So here we are at the Top Five! It's hard to believe that we've made our
through over a hundred songs together so far. The end is in sight now
though.
We start tonight with a faller...
5 (149) {25} <3> Baggy Trousers [4] [6]
No. 4 last out, but a drop of one place sees Baggy Trousers at No. 5 in the
Madchart this time around. Written by Suggs and Chris, this classic Madness
single reached No. 3 in the UK charts and spent an incredible 20 weeks on
the chart, the longest for any Madness single in a single chart run. It was
there so long that it shared 10 weeks of Embarrassment's 12 week run and the
first week of The Return of The Los Palmas 7's. This meant that on the week
of Jan 24th 1981, Madness had three singles on the UK chart for the only
time in their history. The video for this one was also a classic as it was
the first time we got to see Lee fly! Chris is on record as saying that
Baggy Trousers was written as an answer to Pink Floyd's Another Brick in the
Wall. The video was filmed at a school in Kentish Town.
4 (161) {21} <3> One Step Beyond [2] [1]
Another faller, and the other former No. 1. That means I can at last reveal
that we have a brand new No. 1 as both of the former chart toppers have been
out now. Madness' second UK single, and the first of 18 on Stiff Records was
written by Cecil Bustamonte Campbell, AKA Prince Buster. This was Madness'
first Top Ten single, reaching No. 7 in late 1979 and putting Madness firmly
on the map. 21 years on and this one still receives regular radio airtime
and is a must for Wedding receptions, Birthday Parties, etc.! When this song
opened the show at the original Madstock, the dancing of the 35,000 people
in the crowd caused the now famous Earthquake in Finsbury Park.
Incidentally, Prince Buster only wrote the tune. The intro was written by
Mr. Smash.
3 (161) {26} <3> Our House [3] [3]
Now how's that for consistency. For the third chart running, we find Our
House at No. 3. Written by Chas and Chris it was, of course, the only
Madness song to crack the Top Ten on both sides of the pond, reaching No. 5
in the UK in 1982 and the same position Stateside the following year. The
video once again features Lee prancing around in a frock. Well, I suppose
someone had to play 'Mum' in the video. Our House featured on the album The
Rise and Fall.
Which leaves us with just two songs........................
But we'll have to wait to find out! I'm sure you can guess which two songs
are left, but you'll have to wait until next time to find out what's No. 1.
Sorry, but I love keeping you in suspense!!
Goodnight.
Andrew.
-
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