Divine Madness (Madness album)
Encyclopedia
Divine Madness is the 1992 greatest hits
album from the British
ska
/pop
band Madness
. It presents the group's single A-sides in chronological order, though sometimes in their LP rather than single versions.
The album peaked at number 1 in the UK charts, and it eventually led to a Madness reunion and their first concert in six years (which was recorded for their Madstock!
album).
Divine Madness was also released as a video and eventually DVD with all Madness music videos, including "Bed & Breakfast Man", "Sweetest Girl" and "I Pronounce You", the latter performed by spin-off group The Madness. The group's Japanese TV adverts for Honda City
cars were also included. The album was re-packaged in 1998 as The Heavy Heavy Hits with the addition of "The Sweetest Girl
" (placed in its correct chronological position after "Uncle Sam") and re-issued under its original title in 2000, with the further singles "Lovestruck" and "Johnny the Horse".
Greatest hits
A greatest hits album is a music compilation album of successful, previously released songs by a particular artist or band...
album from the British
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
ska
Ska
Ska |Jamaican]] ) is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues...
/pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
band Madness
Madness (band)
In 1979, the band recorded the Lee Thompson composition "The Prince". The song, like the band's name, paid homage to their idol, Prince Buster. The song was released through 2 Tone Records, the label of The Specials founder Jerry Dammers. The song was a surprise hit, peaking in the UK music charts...
. It presents the group's single A-sides in chronological order, though sometimes in their LP rather than single versions.
The album peaked at number 1 in the UK charts, and it eventually led to a Madness reunion and their first concert in six years (which was recorded for their Madstock!
Madstock!
- Personnel :* Suggs – lead vocals* Mike Barson – keyboards* Lee Thompson – saxophone, backing vocals* Chris Foreman – guitar* Mark Bedford – bass* Daniel Woodgate – drums* Chas Smash – backing vocals, trumpet...
album).
Divine Madness was also released as a video and eventually DVD with all Madness music videos, including "Bed & Breakfast Man", "Sweetest Girl" and "I Pronounce You", the latter performed by spin-off group The Madness. The group's Japanese TV adverts for Honda City
Honda City
The Honda City is a subcompact car manufactured by the Japanese manufacturer Honda since 1981. Originally made for the Japanese, European and Australasian markets, the City was retired without replacement in 1994...
cars were also included. The album was re-packaged in 1998 as The Heavy Heavy Hits with the addition of "The Sweetest Girl
The Sweetest Girl
"The “Sweetest Girl”" is a song by British band Scritti Politti, released in 1981 as a single. The single peaked at #64 in the UK Singles Chart...
" (placed in its correct chronological position after "Uncle Sam") and re-issued under its original title in 2000, with the further singles "Lovestruck" and "Johnny the Horse".
Track listing
- "The PrinceThe Prince (song)"The Prince" is a song by British ska/pop band Madness. It was written by Lee Thompson, and was the band's first single. On 10 August 1979 the single was released through 2 Tone Records and peaked at number 16 in the UK singles chart, spending a total of 11 weeks in the charts."The Prince" is a...
" - 2:29 - "One Step BeyondOne Step Beyond (song)12" vinyl-Chart performance:-Song appearances:* It is used in the episode "I'm with the Band" of the 2000-2001 show Freaks and Geeks when one of the characters, Sam Weir, streaks around the school while trying to avoid showering after PE....
" - 2:20 - "My GirlMy Girl (Madness song)"My Girl" is a song by British ska/pop group Madness from their debut album, One Step Beyond.... It was written by Mike Barson. The song was released as a single on 21 December 1979 and spent 10 weeks on the UK Singles Chart peaking at number 3....
" - 2:44 - "Night Boat to CairoNight Boat to Cairo"Night Boat to Cairo" is a song by British ska/pop band Madness from their debut 1979 album One Step Beyond.... It was written by Mike Barson and Suggs , and was also included on the Work Rest and Play EP, which peaked at #6 in the UK music charts...
