MIS ONLINE – The Madness Information Service Online Newsletter
Issue Number: 902 – Sunday 21^st August to Saturday 27^th August 2016
Web: www.mis-online.net | Twitter: @MIS_Online | iOS: https://goo.gl/7goj5z LinkedIn: Click here

Hello and welcome to this latest edition of the MIS Online newsletter. This week we celebrate the release of The Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra – Bite The Bullet album which is out this coming Friday.

Our long form review is our feature this week, and forms parts 6 and 7 of our continuing series of interviews with band members.

Entitled “The Bullet Points”, we finally reach the men from Madness; Mark Bedford and Lee Thompson. They discuss the tracks they play and in some cases wrote for the album.  Let us know from this coming Friday what YOU think of the album and its tracks and we’ll include your comments in a future issue.

The new album launches this Thursday at a sold out gig at the 100 club. There will be a DJ set (which is also sold out) on Sunday with us at Noon in The Dublin Castle, as we kick off our Specialive event.

There is a mad meet at The One Tun pub Goodge Street with us from 5.30pm Thursday before the 100 Club gig (Door’s 7.30pm)

We can squeeze just one more lucky punter into the concert with us, and also into the DJ set if also desired.  In order to be that one individual, tell us something funny involving a bullet or a bite.  Fire it over to OperationMIS@outlook.com and title it “The Last Bullet”. We will reply direct to the winner by Wednesday.  A small donation to the specialized charity will be required upon collection of the prize, (Please note that the free album offer does not apply to this entry into the concert).

Good luck and on with the read!

Jon 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

August

Monday 29^{th –} House of Common, Clapham Common
More info at: http://www.madness.co.uk/houseofcommon/

September

Sunday 3^rd – Crammerock Festival, Belgium

Sunday 4^th – Jersey Live Festival, Jersey

Sunday 11^th – Hyde Park. Radio 2’s Festival in a Day

Friday 30^th – Sweden, Grona Lund Amusement Park

October

Saturday 1^st – Norway – Rockefeller Music Hall

Monday 3^rd – Germany – Berlin – Tempodrom

Tuesday 4th – Germany – Bochum – Ruhrcongress

Thursday 6^th – Dubai, Duty Free Tennis Stadium, UAE

November

Friday 18^{th –} Monday 21^st – Madness Weekender 6, Minehead

December

Thursday 1^st – Bournemouth – Can’t Touch us Now

Friday 2^nd – Cardiff – Can’t Touch us Now

Saturday 3^rd – Brighton – Matinee – Can’t Touch us Now

Saturday 3^rd – Brighton – Can’t Touch us Now ** Sold Out **

Monday 5^th – Groningen, The Netherlands ** Sold Out **
http://www.de-oosterpoort.nl/programma/madness/

Tuesday 6^th – Tilburg, The Netherlands

Thursday 8^th – Newcastle – Can’t Touch us Now

Friday 9^th – Sheffield – Can’t Touch us Now

Saturday 10^th – London – Can’t Touch us Now

Monday 12^th – Nottingham – Can’t Touch us Now

Tuesday 13^th – Bridlington – Can’t Touch us Now

Thursday 15^th – Glasgow – Can’t Touch us Now

Friday 16^th – Manchester – Can’t Touch us Now

Saturday 17^th – Birmingham – Can’t Touch us Now

Can’t Touch us Now tickets from: http://www.gigsandtours.com/tour/madness/

Suggs

August

Saturday 27^th – Bangor, Northern Ireland – Talking Musical Revolutions. Part of the “Open House Festival”

 

The Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra

August

Thursday 25th – Album Launch Party – Bite The Bullet – 100 Club Oxford Street London ** SOLD OUT **

Sunday 28th – DJ set @ Commoners Against Cancer – Dublin Castle.  Noon ** SOLD OUT **

November

House of Fun Weekender

 

Rhoda Dakar

Saturday 10^th September –  The Lo Tek EP Vol 1. launch party at the Official Trojan Records Club Night at The Social in London

Also appearing at The House of Fun Weekender this year.

