Madness Information Service Online Newsletter Issue Number: 802 – Sunday 21st September to Saturday 27th September 2014
Here at the MIS, we’ve got a soft spot for the BBC’s re-runs of classic Top of The Pops episodes, and this coming Thursday (25th of September) BBC4 will be screening an episode that originally aired on the 6th September 1979.
What’s so special about this? Well, this is the first of numerous appearances over the years of Madness appearing on the show. On the this date back in 1979 the band performed The Prince. The programme airs at 19.30pm, and is then repeated at midnight.
The blurb for the show reds;
“Weekly pop chart programme presented by Peter Powell with performances by Randy Vanwarmer, Madness, Boney M, the Ruts, the Crusaders, ELO, Bill Lovelady, Roxy Music and Cliff Richard and dance sequences by Legs & Co.”
Bill Lovelady?? Who??? A randy van warmer? Cliff Richard! Boney M! ha, ha, oh dear. Ah ha! Roxy Music. That’s more like it!
What do Madness remember about that full show and the other acts backing in 1979?
Here’s Thommo…
“All too hectic & hazy. Cliff never turned up until the last minute & he would sometimes pre record to an empty studio. The beeb would have us there from 10am to 10pm. This is why we would go up the wall, caged for 12 hours.
P Powell was a decent friendly chap. I recall Legs & Co being trapped in a lift with me but that’s another story yet to be told.
The studio was tiny contrary to what came on the screen. Woody’s mum introduced herself to us as she worked there.
Best. Kix”
And Woody also casts his mind back for us to the day of that first Top of the Pops recording…
“For me it was being in the same studio as Stix Hooper from the Crusaders.
I remember telling Randy Crawford that he was a hero of mine. I had no idea who she was [Note: she was guest singing with Crusaders on new song Street Life], but I had all of the Crusaders albums.
I liked Larry Carlton’s guitar playing. She (Randy Crawford) was very nice, and agreed he was a great drummer.
The Rutz were really friendly too. Especially Malcolm the singer. I was gutted when he died.
Got to know Dave Ruffy over the years, and ironically Seggs produced the Dangermen Sessions.
Great to think we were all there 35 years ago.
Woody x”
So, tune in, turn back the time, and embrace the 35th anniversary of Madness. Don’t forget that the song’s album, One Step Beyond, featuring a stack of rarities, is due out early next month.
Jonathan Young, Rob Hazelby, Simon Roberts, Paul Williams
SHOWTIMES
See below for all forthcoming Madness and Madness related gigs and events. If there’s something we’ve missed off or you feel should be added then please let us know.
Madness
November 2014
November 21st – 24th 2014 – Minehead – Earlybird tickets can be ordered here: http://www.bigweekends.com/splash-pages/madness2014.aspx
December 2014
All for the M.A.D.H.E.A.D Tour
Thursday 4th, Capital FM Arena, Nottingham
Friday 5th, Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff
Saturday 6th, Brighton Centre, Brighton, Matinee
Saturday 6th, Brighton Centre, Brighton * SOLD OUT *
Monday 8th, Plymouth Pavillions, Plymouth
Tuesday 9th, Bournemouth International Centre, Bournemouth Thursday 11th, First Direct Arena, Leeds
Friday 12th, Newcastle Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle
Saturday 13th, LG Arena, The NEC, Birmingham
Monday 15th, Odyssey Arena, Belfast
Tuesday 16th, The O2 Dublin, Dublin
Thursday 18th, The SSE Hydro, Glasgow
Friday 19th, Phones 4u Arena, Manchester
Saturday 20th, The O2 Arena, London
Links to purchase tickets for the above tour can be found at: http://madness.seetickets.com/tour/madness/?pre=premad&src=madnesspre
For tickets also see links via: www.madness.co.uk
Cathal Smyth
October 2014
A Comfortable Man. October 8th and 9th. Wilton’s Music hall.
