Hey Now!
I always wondered if I would ever return home one
evening with a new Madness album in my hand again. I
bought the last studio release in 1985. A lot younger
yet even a kid like me could not help but foster a
sense of foreboding about the LP that was �Mad not
Mad�. I suppose the darkened cover (still my
favourite) echoed the tone, style and mood of the band
in the mid-80s, for many a band past their sell-by
date. I did enjoy the work and it is essential in the
Madness portfolio for the rest of time. As 1986
arrived the band bid farewell, hoping off the ghost
train for �the last time� (or so we thought). The
Seven-year itch (part 1) had taken its toll. Though
ridiculed by many, The Madness for me was indeed a new
departure and showed the bands will to change with the
time. However successful that proved to be, it didn�t
last and the rest as they say is history. With the
spin-off projects of �Voice of the Beehive�, �Crunch�
and the mixed bag of sorts that was Suggs, I eagerly
snapped up what was going like many more. However with
all that and the numerous reissues, repackaged
greatest hits, live albums and much more besides, deep
down I always felt it just wasn�t perfect. I mean
would I ever say thanks to the sales assistant, take
my purchase and flee homewards post haste? In other
words would we ever see all SEVEN members of Madness
once again bring happiness to our lives in an up to
date, right here and now recording? Well ladies and
Gentlemen, the Greatest Show on Earth has returned to
a resounding and rapturous reception and I hereby
present to the jury that of exhibit M: �Wonderful�.
The cover I am sure is familiar to all by now, that of
the band �going to the top� on an escalator in the
London Underground. Its great to see them all on the
cover together in �99 vintage. As expected by now,
Mark Bedford�s design skills come to the fore with the
presentation and artwork on the CD and Cassette. The
actual cover itself is open�out cover rich in colour
and photography. Divided in a chessboard like spread,
each band member gets their mug shot, Mr. B and Suggs
on the bus. Woody and Chris taken from Camden�s
stalls, Kix getting the �1 all round treatment� at the
barber shop, Bedders too in there and a very
passport-esque picture of Mr. Smash completes the set.
Again other depictions of �Ordinary Magic� are
present, the Italian Caf�, a broken door-lock and the
flipside of the cover is a spread of the seat covers
on the bus. What is quite striking and intentional are
the words that are written across the entire inner
sleeve. Taken from �Saturday night, Sunday Morning�,
the Mc Pherson penned lyrics:
�I KNEW YOU�D COME BACK WE ALWAYS DO. Like Thieves
returning to the scene of the crime. Did they tell you
everything has changed, just everything, oh everything
has changed JUST EVERYTHING.�
Very slick and well done indeed.
A full page then is dedicated to the various people
who made it all possible. Not only the musicians,
engineers, management and so on, but their families
(all individually named) and �those who not here on
this day and all Madness fans near and far�. It ends
with the words:
�The band would like to dedicate this album to Ian
Dury for his inspiration and happiness he has brought
us.�
The business on hand�the music.
Tracks
1 �Lovestruck� 3.50
(Thompson/ Barson)
What can one say about this that hasn�t already been
mentioned? Classic Madness that is well befriending of
the countless other greats from yesteryear. Simply
fantastic and one of their best ever singles. Nuff
said.
2 �Johnny the Horse� 3.20
(Smyth)
Mr. Smash�s tale of those less thought of in society,
the story of a fallen man that matches both lyrical
splendour and catchy melodies. Mark that down on the
list of top20 hits please sir!
3 �The Communicator� 3.20
(Smyth)
This track is so blatant in its homage to the ska
heroes of Buster, Decker and many more. It is vintage
Madness that would fit well into the �Heavy Heavy
Monster tour� or 2-Tone play-lists of 1979. For me it
has the best lyric of the entire album:
�Yesterday was history,
Tomorrow is a mystery,
Today is a gift,
That�s why we call it the Present.�
4 �4 am� 3.51
(Mc Pherson/Barson)
History revisited here as the 1995 gem (along with
�Green Eyes�, the best from �the Lone Ranger�) as the
song gets full seven treatment. It still remains
faithful to its original incarnation yet exceeds it in
strength as soon as Lee Thompson�s saxes begin to
pulsate through your veins in the instrumental
section. Truly orgasmic. Again, common throughout the
album is the sensual string section at work (well done
Gavin Wright!).
