[total-madness] madness v UB40

[Ian Taylor]

when are madness gonna take a leaf out of ub40'sbook and record some covers.After all ,arguablly their biggest hit was a cover 'it must be love'.          They are a better band than ub40 yet they have not caught up with the brummies in lookin after their fans.            Both bands have beeen around for the same time yet ub40 have grown old with their original fans and looked after them them with releasing  material over the years. Im sure a lot of their buyers are madness fans but due to the lack of loyalty from the nutty boys, the over 30's brigade are now firmly ub40 convergents.            I think madness could release far better covers than than labour of love 1 2 and 3 as well as more originals.              Madness have not just sold themselves short but more importantly the fans have been taken for a ride . One re-release after another for 14 years and some fans expect them to fly back into the charts with their last offerings.Dream on.             Madness have to realise their fans have grown old , like themselves, they dont go to woolies anymore to buy singles.          Madness have done what UB40 famously wrote about   ' dont let it pass you by '    frustrated 4 ever