The Magic Brothers
November 1st. Blakes @ The Custard House – Birmingham
Magic Brother Friday Headline set:
November 14th. The Big One 3. Park Dean, Sandford Dorset.
The Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra
October 2014
October 2nd, The Jazz Café, Camden Town
More festival dates to follow.
Ska Orchestra web site: www.ltso.mis-online.net
The Silencerz (Featuring Lee Thompson)
November 2014
November 8th – Hertford Corn Exchange. 39 Fore St. Herts. SG14 1AL With support. The Skammers.
November 16th – Confirmed in the Sunday Lineup of bands at Specialized The Big One 3. In Dorset.
Lee will be doing a photo signing session too.
Near Jazz Experience
October
***New*** October 7th – Indo 133 Whitechapel Rd, London E1 1DT *Free*
NJE Residency continues with support.acts The Henry David Thorozine Experience + James Kyllo (DJ set)
***New*** October 8th – Paris, France @ University of Chicago, European branch. Onstage 7.30 *Free* http://centerinparis.uchicago.edu/
Deaf School
November
Thursday 20 – Borderline, London
Friday 21 – Trades Club, Hebden Bridge
Saturday 22 – Academy, Manchester
Sunday 23 – Floral Pavilion, New Brighton
BUY IT
If money’s currently burning a hole in your pocket then perhaps we can help with your dilemma.
Madness – One Step Beyond 35th Anniversary edition CD.
You can now order the new edition of One Step Beyond 35th Anniversary, from Salvo Sound & Vision:
This Anniversary edition has been digitally remastered from the original 1⁄4 inch tapes by Tim Turan, and comes with recently unearthed rehearsal recordings from 1979, including two songs that have never appeared anywhere before. “Lost my head” and “Sunshine Voice”. It’s also very interesting to see Absolutely album track “You Said” on the rehearsal tape and Grey Day B-side “Memories” as well as hearing versions of tracks that made the album some 5 months before the debut LP was recorded.
Hear previews of these tracks, help yourself to a free download and you can even re-name the album, creating pictures you can share with people. Visit the mini site to do all this.
http://www.madness.co.uk/one-step-beyond-35/
There is a DVD of videos and Top of the Pops/Old Grey Whistle Test appearances, that includes the Young Guns documentary, and a 24 page booklet that speaks to Clive, Alan and Chris about the album.
One Step Beyond 35th Merchandise and T-shirts.
You can celebrate the album’s return also with new T-shirts and a mug themed on one step beyond. At the store. There is an anniversary mug too.
The M.A.D.H.E.A.D Tour T-shirt – Get it now.
What does any self respecting Madhead wear? The only true fan clothing of choice right now is surely the brand new Madhead T-shirt. Available now at least five months ahead of the tour, this T-shirt is so NOW! You can look stylish in it in a range of sizes, you can promote this summer, the forthcoming tour and help your heroes and of course in this day and age by buying the bands official clothing you are putting your money into the future new album project pot etc of the band who exist these days on their own self produced record label.
Available here… Via See Tickets and Madness.co.uk
Cathal Smyth – A Comfortable Man – Limited Vinyl
Numbered 1 to 1000, this is a limited edition vinyl of “A Comfortable Man”, with a download code for the mp3 album. Available end of September from Cathal’s website. The album will also be available from Amazon and iTunes soon.
Nick Woodgate – Morning (Tracklisting revealed)
Pre-order Nick Woodgate’s solo album on iTunes from September 22nd.
