Hey Now! As stated earlier, the establishment that is HMV Cork, has come up trumps once again in providing me with the 2 CDs for the latest release in the never-ending chapter of the greatest show on earth. In other words, the singles for �Johnny the Horse� have arrived and do not disappoint. The cover art is again that of the �Wonderful� motif that we already saw on �Lovestruck� and hats of to Mr. Bedford and all at Design 451! The first CD is that of a close up shot of the side of an old mans head. His firey red skin immediately strike you on this cover, sporting a red cap and blue pencil cocked in his ear, it again resembles that of the last release. Both CDs come in crystal packaging covers. The second CD cover is the one you may have already seen on promotional pictures around. Another old man, with hands folded behind his back and newspaper firm in blazer pocket. Again, these photos enhance the theme of �Ordinary Magic� that the band has been preaching of late. I mean who else could make the site of an old man, shop window or barber shop look cool? Anyway to the music I hear you cry! Johnny the Horse CD1 (VSCDX 1740) �Johnny the Horse� (3.25) Smyth Happily one will note on hearing this track, is that it is the one that nature intended (and not them upstairs in the PC department). �Johnny the Horse was Kicked to death,� begins this soon to be thumping anthem. Classic Madness that fits in well with any back catalogue. Nuff Said! �I was the one� (3.07) Barson God this is a very hard one to pigeon hole. I am trying to draw comparisons but none springs to mind, which may be a good thing. Again it emphasis Madness ability to be versatile in their arrangements (something the B-sides always were). It is Madness and Chris� guitar strumming strikes you the second of playing. The track is laid back, slick yet free-flowing in its melody. Very vague I know but you will have to hear it for yourself to agree. �Dreaming Man� (3.07) Smyth/Foreman Great to see the professor back on the writing credits here and the team that brought you the likes of �Our House� and more return with perhaps, vocally the most bizarre since �Fireball XL5�. Is it Lee or Chas? Will be debated for years to come by the Madness hardcore (I am determined to find this out right away!). Another track that is quite different to those we are accustomed to, yet classic Madness. Beefy piano, cracking sax breaks and those vocals, those vocals! Johnny the Horse CD2 (VSCDT 1740) �Johnny the Horse� (3.25) Smyth �Doo doodle eh do do Ditto Whoooh!� �You�re Wonderful�(remix) (3.41) The greatest Madness single NEVER released. Up there with hidden gems like �Victoria Gardens�, �Primrose Hill�, �Beat the Bride� and many more, I shall be wondering for years to come what they were thinking not only leaving this off the album, but not releasing this to scale the tops of the UK Top40. This is one of the best songs you will ever hear. One should note also that there is nothing very re-mixed about this track, which is great, just hardcore Madness. I was there when they first played it in 1996 and now it even sounds better. Catchy chorus, solid musicianship, the song-smith that is Smyth should be knighted for this ditty and the person who rejected it should be beheaded! �Johnny the Horse� Enhanced Video (3.25) Unlike the �Lovestruck� release, this enhanced footage does not follow �a day in the life or two of Madness� but is actually the video itself. A bonus for those unable to see the video on television, yet perhaps a let down to those yearning for more. The picture quality is superb again, even at full screen and bears well for the entire back catalogue of video to be included on November�s release of �The Lot�. Overall a pretty neat package all in all. Diversity is the main treat about this collection of tracks and all looks wonderful for Novemeber 1st. Another top 10? Maybe Another Madness Classic? Definitely! All the Best Vince! ===== "If it ain't Vince, it ain't worth a F*CK!" ICQ 46099201 NEVER SAY NO TO A MAD IDEA! __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Bid and sell for free at http://auctions.yahoo.com - ______________________________________________________________ Visit the Total Madness Mailing List website for: latest news, madmeet info, list charter, games, and more ... http://members.xoom.com/totalmadmail/ Contact the TMML Moderators at: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe, send an e-mail to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] and in the message body put: unsubscribe total-madness
