Madness: G. "Suggs" McPherson (vocals); Carl Smyth (vocals, trumpet); C.J. Foreman (guitars); Lee Thompson (saxophone); Mike Barson (keyboards); Mark Bedford (bass); D.M. "Woody" Woodgate (drums).
Additional personnel: The Hendon Brass Band.
Personnel: Lee Thompson (vocals, saxophone); Carl "Chas Smash" Smyth, Chas Smash (vocals, trumpet); Graham "Suggs" McPherson (vocals, percussion); Chris Foreman, C.J. Foreman (guitar); Mike Barson (harmonica, keyboards, percussion); Dan Woodgate (drums).
Although British ska revivalists Madness were highly successful in the U.K. from their late-1970s beginnings, the group didn't make a big impression in the U.S. (ostensibly for being too English) until '82, with the release of "Our House," a rapturous, horn-laden ode to working-class life, and its charming MTV video. This 12-track compilation, issued in '83, capitalizes on the band's breakthrough, featuring the aforementioned pop-perfect song, along with other tunes from its attendant album, THE RISE & FALL, including the jaunty, carnival-themed "House of Fun" and the Kinks-like numbers "Tomorrow's Just Another Day" and "Primrose Hill." MADNESS also presents a few earlier singles, most notably the ornate "Night Boat to Cairo" and the swinging "Cardiac Arrest," making it an enjoyable, if far from comprehensive, survey of the beloved London-based septet's '79-'83 era. Those looking for a broader Madness overview should seek out the 19-track ULTIMATE COLLECTION.
Madness is a U.S. compilation released to capitalize on the success of "Our House." Aside from handful of earlier singles like "Night Boat to Cairo, " "It Must Be Love, " "Cardiac Arrest," and "House of Fun, " the collection's real focus is on material from the previous year's Madness Present the Rise and Fall, which wasn't released in America. The collection suffers from a mixture of two distinct periods in the band's career and some glaring omissions, but there is no shortage of great material, making for a pretty good, though far from perfect, introduction. ~ Chris Woodstra minimize