 

The Silencerz

Chandos Arms, Saturday 17^th September ** New **

 

 

BUY IT

Madness – New Album – You Can’t Touch Us Now – Pre Order  – October 21st

Pre order now – and get “Untouchable Madhead” Status.
http://www.madness.co.uk/cant-touch-us-now/

Potential Tracks, Based on last year’s House of Fun set, Glastonbury, and Mojo –  Grandslam, I Believe, Soul Denying, Mumbo Jumbo. Where Did All The Good Times Go, Herbet, Mr Apples, Blackbird On The Wing, Dont Leave The Past Behind You, Whistling In The Dark, Can’t Touch Us Now, Given The Opportunity, Another Version of Me. Kooks. Pam The Hawk

 

The Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra – Bite The Bullet  – August 25th (available Signed from the 100 club launch on the 25th) 

Vinyl £13.55  (Includes free mp3 version)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01FEA9NYE

CD £11.37 (includes free mp3 version)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01FEA9NTY

Mp3 album also available on its own for £7.99

Tracks – Based on Amazon – Step It Up Sister, Bite The Bullet, Western Standard Time, Cuss Cuss, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, Feel a Little Better, Hongry, The Wickerman, 30,60,90 , I am King, Cry To Me, I’ll be back again.
HEAR TRACKS IN PREVIEW
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01GM41SM6/ref=dm_ws_ap_tlw_alb7

 

The Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra – Feel a Little Better (Luke Solomon Radio Single)

“Pre order our lead single from Bite The Bullet. It’s a radio mix of Feel A Little Better, and at 99p it’s a bargain! Buy NOW!!” Fordie

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01JOCV2ME

 

Dance Crazy – The Best of Specialized Ska Live ** Now Shipping Orders **

Our copy of Dance Crazy, arrived with us this week. It’s a lovely looking CD that manages to feel like a link between Specialized’s own covers albums of Specialized, Beat Teenage Cancer, Mad not Cancer & Combat Cancer. (And it brings together some bands from those albums too Live) At the same time of course it looks like a perfect tribute to Dance Craze 35 years on from that original 2tone film soundtrack album linked together music by Madness, The Specials, Bad Manners and The Body-snatchers, The Selecter. and The Beat.

It sounds wonderful. A very clean production for an album made of so many bands and recorded live you wouldn’t know it sometimes on the tracks, as the audience aren’t annoyingly present over the music and the instruments and notes are very clear.

There is a version of One Step Beyond here that favours the trumpet in the band Skapital. The Prince live cover has the wonderful intro of “Do you want to be on an album in Europe? Well sing up you will be.” While Swan Lake, we can tell you, was recorded live in Ireland, as The Service features our friend Vince Foley. He tells us they did it on St Patrick’s Day.

DANCE CRAIC-ZY!!!!

It’s a party and a celebration of long lived music, and of current Skabands on the scene that followed stepping like a large boot in a very long cast black and white shadow.  No it’s not essential in terms of musical content, and yes some of the Ska and approach is somewhat tribute band predictable in its approach, when faced with the notion that some of these songs were already covers in the early 80’s when the original was made stretches this point only further that this is no reinvention. But it is NOW, and it has a sense of community about it, that is already pushing this limited release towards sell out and a profit for the charity. It’s about where you are now, but will later been seen as a little snapshot of a time. Are you going out Tonight?.   I’m off to dance in the Nite Club with Special Kinda Madness. Track 11. See you there.

http://www.specializedproject.co.uk/shop/

 

 

SIGN OF THE TIMES                               

Sunday Times Review – Bite The Bullet

Fun, fun, fun.

If that slinky trombone conjures memories of the late lamented Jamaican master Rico Rodriguez, the rest of this hugely enjoyable set finds the Madness saxophonist tipping his hat to Solomon Burke, The Beatles and Coaster.

As on the band’s 2012 debut the musicianship is relaxed but marked by an authentic Kingston Vibe. Cinephiles will adore the Spaghetti-Western pastiche of Western Standard Time. While John Barry’s theme for On Her Majesty’s Secret Service gets a convincing makeover, too, complete with a melodica solo.

 

 

THE BULLET POINTS PART 6 – MARK BEDFORD

1. How were the recording sessions for you?

Great. Nice to be in the studio with everyone playing live.

2 Which song/s did you write and what was your approach?

Bite The Bullet. The inspiration was the old ska tunes that took their influence from Jazz. There is a great version of the jazz tune, ‘Caravan’, by The Skatalites, which they called, ‘Ska-Ra-van’.