Tracklisting: Morning / Magic Carpets in the Sky / Eloise / You Can Get It / I Can Hear The Music / Call Me… / Bus / Let’s Spend Lots of Money / On Her Majesty’s Secret Service / Summer Nights / The Magic Dawn / Show Me / Magic Brothers / Night
SPECIALIZED: Mad Not Cancer. 4CD covers album for Teenage Cancer Trust
Over 70 tracks. 4 CDs. Cover versions of Madness by not just Ska bands but lots of young up and coming acts of many genres including a few famous pop stars and Bedders on one track, too. All for Teenage Cancer.
http://www.specialized-project.co.uk/#!shop/c1atu (remove hyphen from URL)
Purple Reggae – Radio Riddler
Celebrating 30 years of Purple Rain, Radio Riddler present Purple Reggae – an all-star tribute to Prince’s most iconic work “Prince is the reason I started playing music. I grew up on this album. It’s the soundtrack to my life’ and this is a tribute to him from me.” Frank Benbini of Radio Riddler and Fun Lovin’ Criminals. Featuring Suggs on opening track, Let’s Go Crazy.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Purple-Reggae-Radio-Riddler/dp/B00LC4GU16
SIGN OF THE TIMES
The Rider – The Things You Didn’t Know – Carl Talks to Podcast About his Album and Solo Gigs
http://theriderpodcast.co.uk/podcasts/the-rider-things-you-didnt-know/
Featuring acapella versions of “Are The Children Happy”, and a verse of “Goodbye Planet Earth” before the album mix of Goodbye Planet Earth was played, and a chat with Cathal. The interview begins at minute 28 at the above link.
Carl mentions that his LP may be on sale at the gigs at Wilton’s on 8th and 9th of October.
Carl talks again about being in Rehab in 2005 and playing the first song of this album on a piano there being the starting point of getting over the heartbreak of his break up, and current business failings at the time. He also tells the story of an Arab in a lift calling him “A comfortable man”, two years later, which signposted his recovery being a success and that making the album title.
The album version of Goodbye Planet Earth is very close to the performance from Festival Number 6 with some wonderful doubled vocals from Cathal. There’s also some atmospheric female vocalising of “Ahh’s” & “goodbyes” added in the backing. Other additions are slightly more electronic drum beats.
TWEETS OF A DOVE / THAT FACEBOOK
Various posts from Facebook and Twitter that have caught our eye over the past week or so.
Chrissy Boy re-tweeted:
Gorgeous George @1gorgeousgeourge
“Back working on some new tunes with @CBoyForeman and the first thing he suggested was to ‘make it more Gary glitter’”
Bedders Tweeted about being at the Rock against Racism March and gig in April 1978 with the Clash.
http://www.ukrockfestivals.com/victoria-park-1978.html
Graham McPherson @suggsmcpherson
“New solo album. ‘This time it’s serious.’
I REMEMBER WAY BACK WHEN
This week, MIS co-editor Rob Hazelby, goes back in time to report on what was going on in the world of Madness 5 years, 10 and 15 years ago this week.
5 years ago…
Issue 542 – Sunday 20th September – Saturday 26th September 2009
Our intro for this week’s issue turned out to be a nice plug for the 30th Anniversary Madness Tribute Album which was now on sale on the Amazon web site. Not only that, but we urged you to check out the 9 minute long promo clip over on YouTube promoting the new release, which covered a brief tour of the packaging and booklet, as well as giving you the chance to hear a sampler of many, but not all, songs featured.
On to tour news, and when the Christmas tour was recently announced we admitted that we were surprised that there wasn’t a London date in the line-up. We also noticed that there was nothing in the tour on Friday 18th December. We were sure that if a London date was to get announced the date would be then.
Well, we were proved right, as this week the band revealed (via the email mailshot) that an O2 date had now been booked. Not only that, but tickets were now on sale.
Elsewhere in this issue we welcomed back Paul Rodgers who returned to the MIS with another roundup of Madness chart news, stats, facts and figures. News of the Total Madness album took up most of the article, but the appearance of Suggs and Wood on the BBC’s National Lottery show did also get a mention.
It was over to The Daily Mirror blog next as journalist Gavin Martin interviewed Suggs who discussed a number of the band’s most famous hits.
We brought this issue to a close with the reminder that those of you who had to have every Madness release in your collection, that the CD/DVD release of Total Madness went on sale tomorrow (21st September).
