They were affectionately known as The Nutty Boys, but some of the songs written and recorded by Madness are memorable for other reasons.The sleeve notes on the back of Complete Madness, a greatest hits LP from 1984, say it perfectly:-
Not written over cups of tea and dunkies, but in the sleepless hours of a drunken morning after hearing of my sister's pregnancy - by post, by phone, by words of mouth from a few relatives in all 8 corners of the world! I thought I'd write a song on the reactions I got from some folk towards young girls having half caste babies.
Those were penned by Lee Thompson, the saxophonist in Madness and perceived by many up to this point of being the least serious member of the band.
I think I might have featured this song and tale sometime in the past on TVV, but I make no apologies for doing so again. It is a great lyric matched by an equally great tune. And it sold by the barrow load, reaching #4 in the UK singles chart.
mp3 : Madness - Embarrassment
Also want to add that a few months back I eventually got myself a copy of The Liberty Of Norton Folgate, the LP released by Madness in 2009. It is every bit as good as many bloggers and critics say.....
mp3 : Madness - Forever Young
Dont worry, this time next year I'll be giving plugs to some album or other from 2010 that I've yet to pick up on......like the Paul Smith one I mentioned yeaterday!!!
3 comments:
Well timed JC: it's Happy Birthday Suggs, 50 today.
'Norton Folgate' was probably the LP I listened to most last year. It's got it all going on.
I don't really know some of the places written about, but were I a Londoner, I'd be 'aving it large!
I didn't know it was his 50th Davy. 'Forever Young' is an especially ideal song for today.
Before Paradise is lost and innocence gone.
Total coincidence....if I had know it was the great man's great birthday, I'd have led with 'Forever Young' and talked about Embarrasment as the supplementary track.
Thanks for the info davy.
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