Madness

Complete Madness, 1982

Woody says…
There they stood with names flying from all sides of the room.
When they stopped insulting each other they discussed a name for the seven-piece entourage. A small voice from somewhere in the room suggested the band should select a name from the songs played in the set. The set list was inspected and the one who called himself Devilishly Handsome (Chrissy Boy) said:- Madness. The band said yes, but Chris said – “Oh No” – but “Madness” it was.

One Step Beyond, 2023 CD reissue

Bedders: Again, there was a discussion over whether we should put ‘Madness’ on the album, as it had been the B-side of the 2 Tone single. I think we kind of fudged it a bit, because we rerecorded it and then put it on as an unnamed track.
Chris: That was my idea. I said, “Let’s put it on as a secret track”. If you listen, we do it more as R&B than ska. We did handclaps on it, and you’d think they’d be the easiest thing in the world to do, but they’re not – your hands get really sore. Our version is more akin to Showaddywaddy than Prince Buster. I like doing it live, it’s a good song. The lyrics are quite good, actually – it’s about politicians in Jamaica.
Woody: It’s a really big production, great sound. And it’s the essence of Madness – it sounds like a party.
Mike: I’ve nothing to say about ‘Madness’, really. Except I never got the chords down properly – I only realised the other day that it’s got a D minor in it, and it’s so much more tuneful the way Prince Buster did it, with that D minor.

The original recording first appeared on ‘The Prince’ 7″ (2 Tone)

The song was re-recorded for the ‘One Step Beyond…’ LP (Stiff)

‘Madness’ was not listed on the sleeve

‘MISTAKES’ 2LP – The Paradise Ballroom, Boston, Massachusetts, USA 24 Feb 1980

‘IN CONCERT – 247’ – Hammersmith Odeon, London 23 Dec 1980

Also on ‘ABSOLUTELY‘ Salvo 2CD (2010)

‘DANCE CRAZE’ Deluxe Edition 2023 – St George’s Hall, Bradford 27 Apr 1980

‘IN CONCERT – 301’ – Dominion Theatre, London 2 Mar 1983

Also ‘CLASSIC IN CONCERT – 6’ (1993)

‘NBC RADIO’S YOUNG ADULT NETWORK – MADNESS CONCERT’ – Pier 84, New York 22 Aug 1983

‘MAD NOT MAD PARTY’ – Hammersmith Odeon, London 31 Dec 1985

‘MIS LIVE – A COLLECTION OF LIVE SONGS RECORDED AROUND THE PLONET 1980 TO 1985’

‘My Girl’ 7″ and cassette (1992) – Hammersmith Odeon, London Xmas 1980

‘MADSTOCK!’ – Finsbury Park, London 8 Aug 1992

‘MADSTOCK 2’ – Finsbury Park, London 6 Aug 1994

‘IN THE ZONE’ – Hollywood Palladium, California 12 Sep 1983

‘UNIVERSAL MADNESS’ – Universal Amphitheatre, Los Angeles, USA 26 Apr 1998

‘AT MADSTOCK’ – Finsbury Park, London 7 Jun 1998

‘ON STAGE 1’ – Brixton Academy, London 7 Dec 2006

‘ON STAGE 2’ – SECC Hall 4, Glasgow 12 Dec 2006

‘ON STAGE 3’ – MEN Arena, Manchester 13 Dec 2006

‘ON STAGE 4’ – Telewest Arena, Newcastle 14 Dec 2006

‘ON STAGE 5’ – NEC, Birmingham 16 Dec 2006

‘ON STAGE 6’ – BIC, Bournemouth 17 Dec 2006

‘ON STAGE 7’ – Brighton Centre, Brighton 19 Dec 2006

‘ON STAGE 8’ – Wembley Arena, London 20 Dec 2006

‘LIVE AT THE ASTORIA 3.12.07’ – Astoria, London 3 Dec 2007

‘LIVE AT THE O2 ARENA 14.12.07’ – O2 Arena, London 14 Dec 2007

‘HACKNEY EMPIRE 24’ – Hackney Empire, London 24 Jun 2008

‘HACKNEY EMPIRE 25’ – Hackney Empire, London 25 Jun 2008

‘HACKNEY EMPIRE 26’ – Hackney Empire, London 26 Jun 2008

‘MADSTOCK V’ – Victoria Park, London 17 Jul 2009

‘UK TOUR 2009’ – The Liberty Of Norton Folgate UK Tour, Dec 2009

‘GLASTONBURY’ – Glastonbury Festival, Somerset 25 Jun 2016

‘THE GET UP!’ – London Palladium – Band Naming Rehearsal