10 years ago…
Issue 280 – Sunday 19th Sept – Saturday 25th Sept 2004
With the end of Summer fast approaching, we were keeping our fingers crossed that the recent dribble of Madness news would soon pick up as we got ever closer to the Christmas partying season.
News in from MIS subscriber Simon Walshe revealed that a Madness calendar for 2005 was now available to buy or add to your Christmas wish-list.
Simon reported that he’d managed to find the calendar for sale on the HMV web site for £7.99, but commented that fellow Maddies have been able to find it on Amazon for less. Although the item was indeed for sale on Amazon with the slightly cooler price of £6.39, you have to remember that this was five years ago, and so unless you wanted to fork out on other items to bring your order over £19, you’d need to pay for postage and packing.
Moving further through the issue, and we had news in from subscriber Suggsylia, who reported that the one and only Suggs would be performing at Koko (formerly known as The Camden Palace), on Friday 24th of September.
We had no further information to go on with regards to what the performance would entail, so put a request out asking that if anyone did make it along, to knock up a review for us upon their return.
This week’s short issue of the MIS rounded off with a list detailing the recent additions to the Madness Messageboard, courtesy of MTR co-maintainer, Steve Bringe.
Probably the most bizarre of all recent updates related to Bedders’ lengthy tales uploaded to his personal page, this one starting at the “Greek island of Dollyplopodus.”
15 years ago…
Issue 18 – Sunday 19th September to Saturday 25th September 1999
Over the past few weeks the MIS mailbox had been the recipient of so many different release dates for both the Wonderful album and Johnny The Horse single, that we had to finally hold up our hands and announce the readership that we were completely confused, and had absolutely no idea when the discs were going to be landing on record store shelves.
Although we were still awaiting concrete information regarding the release dates we were finally able to announce that the Johnny The Horse single would be a two disc affair, featuring the following tracks:
Part 1 – 1. Johnny The Horse
2. You’re Wonderful (Remix)
3. Johnny The Horse (Enhanced Video).
Part 2 – 1. Johnny The Horse
2. I Was The One
3. Dreaming Man
Meanwhile, our Australian readers had something to get excited about when Madness fan Lisa Pearson announced that she’d managed to get her hands on the Australian release of Lovestruck, and that the single would be released nationwide on the 20th of September.
Last week we mentioned the possibility of a Wonderful promo CD or sampler, and this week we discovered that one did exist. The promo was a five-track affair, and in similar style packaging to the Lovestruck promo. The five tracks on the sampler were as follows:
Johnny the horse
Elysium
Saturday Night Sunday Morning
Drip Fed Fred
Wizard
Although many of us were now looking to the release of Johnny The Horse, we learned this week that a vinyl edition of Lovestruck had actually been produced. This release turned out to be a jukebox edition and had no picture sleeve. However, for die-hard collectors this would be yet another album they’d want to add to their already bursting collections.
Like many of us, a good proportion of the online Madness community were making the jump from 70’s standard VHS, and over to DVD, and quite obviously seeing a gap in the market ILCDVD were looking to release a bargain range at a price of £9.99. Why was this relevant to us? Well, one of their initial batches of releases was rumoured to include the original Madstock.
Exciting news landed in our mailbox this week, when it was announced that there would be a day of celebrations in conjunction with the Doc Martens’ company to celebrate the release of their new Madness boot.
At 2:00pm on Thursday 30th September the band would appear at the Covent Garden Doc Martens’ store where fans could buy the new boots and get those and the new DM book (which namechecked Madness) scrawled on by the band.
Even more exciting was that evening the band would be playing a special charity concert at London’s Electric Ballroom. Tickets would be just a mere £10.00, with £2.50 of each ticket going towards the Shelter charity.
