Reviews (2)

The Selecter... be sleective...
Don't get me wrong, The Selector rocks but this cd can get REALLY reduntant. Most of the songs sound the same. But it's a good cd to pick up if you want to get to know what they are like. So check them out.

A good two-tone cd.
If you haven't heard too much from The Selecter then check out this cd. It's a pretty good cd with a lot of great tracks from their different albums. ... Read more

Album Description

UK reissue of the 1981 album from the much loved new wave/ska act, digitally remastered with special packaging.Includes CD-ROM videos for 'Grey Day', 'Shut Up', 'It Must Be Love' and 'Cardiac Arrest'. 2000 release. Standard jewel case. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

SHUT UP!
This album showcases Madness's unique blend of styles.More often than not people tend to chase the hits of most bands while ignoring the obsure gems.Songs like Tommorrows dream show a lugubrious side to a band often labeled as "Nutty" and "Wacky."
Other non hit wonders include Mrs Huchinson(a tale of someone on the brink of death with a twist of cockney slang and black humour)and Benny Bullfrog with real live burps.One step Beyond Complete, and absolutely are their finest albums,This follows in second place.

hmmm...
This is not one of Madness's better albums. They were just starting to chart the waters between ska and pop, and it was kind of rough sailing. The singles are okay, but the album as a whole is pretty much forgettable.

Puts you in a good mood
An energetic album. This group made it pretty big in the UK during the early 80s, but their music may not have travelled widely. Their music very much reflects the optimistic mood of the early 80s when the UK was coming out of a serious recession. Questions some of the norms of society, but never gets heavy. A great series of live concerts. ... Read more

Album Details

Japanese Exclusive Compilation. Features Exclusive Cover Art. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A marvel!
Among the true innovators of popular music and one of the first artists to fuse ska and fatness while embracing the questions that drive us all, and sticking your tongue out as well.

Simply a masterpeice
Just because the lead singer Buster Bloodvessel is a fat skinhead with a big tongue that he sticks out a lot and that they do songs about being fat and liking ska and rnb dont mean theyre not as intellectual as Radiohead or Sonic Youth.The Manners paint their visions of cats,monsters,woolly textures etc from a far richer palette.The brass section on this peice is also superb.If John Coltrane was a skinhead into ska he would have begged to join Bad Manners.Buster Bloodvessel is the ska Biggy Smalls except unlike that fat naughty legend this one still has blood pumping through him.Mind you he has a similiar sense of fun but not quite as many tunes about crack.Ska n B is Van Goff for the ear. ... Read more

Album Description

2002 release for the important & influential British ska revivalist's, culled from the albums, The Specials' (1979), 'More Specials' (1980) & In The Studio (1984). 21 tracks. 2 Tone Records. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Fuelled by the ska of Prince Buster ("Madness"), and inspired by the insanity of British music, right from the start Madness were a quintessentially English band. Two-tone more by association than fact, they came to the fore at the same time as the Specials, with a ska beat, a pop heart, and a lunatic smile (who else would update "Swan Lake" in such an unorthodox way?). While the title track lives on beyond them, there were plenty of other gems here, including "Night Boat to Cairo" and "My Girl." The Nutty Sound was infectious as measles, but a lot more fun. Chris Nickson ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Life changing
I bought this album (maybe my Dad paid for it as I was only 9!!!) soon after its release. I saw them do One Step Beyond on Top Of The Pops and immediately began contemplating starting my serious music collection. The only other records I had at the time were Gary Glitter (wahha hahahahah hahahaha hahahahahahaha) and Elvis Costello's Oliver's Army 7" single.

This band really started it off for me as far as following bands was concerned. I later graduated to The Police then U2 and REM and havent really followed a band so closely since.

This band made me get a crew cut!!!

The sad thing is, the only album I have ever bought on CD is Absolutely which was my all time favourite. The vinyls are gathering dust somewhere. I saw them play at the Manchester Apollo sometime in the early 80's and they were amazing.

Classic memories...

This is THE Madness to get!
Madness did it best the first time around. Their first album has, so far, outdone any "best of" collection. "One Step Beyond," simply put, will keep the lamest party awake and hopping. Starting with the instrumental title tune, even the slowest paced tunes (My Girl, Razor Blade Alley), is a Ska-Based jolt of pep.

What I enjoy about Madness above most other Ska bands is that their early music is sheer fun spirited song & dance, written in an era where it was becoming much cooler to throw a lot of social commentary into the lyrics. My favorite examples are a little 60s pop-culture with "Tarzan's Nuts" (one of the TV Tarzan theme songs), "Rockin' In A Flat" (if you have trouble waking up in the morning, spin this tune first thing after you creak out of bed); and "Night Boat To Cairo."

"One Step Beyond" is worth the extra money spent over their various compilations. A very good second place is their second album "Absolutely," but their debut CD rocks above them all!

It doesn't get any better than this
This is a timeless album ! There are several 'Greatest Hits' CDs available from 'Madness' but this, their debut CD, is the real deal. There is not a dull moment, from the very first note of the title track to the final (goofy) track 'Chipmunks are go'. Their first single 'One Step Beyond' hit the music scene like a rocket back in 1979 and is still their concert opener. 'My Girl' shows the true musical skills of the band and is followed by 'Night Boat to Cairo', which is a fantastic, fun little SKA piece. But things are still getting better: 'Believe me' and 'Land of Hope and Glory' build up to my all time favorite Madness (and even SKA) song 'The Prince'. And 'Madness' are able to keep this high level all the way to the end of the album. This is a must have CD - whether you are a SKA fan or you just enjoy great music played by a truly great band.

Stylish, Nutty, Ska Greatness
This album is one of my five favorites since I first bought it in 1982. These guys can really play! (Imagine real musicians with real instruments in the 80'S)Every song is great in its own way--some for pure energy, others for off-the-wall lyrics. The album is all about having a good time, burning some energy, and again: TRUE MUSICIANSHIP. The clearly British and stylish vocals don't hurt it a bit either. This is one of the best-ever ska albums along with "I Just Can't Stop It" by the English Beat.

Absolutely nutty!
If you dig the second wave of ska and don't have this, or haven't even of heard of it, then it's time to introduce yourself to a milestone of the forementioned era! It has the classic pieces : One Step Beyond, Night Boat To Cairo...and one truely "classical piece" : Swan-Lake which is a great rendition of Tchaikowski's master piece. This is the record which shows the nutty-boys being more about ska than they get credited for. Some of the later records still rule, but the're a bit more about pop and a bit less about ska. This is THE article! ... Read more

Album Description

Previously unreleased live versions for 22 of their finest ska tracks, including 'Lip Up Fatty', 'My Girl Lollipop' and'Fatty Fatty'. 1997 Receiver release. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

believe the baldheads
If you've ever seen Bad Manners live this captures the moment.The raw energy of a buster blood vessel show in a cd.The only thing missing is the sweat, the hangover, and the buckets of water that buster throws over the audience to cool us down.I often listen to this cd to recapture those moments.Worth every penny. ... Read more