band has a collective memory of Suggs getting the idea for the song from a genuine newspaper article about a knicker thief seeing his own description and photo-fit in the papers and making a dash for it.
Bed And Breakfast Man
Clive Langer praises the song and describes it as "dead solid, a great song. Barson comes up with something in a melody that no one else does. And he writes a great mundane lyric." It is clear that the song bears the unique style of Mike ...