On to the subject of Madness off-shoot, Crunch! now, and even though the band hadn’t gigged for a number of years the official web suite was nearly always being updated. Maintained by Lee Swandale, a close friend of Chris’, the site was bursting to the seams with a whole host of goodies.
For those unsure of just how `Crunch` fitted into the whole Madness picture, Lee had kindly set up a history which detailed how the band started way back in 1990, charted the release of their debut album, and gave you background information on each of the band members.
Also updated was the Memorabilia section where you could look back at a selection of the band’s flyers and stickers. The artwork was great and really looked like some of the posters used at the very early Madness gigs all those years ago.
Rob Hazelby
MIS FEATURE – NICK WOODGATE
Nick Woodgate – Like the First Morning – His New Album Reviewed
“You’ll be off at the break of dawn and return in the dead of the night…”
A toast to the first Nick Woodgate album. Well it does start with toast, and then a slice of Cake arrives soon after with a cup of tea.
“Morning”. Nick’s album begins with a short title track, very much foley sound FX’s of early morning noise, from the sizzle of bacon, to teeth brushing and a much of crispy toast, familiar routine sounds . This is because there is a loose concept or at least a bookending of “Morning” to “Night” on the album ending later as it does with a nightmarish haunting cackle of wind that’s almost supernatural and well past the midnight hour.
Sound Fx’s are a common motif in Nick’s structuring of songs. Within the 12 main full songs on the album there are cash registers, tyre screeches and engines, phone dials, and more, mostly starting or ending songs, even a couple of cartoon like sounds in the mix. These all frame the music within, Nick plays all the instruments on the album, except for drums because it turns out his brother is pretty good at that and is always willing to help out. Nick is playing guitars, also piano and more, as well as singing vocals. Let’s look at a few of the tracks that stand out most and the song-writing on this album, which is out tomorrow on i tunes.
1. Morning
2. Magic Carpets In The Sky
3. Eloise
4. You Can Get It
5. I Can Hear The Music
6. Call Me
7. Buss
8. Let’s Spend Lots of Money
9. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
10. The Magic Dawn
11. Show Me
12. Summer Nights
13. Magic Brothers
14. Night
Top Track: Eloise.
Singing. “Every night I’m there, I break my heart to please… Eloise…” No, no no, it’s not a cover of The Dammend!! 
Every track on this album is an original and written by Nick. Great girl’s name to write a song about though “Eloise”, traditional pop idea to write about a girl, and it aint broke so dont fix it, beyond a great choice of title, lies possibly the best track on the album, certainly in terms of it’s emotional punch and the pictured lyrical scene and story within, musically it’s one rapid thread presented. It’s in the same ball park of writing as “Leon”, and has matchable qualities to Magic Brothers powerful lead track of “You don’t have to hide your love away” in terms of it’s song-writing being about a strong emotional pull within it’s characters.
The line… “Walking round the London Streets, handing out their sad leaflets” … to write that and make it scan so well in performance, it sums up the genus melancholy of the song.
Beginning with a wailing electronic synth type noise, almost alarm like, the troubles begin. “She’ just ran away from home,” begins the story of family break up, the girl has left, it’s a masterpiece that puts you straight into the situation and drama. It grabs me. Like songs like “Embarrassment” it represent a whole family in turmoil and equally shares a search like quality like the song “Time for tea” has. The protagonists are painted, they question themselves on all the “Whys” and “Wheres” you can go through. Eloise. Has a great guitar break in it, as Nick’s compositions so often do. I can picture a montage video in my head for this one. It end’s abruptly with a plea then a tyre screech departing car sound. Oh there’s a sly Madness reference in it too. 
It’s probably Nick’s best vocal too I’ve ever heard on a record. Great backing vocals too. It’s very clever the way the song stops before i want it too. “No! Come back song.” Is the feeling, but that’s a great way to cut, a disappointing fade wouldn’t have worked on this one. The unresolved feeling of the topic is not yet a happy reunited ending. I wouldn’t put this top purely on the music, but with all the other elements working so well, it’s been the one I’ve looped the most on the album.
