Complete Madness
Complete Madness is a greatest hits compilation album by the British ska and pop band Madness, featuring 16 of their most popular singles from their first three studio albums, released on 23 April 1982 by Stiff Records.[1] The album includes tracks such as "Embarrassment", "Shut Up", "My Girl", "Baggy Trousers", "It Must Be Love", "The Prince", "Night Boat to Cairo", "House of Fun", and "One Step Beyond", capturing the band's signature energetic blend of ska, pop, and music hall influences.[1] It marked Madness' first compilation release and became their first number-one album on the UK charts, where it spent three weeks at the top and a total of 106 weeks in the Top 100.[2] Critically and commercially successful, Complete Madness solidified Madness' status as one of the UK's leading acts of the early 1980s, with the album's enduring popularity reflected in its high user ratings and multiple reissues over the decades.[1]Background and Production
Development and Compilation
Madness formed in 1976 in Camden, London, England, emerging as key figures in the late 1970s UK ska revival alongside bands like the Specials and the Selecter.[3] Drawing inspiration from Jamaican ska and American R&B, the group—originally known as Morris and the Minors—quickly gained traction through energetic live performances and a distinctive blend of pop hooks and nutty humor.[3] Their debut album, One Step Beyond (1979), captured this raw energy and propelled them to national fame, establishing them as leaders in the 2 Tone movement's ska resurgence.[3] Following the success of Absolutely (1980) and 7 (1981), both of which expanded their sound into more sophisticated pop territory while maintaining their ska roots, Madness had amassed a series of hit singles that dominated the UK charts.[4] By early 1982, amid their escalating popularity, the band and label Stiff Records opted to compile a greatest hits collection to consolidate these achievements and introduce their catalog to broader audiences.[4] This decision aligned with the band's rapid output of three studio albums in under three years, making a retrospective timely to highlight their commercial momentum from tracks like "One Step Beyond" and "Night Boat to Cairo."[3] The compilation process for Complete Madness involved selecting 16 tracks primarily from the band's first three albums, with a focus on their most successful singles to emphasize commercial appeal.[5] Key inclusions encompassed UK top 10 hits such as "The Prince" from One Step Beyond, "My Girl" from Absolutely, and "Baggy Trousers" from 7, alongside stand-alone singles that defined their early catalog.[5] To ensure a cohesive flow, the selection incorporated a few non-single album tracks, like "Bed and Breakfast Man" from Absolutely, providing balance without diluting the hits-driven structure.[5] Deeper cuts from albums like Absolutely were excluded to prioritize accessibility and capitalize on the band's proven singles success.[4] Band members contributed to the curation, though primary decisions rested with the group and Stiff Records' production team.[4]Recording and Personnel
The compilation Complete Madness features tracks primarily produced by Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley, who handled production for most selections drawn from the band's early singles and albums between 1979 and 1982.[1] Specific credits include Langer and Winstanley on tracks such as "Embarrassment," "Shut Up," "My Girl," "Baggy Trousers," "Night Boat to Cairo," "House of Fun," "Grey Day," "The Return of the Los Palmas 7," "Bed and Breakfast Man," "Cardiac Arrest," and "Driving in My Car," including "It Must Be Love."[6] The core personnel across the tracks consist of Madness' standard lineup: Graham McPherson (lead vocals), Chris Foreman (guitar, including slide guitar on select tracks), Mike Barson (keyboards, piano, organ, vibraphone, marimba, harmonica, and tubular bells where applicable), Mark Bedford (bass), Lee Thompson (saxophone and occasional vocals on most tracks), Daniel Woodgate (drums and percussion), and Cathal Smyth (trumpet and backing vocals).