The Prince (song)
Encyclopedia
"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 tribute to Jamaican ska singer Prince Buster
who highly influenced Madness (the band took their name from one of his songs, "Madness", which they also covered on the b-side of "The Prince").
from September 6, 1979. This performance has since become associated with the single, and has featured on compilations featuring the band's music videos.
, Highbury
. The track was then remixed on 9 July of the same year, along with the single's B-Side, "Madness". The remix was in order to remove the hum from Thompson's saxophone solo. However, Mike Barson
showed displeasure at the mix of "Madness".
The song was rerecorded later that year for the One Step Beyond...
album. As well as having a distinctively clearer sound, the song had a slight change in lyrics and Mike Barson
later admitted in the 33 1/3 book One Step Beyond...
. Furthermore, the song was recorded at a John Peel
session, and the recording was preferred by Barson to the single version. The B-side, "Madness", was also re-recorded for the album in a more multi-layered arrangement.
Side two
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
ska/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 was written by Lee Thompson, and was the band's first single. On 10 August 1979 the single was released through 2 Tone Records
2 Tone Records
2 Tone Records was an English record label that mostly released ska and reggae-influenced music with a punk rock and pop music overtone.-History:...
and peaked at number 16 in the UK singles chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
, spending a total of 11 weeks in the charts.
"The Prince" is a tribute to Jamaican ska singer Prince Buster
Prince Buster
Cecil Bustamente Campbell, O.D. , better known as Prince Buster, and also known by his Muslim name Muhammed Yusef Ali, is a musician from Kingston, Jamaica. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in the history of ska and rocksteady music...
who highly influenced Madness (the band took their name from one of his songs, "Madness", which they also covered on the b-side of "The Prince").
Music video
As this was the band's first single, they were relatively unknown prior to the release. Due to this fact, no music video was filmed for the single. However, the band later bought the rights to a performance on Top of the PopsTop of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
from September 6, 1979. This performance has since become associated with the single, and has featured on compilations featuring the band's music videos.
Different recordings
The song was initially recorded on 16 June 1979 at the Pathway StudiosPathway Studios
Pathway Studios was a North London studio in Islington run by producer Mike Finesilver for many years. Among the well-known artists who made their early recordings at Pathway Studios are Madness, Elvis Costello, The Police, Squeeze, Haircut One Hundred and John Foxx...
, Highbury
Highbury
- Early Highbury :The area now known as Islington was part of the larger manor of Tolentone, which is mentioned in the Domesday Book. Tolentone was owned by Ranulf brother of Ilger and included all the areas north and east of Canonbury and Holloway Road. The manor house was situated by what is now...
. The track was then remixed on 9 July of the same year, along with the single's B-Side, "Madness". The remix was in order to remove the hum from Thompson's saxophone solo. However, Mike Barson
Mike Barson
Michael "Mike" Barson is a British musician, best known as a founding member and keyboardist of the second wave ska band, Madness.-Biography:...
showed displeasure at the mix of "Madness".
The song was rerecorded later that year for the One Step Beyond...
One Step Beyond...
One Step Beyond... is the 1979 debut album by the British ska group Madness. It was ranked 90th in a 2005 survey held by British television's Channel 4 to determine the 100 greatest albums of all time. The album peaked at number 2 and remained in the British record charts for over a year. One Step...
album. As well as having a distinctively clearer sound, the song had a slight change in lyrics and Mike Barson
Mike Barson
Michael "Mike" Barson is a British musician, best known as a founding member and keyboardist of the second wave ska band, Madness.-Biography:...
later admitted in the 33 1/3 book One Step Beyond...
One Step Beyond...
One Step Beyond... is the 1979 debut album by the British ska group Madness. It was ranked 90th in a 2005 survey held by British television's Channel 4 to determine the 100 greatest albums of all time. The album peaked at number 2 and remained in the British record charts for over a year. One Step...
. Furthermore, the song was recorded at a John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
session, and the recording was preferred by Barson to the single version. The B-side, "Madness", was also re-recorded for the album in a more multi-layered arrangement.
7" vinyl single
Side one- "The Prince" (Lee Jay ThompsonLee Jay ThompsonLee Jay Thompson , nicknamed Kix or El Thommo, is an English musician, best known as the saxophonist and songwriter of the second wave ska band, Madness....
) – 2:30
Side two
- "Madness" (Cecil CampbellPrince BusterCecil Bustamente Campbell, O.D. , better known as Prince Buster, and also known by his Muslim name Muhammed Yusef Ali, is a musician from Kingston, Jamaica. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in the history of ska and rocksteady music...
) – 2:32