5 �The Wizard� 3.27
(Smyth)
You can almost see the beam on Smash�s face here in
the studio as they recorded this blinder. It really
has that thumping Madness beat and what really its
great is the brass section, led by one Terry Edwards.
I latched onto this one when first hearing the
�Maddley� back in July and it does not disappoint
folks.
6 �Drip Fed Fred� 4.30
Perhaps the wittiest, deepest and gives the most food
for thought track, this is undoubtedly Madness at what
it does best. Another catchy anthem, bizarre yet reeks
of something more sinister. The tale of corruption in
the underworld of criminal society. All character
depictions are almost tangible as you slip into the
tale of the bed-ridden Freddie. This is Thompson at
his satirical best and the appearance of one Ian Dury
only enhances the story being told here. Truly a
masterpiece.
7 �Going to the Top� 3.57
(Barson)
This song boldly reeks of �Madness 7�. It is 1981 all
over again. I can actually visualise it in the back
sleeve track listing along side �Promises Promises�,
�Sign of the Times� and the rest. It chirps away at
that frantic pace until a quite slowing down middle
eight, before the ever-present Barson keyboard cuts
through you like a rocket. The singing almost goes to
its own top as it seems to just get higher and higher,
almost taking you to the �stars up in the sky�.
8 �Elysium� 3.53
(Thompson/Woodgate)
What can I say to try and describe this masterpiece?
For those us of the later �Rise & Fall� and �Keep
Moving� ilk, we are given a real treat here. The
pairing of Woodgate and Thompson work brilliantly
here. The tale of �Elysium� is dark and almost
depressing and the melody compliments this well. I
think this piece will really settle as on of their all
time greats. I know this is early enthusiasm, the one
that goes with all things fresh, yet with proper
�digestion� (that of time), the song will go down as
one of their best.
9 �Saturday Night Sunday Morning� 4.15
(Mc Pherson)
The opening is almost as one catching the boys in
rehearsal. It is almost demo-like in its sound.
However this soon is not the case as it grows into a
melodic and enjoyable chorus. I think the words here
are Suggs at his best, as suggested by the inner
sleeve notes. The band �return to the scene of the
crime� and do not let you down in this simplistic and
bouncy affair.
10 �If I didn�t Care� 4.26
(Jack Lawrence)
The enigma that is Mr. Lawrence here comes up trumps
with this moody and dark ditty. Right now this is my
favourite piece on the album. Certainly not greatest
hits, Kareoke material, the song plods along, perhaps
not to everyone�s taste. This is the polar opposite to
�The Communicator� in its depiction of a man telling
of his love and care. I just think that Suggs voice
rules here and Woody�s drumming are sacred. Whoever
the man is, he deserves a pat on the back and fair
dues to the band for digging this one up.
11. �No Money� 3.14
(Thompson/D Woodgate/ N Woodgate)
The brothers Woodgate (Daniel and Nick) and Thompson
provide us with a potential third single in my
opinion. It is very radio friendly in its chorus and
verse. The lyrics too are quite simple (yet one close
to the heart) and again El Thommo�s sax pound through
out, making it futile for you to resist tapping you
feet or humming along to this one. Not very Grand
Finale admittedly for the last track, yet one for the
walkman on the bus to work!
Overall we can go on and on about this album. I
perhaps get boring by constantly flattering this
album. Main gripes for me are the lack of any Foreman
or Bedford penned tunes, but more sinfully the
exclusion of the title track itself, and greatest
Madness single NEVER released, �Youre Wonderful�. I
always felt that �the Rise & Fall� were the most
important 40 minutes of my life, yet perhaps that may
no longer be the case. There is just something very
�right� about this outing, something not all the
albums ever completely attained. All musicians are at
the top of their game and the friendship and spirit of
old is back and apparent more than ever. Perhaps it�s
the time away that has fueled this vibrancy and
energy, I don�t know. Whichever the case it helps. For
the aspiring offspring of Madness fan, anorak
collector or general lover of good music, Madness has
done the deed here both generously and honourably with
this seventh studio album. Will we get an eight? Who
knows? What�s in another 14 years I suppose? When all
is said and done, I am justified for sticking loyal
and my patience has been noted. Madness you are
WONDERFUL and we are all the better for it!
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!
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