Written by: Lee Thompson
Lead Vocal: Suggs
Guitar: Chris Foreman
Keyboards: Mike Barson
Saxophone: Lee Thompson
Bass: Mark Bedford
Drums: Dan Woodgate
Foreign titles: El Principe
Complete Madness, 1982
Lee says…
Being as time is at the moment on my side and the sun is beaming down on this cold Monday, midday outside Alley Palley, echoes of “Wandering Star”, “Young, Gifted and Black”, Saturday morning skaters in stomping rhythm to “Liquidator” and many other tunes…
Anyway! near on one decade later I found myself writing a ‘right gem’, which was to be released in Sept. ’79 on 2 Tone (an old pal’s label). A tribute to yours and mine, ruler of Blue Beat, F.A.B. & Dice recordings, for those of you who have just walked in I’m talking about P.B. Mr. Rude Man himself! “The Prince” was wrote over a cup of tea and dunkies late one evening ’round Carl’s.
I’ll get to the point, I’ve waffled on for the past 150 or so words. The moment I heard there was a Mod revival in the pipe line I splashed out on some 45’s and a bike, ripped a few chords & Lyrics, jumped on the back of the train, and have hung on ever since.
Version 1
The original recording first appeared on ‘The Prince’ 7″ (2 Tone)
Recorded at Pathway Studios, Newington Green, London
Producer: Clive Langer
Length: 2:30
Lyrics:
Buster he sold the heat
With a Rocksteady beat
An earthquake is erupting
But not in Orange Street
A ghost dance is preparing
You got to help us with your feet
If you’re not in the mood to dance
Step back, grab yourself a seat
This may not be uptown Jamaica
But we promise you a treat
Buster bowl me over with your bogus dance
Shuffle me off my feet
Even though I’ll keep on running
I’ll never get to Orange Street
So I say there’s not much left to say
For the man who set the beat
So I leave it up to you out there
To get him back on his feet
solo – keyboards
Buster bowl me over with your bogus dance
Shuffle me off my feet
Even though I’ll keep on running
I’ll never get to Orange Street
solo – keyboards / saxophone
Bring back the…
Who is the…
We want the…
Bring back The Prince
Also appears on:
Version 2
The song was re-recorded for the ‘One Step Beyond…’ LP (Stiff)
Recorded at Eden Studios, Chiswick & T.W. Studios, Fulham
Producer: Clive Langer / Alan Winstanley
Length: 3:20
Lyrics:
Buster he sold the heat
With a Rocksteady beat
An earthquake is erupting
But not in Orange Street
A ghost dance is preparing
You got to help us with your feet
If you’re not in the mood to dance
Step back, grab yourself a seat
This may not be uptown Jamaica
But we promise you a treat
Buster bowl me over with your bogus dance
Shuffle me off my feet
Even if I kept on running
I’d never get to Orange Street
So I say there’s not much left to say
For the man who set the beat
So I leave it up to you out there
To get him back on his feet
solo – keyboards
Buster bowl me over with your bogus dance
Shuffle me off my feet
Even if I kept on running
I’d never get to Orange Street
solo – keyboards / saxophone
Bring back the…
Who is the…
We want the…
instrumental / saxophone solo
Also appears on:
Live recordings (official):
‘MISTAKES’ 2LP – The Paradise Ballroom, Boston, Massachusetts, USA 24 Feb 1980
‘IN CONCERT – 247’ – Hammersmith Odeon, London 23 Dec 1980
Available on ‘ABSOLUTELY’ Salvo 2CD (2010)
‘The Peel Sessions’ – Recorded 14 Aug 1979
‘MADSTOCK!’ – Finsbury Park, London 8 Aug 1992
‘MADSTOCK 2’ – Finsbury Park, London 6 Aug 1994
‘UNIVERSAL MADNESS’ – Universal Amphitheatre, Los Angeles, USA 26 Apr 1998
‘AT MADSTOCK’ – Finsbury Park, London 7 Jun 1998
‘THE MAIL ON SUNDAY’ – Christmas 03 Tour, venue unknown, Dec 2003
‘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
‘IN CONCERT’ – BBC Radio Theatre, London 11 Oct 2012
‘GLASTONBURY’ – Glastonbury Festival, Somerset 25 Jun 2016
‘HYDE PARK’ – Hyde Park, London 11 Sep 2016
‘JO WILEY – IN SESSION’ – Maida Vale, London, 25 Jan 2017
‘THE GET UP!’ – London Palladium – Audition (ft. Suggs)
Various Artist Compilations
