Would you place Madness up there with the greats???

he thinks they are socialists

I can't decide if they willingly allowed themselves to be pigeon holed until it was too late or just couldn't get out of it despite their best efforts pandora ( I seem to remember Barso leaving at least in part over the issue first time round) but whilst they were clearly no Beatles or Stones they were one of the best bands of the 80's for me.

used to get me Barnet cut in the same shop as the lads in Muswell Hill so I will say yes.

Quite catchy, but their best song was a cover of the Labi Sifre hit,  It Must Be Love.

didn't have a clue that was a cover or written for them Kenny if that's true.

"Something inside so strong" by Labi my favourite song from the 80's.

probably my favourite song of all time actually

they are a fun band,done very well considering their limited talent.

seen them in cardiff last year,enjoyed the night.

i like them

saw them play after racing at sandown last year, thought they where excellent.

mate works as a stage hand in butlins in minehead. when they were doing shows there he was in charge of looking after them (or maybe it was just suggs), whatever they wanted do or have he did it\got it for them...  anyway after typing that out i cant remember any of the stories he told me about them

Yes it's true dontwin, from 1972

LABI SIFFRE - It Must Be Love (1972)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTeGwNHEEFk

"Something inside so strong" by Labi my favourite song from the 80's.

Excellent song, agreed.

They had their place I suppose but I never had the urge to go and see them live or buy any of their records.
Embarrassment was a good tune having said that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jig6HseykIw

A very good fun band were Madness. I remember when Madness covered It Must Be Love, I cringed at the time and thought they had murdered a quality song by a quality performer. Thanks for that link Kenny. Never seen Siffre singing that since 70s. Terrific.

cheers for the link Kenny. #suprised

I may be wrong but I think this was the B side of It Must Be Love.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKv8n8C5lc4

Got the 45 somewhere in the archives.

Theres a guy who writes songs and goes under the name of( BEAUTIFUL SOUTH)not sure if he was a member of madness.The story goes that when he writes a song he gets serious money for it.he had loads of top ten hits.So he gets the money and drinks every day and parties at night.He is well know in the music business.when he runs out of money he writes another song and sells it to the highest bidder.The new groups go crazy for his songs ,and then he goes back on the drink.Dont know his name.

Paul Heaton?

I don't think you will find Paul Heaton wrote any songs for Madness.He was the brains behind The Housemartins with Stan Cullimore (not the footballer...lol)The Beautiful South with Dave Rotheray and has had various solo projects.Has written a massive amount of songs and having seen both bands live several times actually has a good voice.Had a documented drink problem in the past, but is currently on the wagon (having previously fallen off a couple of times).Back to Madness and you gotta admit that One Step Beyond and Absolutely were definitely two of the best albums of the late 70's early 80's.

1 Beethoven
2 Wagner
3 Elgar
4 Madness
5 Mozart
...for me

I used to enjoy a good knees up at teenage parties to One Step Beyond when bladdered but to be up there with the greats they'd need to overtake a few hundred bands above them

There were a lot of ska type groups in the 80s, but for me Madness were by far the best. They didn't just write good catchy songs, they wrote a lot of them which is a great achievement.

I think they will definitely not fade away.

they were no Specials

Prefer the specials, but madness are a great band.

that's just bad manners talking about the specials
on a madness thread.

I don't think they are considered among the greats like Oasis, Stones and the Beatles because their music was slightly left of centre, even though they had many top 10 hits. I can name most of their singles, but would struggle to name one of their albums. I find this strange.

I don't think they were MOR enough to be put in the great category...most of their music appeals to just blokes.

most of there stuff was covers, over rated massively imo

As Hamsterdam says, not up there with Oasis, Phil Collins and One Direction but knocking on the door.

One Direction - you're having a laugh aren't you!!!!!!!!

They're TOTAL GARBAGE compared to MADNESS!!!

phil kin collins? wots he on that pixie bloke? good entainment for sure the boys,but great? nah!

Subtle stuff from Pixie imo - Oasis get put on a ridiculously high pedestal with The Beatles and Stones (17.30) so Pixie jokingly sticks them in with Phil Collins and One Direction.
Come on lads, keep up.

he had me going

if Oasis up there
then
Neil Innes is stratospheric
as for wrong direction

you always learn plenty when keeny mann posts.

I can't decide if I'm a Madness fan or not, but I would definitely place them up there with the greats.

Does that make sense?

I do like this -
Forever Young
.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=755KcDVPp5c

Beatles wannabes - Oasis???

Madness and the other 2 tone bands created more than a movement!

As a 13 year old, bands like Madness, Specials, Bad Manners, Beat, Selecter, Bodysnatchers, UB40 and many many more...not only changed our teenagers lives, they changed a nation's.

Madness have stood the test of time. 35 years on they still record new music and sell out arenas.

Are they up there with the all time greats? Not quite, but always a top night out.
All aboard!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSTHMxBttlU

Madness? Up there with the greats? Not really to be honest.....only amongst a certain section of Society.

nowhere near, poor mans Squeeze.

good post darts n booze

There's plenty I would put above Madness that have stood the test of time.....how long have you got?