Top Track: Magic Dawn
I’m a sucker for a sitar. Cus I grew up with Revolver the Beatles album, and it’s that kind of Harrison sound that starts off this one. But then when it starts proper it’s a deeply 70’s funky rocky number, lead by trusting guitar grooves. This is the kind of sound the second Magic Brothers album tracks unveiled at the Dublin Castle earlier this year were heading towards, with tracks like Magic Train. Guitars are Hendrix like licks that just delight, and a piano is relentless tapping through out much of the track. This is the kind of track I could play while getting ready to go out of a night, and then happily head out with a smile on my face, set up into exactly the right kind of mood on to party. Not much lyrics, but the phrases used “Magic Dawn” and “Come into the garden” are just right and lift the song into a hippy like dream realm of psychedelic rock or purple tie dye, the music carries the track so well too many words would drown this one. It’s a great danceable track, and one I will often return to.
Top Track: Call me
Reminds me of Squeeze, for some reason, maybe even Elvis Costello. Really strong Melody, this is perhaps the best pop song on the album over all, into the chorus or title of song moment. There is a touch of “Tracks of my tears” Smokey Robinson about the beginning line. Guitar playing is much different here to the rocking out style of most other songs Nick works on, with keys rather xylophonic in tone. Perhaps just not quite long enough at two and a half minutes when you take away S F/X samples. But beyond it’s shortness it’s a truly great pop lament. Nicely unexpected, compared to other more regular patterns of song writing from Nick.
…
There is much more to explore on the album. The opening track matches escapism flying dreams with modern down trodden tales in it’s verses, including the fun lyric. “every bird has a holiday from it’s nest on a twig in a tree”. Elsewhere there’s a bond theme of sorts, with guitars almost Barryeque of a certain bond era, and lyrics of a man of espionage on the move. A more spoken blockheads like vocal appears on “Let’s Spend lot’s of Money”, which is a fun variation of styles. Buss, a song about every day public transportation has an echo chorus word effect that you’ll must likely find catchy early on. You can get it has an interesting sample backing and a slight Beatles slower songs vibe. Show me is worldy and concerned with wealth and talks of Africa, though my least favourite on the album. Following it Summer Nights is the darkest track in mood and lyric, sounding like an unsettled heatwave, Nick singing about his mind.
Fans who recently lapped up the great debut album “The Magic Line” by “The Magic Brothers”, will have a reason to visit here, as the final full lenght musical track on the album is Called Magic Brothers. It’s the peice of music that pre-dates that band’s formation and inspired the reworked track Magic Brothers part two on The Magic Line, some of which you’ll recognise here in this version and other parts will be more fresh and new to you if you’ve only heard The Magic Line.
As a footnote, it is true that there have been, prior to this album, previous albums by Nicky Woodgate. “I’ve dropped Nicky, I’m not a boy anymore” Nick jokes, and “I think I sold 50 copies” he says of one of the previous home produced albums he’s put out. So tracks 2,3,6,7,8,11,12 and a variation of 13 on this album hail from Nicky Woodgate – “Boy” album from 2010, while Tracks 6,12,13 hail also from Nicky’s – “Oh” album 2011. But all the versions on this “Morning” album are brand new recordings of these tracks, all produced and professionally mixed this time, a step up from previous music efforts beyond the now deleted Nicky Albums, and as mentioned brother Woody is now drumming on all these too. Certainly when you compare “Eloise” in it’s version it’s the difference between “Demo” sound programming and “Produced final album track”.
This album then with entirely new totally unheard tracks on it too, is the definitive first album for Nick Woodgate.
Wake up, have some toast, and get this from iTunes, and have a very good Morning.
Jonathan Young
LIVE INTENSIFIED
The Madness School Band
“All the teachers in the pub?” Or maybe all of them in the crowd.
Mike and Thommo went back to school this summer.