" - 3:30 - "Baggy TrousersBaggy Trousers"Baggy Trousers" is a song by English ska/pop band Madness from their 1980 album Absolutely. It was written by lead singer Suggs and guitarist Chris Foreman, and reminisces on school days....
" - 2:46 - "EmbarrassmentEmbarrassment (song)"Embarrassment" is a song recorded by ska/pop band Madness, predominantly written by Lee Thompson, but partially credited to Mike Barson. The band first began performing the song at live shows in April 1980, and it was featured on their second studio album, Absolutely.The song was released as a...
" - 3:10 - "The Return of the Los Palmas 7The Return of the Los Palmas 7"The Return of the Los Palmas 7" is a song by British ska/pop band Madness, written by Mike Barson, Mark Bedford and Daniel Woodgate. The song was Woodgate's first credit as a songwriter, and was released as the band's 7th single on . The single reached number 7 in the UK, and remained in the...
" - 2:33 - "Grey DayGrey Day"Grey Day" is a pop song written by Mike Barson and recorded by British pop/ska band Madness. The song was the first single released from the band's third studio album 7...
" - 3:39 - "Shut UpShut Up (Madness song)"Shut Up" is a pop song written by Suggs and Chris Foreman. It was recorded by British pop/ska band Madness, and was featured on the band's third album 7. It was released as a single on September 11, 1981, spending 10 weeks in the UK Singles Chart...
" - 2:51 - "It Must Be Love" - 3:17
- "Cardiac ArrestCardiac Arrest (song)"Cardiac Arrest" is a song by British band Madness from their third album 7 and other compilation album called Complete Madness . It spent 10 weeks in UK charts peaking at number 14....
" - 2:56 - "House of FunHouse of Fun"House of Fun" is a song by British ska/pop group Madness, credited to Mike Barson and Lee Thompson. It was released as a one-off single on April 30, 1982, and reached #1 in the UK charts, spending 9 weeks in the charts. The song was re-released in 1992, reaching #40...
" - 2:48 - "Driving in My CarDriving in My Car"Driving in My Car" is a single by Madness. It was released on 24 July 1982, and spent eight weeks on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number four...
" - 3:17 - "Our HouseOur House (Madness song)"Our House" is a single by English ska/pop band Madness, from their UK album The Rise & Fall and their US compilation Madness.-About:...
" - 3:22 - "Tomorrow's Just Another Day" - 3:10
- "Wings of a Dove" - 3:01
- "The Sun and the RainThe Sun and the Rain"The Sun and the Rain" is a single by Madness. It was released in 1983 as a stand-alone single and in 1984 it was included on the American version of their album Keep Moving...
" - 3:30 - "Michael CaineMichael Caine (song)"Michael Caine" is a song by British band Madness from their 1984 album Keep Moving, and was released as a single in the same year. "Michael Caine", written by the unique pairing of Carl Smyth and Daniel Woodgate, featured Smyth on lead vocals, which was unlike most Madness songs, which were sung...
" - 3:38 - "One Better DayOne Better Day"One Better Day" is a song by British band Madness from their 1984 album Keep Moving. The song was written by Graham McPherson and Mark Bedford. The song was released as a single in the UK, and spent 7 weeks in British charts peaking at number 18....
" - 4:05 - "Yesterday's MenYesterday's Men"Yesterday's Men" is a single by British band Madness from their 1985 album Mad Not Mad. The song spent 7 weeks in British charts peaking at number 18...
" - 4:10 - "Uncle SamUncle Sam (song)"Uncle Sam" is a single by British band Madness from their 1985 album Mad Not Mad.The single spent 11 weeks in British charts peaking at number 21...
" - 3:06 - "(Waiting for the) Ghost Train(Waiting For) The Ghost Train" The Ghost-Train" is a one-off single by Madness. Released in 1986 shortly after the band announced it was to split, it was their last recording of original material until they officially reformed in 1992...
" - 3:44