[6] Variations occur per original recording; for instance, Smyth provides backing vocals on "It Must Be Love," and Barson's multi-instrumental contributions appear prominently on tracks like "One Step Beyond" and "Night Boat to Cairo."[7] As a compilation, the album draws from original sessions recorded at various London studios, including Eden Studios, where early material like the debut album One Step Beyond (1979) was captured in a rapid three-week process of recording and overdubs.[8] Most tracks utilize the original 7-inch single mixes, with minor edits such as shortened fade-outs and removal of introductory elements, though "House of Fun" features a distinct version; no extensive remixing or new overdubs were added specifically for this release.[6]Musical Content
Composition and Style
Complete Madness exemplifies the band's signature fusion of ska and pop, deeply rooted in the 2 Tone movement that emerged from their Camden Town origins in London. This blend is characterized by upbeat rhythms, lively horn sections, and piano-driven melodies that infuse the tracks with an infectious energy, distinguishing Madness from their punk and new wave contemporaries. The album's compilation nature showcases this style across their early hits, highlighting the group's ability to merge Jamaican ska influences with British pop sensibilities.[3][4] Key stylistic traits permeate the collection, including fast tempos—such as the 155 BPM drive of "One Step Beyond"—call-and-response vocals that encourage audience participation, and humorous brass arrangements evident in tracks like "Embarrassment," where the horns add a playful, theatrical flair. These elements create a sense of joyful chaos, with the brass often punctuating verses and choruses to heighten the comedic tone of the music. The rhythmic interplay between offbeat guitar skanks and steady percussion further reinforces the ska foundation while allowing pop accessibility.[9][10][4] The album traces an evolution in Madness' sound, progressing from the raw, energetic ska of their 1979 debut album—exemplified by the instrumental "One Step Beyond"—to more polished pop arrangements in later inclusions from 1980 and 1981. Instrumentation plays a crucial role in this development, with prominent saxophone and trumpet lines providing melodic hooks, complemented by the driving pulse of double bass that grounds the upbeat ensembles. This maturation reflects the band's refinement of their "nutty sound," blending traditional ska instrumentation with sophisticated production to broaden their appeal.[4][3]Track Listing and Singles
Complete Madness features 16 tracks drawn primarily from Madness's first three studio albums—One Step Beyond... (1979), Absolutely (1980), and 7 (1981)—along with non-album singles and B-sides, using mostly original 7-inch single mixes for authenticity. The compilation emphasizes the band's hit singles from 1979 to 1982, capturing their ska and pop evolution, while including select album tracks as fan favorites that complement the singles. Below is the track listing for the original UK vinyl release, with durations and original sources noted.| No. | Title | Duration | Original source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Embarrassment" | 2:59 | Absolutely (1980) [1] |
| 2 | "Shut Up" | 2:48 | Non-album single (1981) [6] |
| 3 | "My Girl" | 2:38 | One Step Beyond... (1979, bonus track on reissues) [1] |
| 4 | "Baggy Trousers" | 2:26 | Absolutely (1980) [1] |
| 5 | "It Must Be Love" | 3:19 | 7 (1981) [1] |
| 6 | "The Prince" | 2:27 | One Step Beyond... (1979) [1] |
| 7 | "Bed and Breakfast Man" | 2:29 | Absolutely (1980) [1] |
| 8 | "Night Boat to Cairo" | 3:13 | Absolutely (1980) [1] |
| 9 | "House of Fun" | 2:47 | Non-album single (1982) [6] |
| 10 | "One Step Beyond..." | 2:17 | One Step Beyond... (1979) [1] |
| 11 | "Cardiac Arrest" | 2:52 | 7 (1981) [1] |
| 12 | "Grey Day" | 3:30 | 7 (1981) [1] |
| 13 | "Take It or Leave It" | 3:17 | Absolutely (1980) [1] |
| 14 | "In the City" | 2:55 | B-side to "Cardiac Arrest" (1982) [1] |
| 15 | "Madness" | 2:35 | B-side to "The Prince" (1979) [1] |
| 16 | "The Return of the Los Palmas 7" | 2:29 | Absolutely (1980) [1] |