As ex-pupils of Brookfield Primary School, they played the centenary summer fair, with chair of governors Ollie Lewis on vocals.
BAGGY TROUSERS
Camden New Journal video
IT was a summer fair to remember at Brookfield School in Highgate on Sunday as former pupils Lee Thompson and Mike Barson – two members of Madness – returned as surprise musical guests. Headteacher Mark Stubbings joined them on the playground stage for a rendition of One Step Beyond, while new Highgate ward councillor Oliver Lewis sang the band’s famous hit Baggy Trousers.
The playground at Brookfield Primary was transformed into a concert arena on Saturday as Madness turned up to play at the Centenary Year Summer Fair, part of the school’s celebrations to mark its 100th year.
Saxophonist Mike Barson and keyboard player Lee Thompson, who both attended the school in the 1960s, played classic tunes like Our House and Baggy Trousers.
An estimated 800 guests enjoyed non-stop entertainment at the school in Chester Road, Highgate.
Headteacher Mark Stubbings said: “Sharing this centenary with Mike and Lee was a fitting climax to the event for everyone involved.
“People were even hanging out of their windows and stopping in the street to have a listen – they could sense that something really special was going on.”
Headteacher Kay Bedford said: “There was a buzzy atmosphere, the weather was beautiful and it was lovely to see the children and parents making the most of the school grounds. “The fact that we raised money in the process was an added bonus!”
“Trying different ways to make a difference to the days…”
Jonathan Young/Steve Barnett/Erkin Karasin
SPECIALIZED SCOOTERING REVIEW
Another year, another installment in the always impressive Specialized series of albums.
The band they’ve chosen to version this year is Madness and 72 acts have donated their time and talent to covering a huge variety of tracks from the Camden Town Boys, all in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust.
As Always it’s not all about ska, in fact (speaking as a ska fan) some of the best versions are the left-field ones. Goth rubs shoulders with Oi! while punk and spoken word make odd bedfellows. Of particular note is Parallax Faction giving Land of Hope and Glory an appropriately menacing feel. E.R.N.I.E by Chap-hop legend Mr B. The Gentleman Rhymer and Baggy Trousers as turned into a post-punk knees up by the Klank.
On the ska side of things, there are too many great versions to talk about. Legends abound; Bim Skala Bim, Horace Panter, the Funaddicts and the Hotknifes feature alongside newer acts such as The Kingston Ska Orchestra (Who turn in a spectacular version of One Step Beyond), Rough Kutz, Dirty Revolution (winding up their carea with a warming rendition of It Must Be Love) Ed Rome, The Simmertones and Urang Mutang.
Naturally there is an appearance by an original member of Madness, It’s Bedders, appearing with the legendary Neil Innes and The Values on a version of Madness (what else could they do really?.)
I could go on all day about how great this four disc album is but I’ll leave you with a quote I read just after it was released. “If you’re into ska you’ll love this, if you’re not into ska, then you’ll love this.” I think that covers it.
Nik Skeat (Scootering Magazine.)
TIME…
That’s almost it for this week, but before we finish there are two final snippets we’d like to pass in your direction.
First-up, and it’s a bit of a strange one. During the recent Ska Orchestra gig at The Wychwood Festival Lee took to the stage wearing a pair of filming glasses. With no audio captured it doesn’t really work and is more of a curiosity thing that something you really must see at all costs.
Check it out at: http://youtu.be/LWXkjBHBld4
And finally, Nick Woodgate will be appearing on Croydon Radio tomorrow (Monday) evening. Here’s what he had to say;
“I’m going live on www.croydonradio.com tomorrow 7-8pm. Hear my new album ‘Morning’ and some hand picked favourites of mine.”
Don’t miss it!
And with that we’re done. So, until next week, thanks for reading,
Jon Young, Rob Hazelby, Simon Roberts, Paul Williams
(With special thanks to Thommo and Woody)
The Author