I like to lurk on CC, but this thread has pulled me in.

Go for it Dewey. What era are you from? Bros/S Club 7? What band's changed your life?

Way back......60's 70's (Mint) progressing to 80's, 90's ....and on to present day....some good stuff too.  o.k.?  (No Punk though and head banging was never my scene).

Ever since I discovered this thread I've never stopped singing Madness songs!

"Good morning miss, can I help you son..."

Same here, Sheppy

I've decided I am a fan after all.

Good taste Maybe!

"Father wears his Sunday best..."

All time greats - Part 1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TLLcvWeiKw

Stop it Sheppy, I can't get them out of my head!

I'm going to look at Dewey's link. That might help.

Brilliant Dewey! I love that song.

It's helped put an end to " Baggy trousers... "

Makybe

Sorry for getting your name wrong and calling you Maybe!

dewey - not bad, but not in the same class as...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc3AovUZgvo

That's ok, Sheppy.

Let's see what's on your link then.

Noooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That was an amazing coincidence Makybe!

I know.

That was priceless

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCmUhYSr-e4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FOUqQt3Kg0

Aww, another classic, Dewey.

I'm off now, I going to watch the last part of Shopgirls: The True Story of Life Behind the Counter. It's been on my recorder box for ages.

I will bid you all goodnight

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEzmzpoaKek

It was Otis I was referring to, Dewey.

I'll leave you with this classic.

Band of Gold
.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIDeK7bVfUk

WOW!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmBA7e-G21Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzDVaKRApcg

Sheppy, you'll be dreaming about Madness

Very funny videos they made.

I really must go. Will catch up with this thread tomorrow.

I'm listening to the Del Shannon link

As decent as it was nothing can ever match, yet alone beat the master Chuck Berry for originality, craft & musicianship. Chuck oozed class and owns the stage.

Here he gives Keith Richards a lesson or two
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8ZpHkS74U0

"If it winds up on the film, that's the way Chuck Berry plays it"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCwkZrj2VT4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjCw3-YTffo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrVbawRPO7I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnDm3qr1Knk

How much more time do you have.......I can keep going.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdvITn5cAVc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieVzyyw0Tio

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KFYUJ63nk8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EaflX0MWRo

I thought hating on Oasis was a bit 2010? They are one of the true greats and will go down as such, Madness won't.

Makybe_Diva - yep ...excellent choice (Baggy Trousers - for goodness sake!)

^ "...I got the hippy hippy shakes."

Soul music is good in small doses. Likened to supermarket shopping and afternoon naps

Then there's the polar opposite - Punk. One of music's better creations.

Take SLF - Premier League Punk band from Belfast, yet many have never heard of them.

Jake and the band are still touring and making records.
Now in their "37th" year and released their 10th studio album a few months ago.

Dewey, put your earplugs in

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRYI_lWsaXY

Ham, Oasis are good - Noel and his birds are better.

35 years of Madness...One Step Beyond!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-uyWAe0NhQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvHsTQUA2SE&list=RDUvHsTQUA2SE#t=82

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fX5USg8_1gA

I like Oasis too.

I was concentrating on the tracks that have stood the test of time actually.

I knew someone once who thought Madness was the best thing since sliced bread....he was an absolute nutter - put me off a bit.

You can't beat a good old novelty song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZFO8pXuRTk

In answer to the OP 's question


No

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSD5iMm3K6Y.........here's evidence if that's what you want.

I agree with Howdi.

dewey, nobody's going to look at links if you don't say what they are.

I like surprises...................................

Anyway....beat that one Madness - doubt too many of you will be around to know.

Madness - much more to them than just upbeat fun time music.
Along with the other 2 tone bands, they sang about real life issues:

Don't forget your Edward's

Madness - One Better Day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Xwh1J6VQnI

Dewey, do you only listen to soul music?
I'll do my best to broaden your musical tastes

Then again there's the outstanding thread that first got me posting on CC.
Here it is...

"I am going to listen to every UK No.1 in the charts ever"
http://community.betfair.com/chit_chat/go/thread/view/94038/23528318/i-am-going-to-listen-to-every-uk-no1-in-the-charts-ever

No... music that has stood the test of time (a lot of is actually soul stuff).

This isn't soul  - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmcA9LIIXWw......deserves a mention though......I think so.....will it stand the test of time.....who knows?

I liked this but who on here has ever heard of this - Young Girl .. Gary Plunkett ....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hn0ZJHVH17I

ffs dewey it was a number 1, could it be you over-rate yourself on your musical knowledge? for what it was worth it was union gap featuring gary puckett(not a lot of people know that)

There's a lot of great songs on here, BUT they're from a lot of different groups etc.

I could stick with Madness songs all night long...

"Papers in the morning, bowler hat on head..."

I'd agree they are up there with the best simply because they have so many catchy 'tunes.' Very entertaining, too. Michael caine their best song imo...a very underrated band from that era who have lots of good uns were/are the english beat i e mirror in the bathroom etc.

also, the way they performed night boat on old grey whistle was one the great live 'turns on that prog.

suggs book "that close" is a very entertaining read

yes the beat another good band