3. Which cover version did you choose for the album or which did you have the most hand in colaboration to how it turned out?

A few of us had played, ’30-60-90′ in various bands – so it seemed a good idea to have go at that one.

4. Which track is your favourite on the album, and why?

I love them all like my children.

5. Which tune has been the best to play live from this album?

OHMSS is really interesting. It’s a different kind of reggae?

6. If you had 1 bullet to sort a problem who or what would you shoot?

No bullets. I’m into peace.

7. What’s been the best moment of being in the Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra so far for you?

Glastonbury. Very proud of our performance.

8. Who is a big inspiration from Ska or beyond?

Lee Scratch Perry. The voice of Ken Booth.

9. Which music genre/style do you like most apart from Ska

Soul.

10 Which Ska song or song to Ska up, do you think should be on album

Wouldn’t mind trying a ska version of, ‘Make It Funky’ by James Brown.

BONUS QUESTION. Which song from the first album Sister Mary, still wows you after years of hearing it?

I have a soft spot for ‘Ali Baba’.

 

 

MIS FEATURE – BLOOD, SWEAT, TEARS AND BULLETS

We review The Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra’s Second Album – Bite The Bullet – OUT Friday. 

40 minutes in the company of The Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra, and they make all the Ska sound so smooth and effortless. Crafting ammunition as true in its aim as this though takes hard work.

“No sign of difficult second album syndrome then.” Remarks Simon as this album came into us for the website MIS review. He likes the mix, and I concur. While Mike Pelanconi was again involved in early stages of the album polish, they went beyond him this time and used Pat collier @ Perry Vale too who are both thanked. Beyond that help though it’s Dave Robinson and “Scorch” (a term we think for the whole band) who are actually credited as the producers and mixer for this album. They’ve had a hand in everything together, from Mill hill rehearsals, through secret Dublin Castle try out gigs, to many hours spent returning to the Fish Factory studios, additional sessions, dropped tracks, and the odd fall out. 2015 was full of toil, tussle and team work to make this album what it is. A sibling that sister Mary is proud to stand next too.

And Press Play.

A drum roll, a gunshot, a wink to Gun’s Fever there, sure. It’s Bedford upfront writing a spy themed instrumental, you’ll swear you’ve heard it before from 60’s TV or something. It’s a catchy anthem, but no, its brand new music from our fave bassman here which doesn’t come that often in recent years. Brass blasts, a quiet masterful guitar solo, sliding into keys, and into a fade before the 3-minute mark is up.

Wonderful start, first blood taken and a great title track. Then into a second groove showcasing the band ensemble sound and upping the speed limit. 30 60 90 is famously used as backing in a nightclub in a Michael Caine movie, with a slight menace to it’s tone. Bedders tells us in his Bullet points interview that this tune is one many of the band played in other bands beforehand, so they came together now to play it. I’m slightly impatient for the vocals to kick in on the album though, thinking this will be the one instrumental on the album you can’t name or remember later, but we finish again before we’ve hit the 6th minute margin on the album, so my wait isn’t long, building to a POW finish this time too, that’s a punchy dead stop.

The first single begins. We get the first taste of the sweet sultry backing vocals of Sumudu, who lights up this album with sighing gentle beauty on the ear, carrying on from great work on that Christmas one off single you’ll have heard, the band are now a fully formed pop group as they deliver their first original vocal tune. Thommo sings a tale penned by new guitarist Andy of a man down trodden and hen pecked by family and seeking solace in solitude and a glass or two. It’s growing on me this one. Darren Bennett says it’s been his favourite of the one’s he’s heard live. It’s not mine. It’s in a Simon and Garfunkel mode in that it reminds me of Madness’ take on Mother and child reunion just a little, while I love it, it’s far down my list of what I would have put up for single duty, though I haven’t heard the remix by Luke Solomon yet that may change my mind when it hits radio. It certainly does showcase the full vocal band sound and original writing being strong.

And we welcome now Darren Fordham to the front. After backing vocal harmonies, intro shouts on the Sister Mary album, also that EP live track as front man on you lucky people, we finally reach a full on studio album track guesting for Darren’s powerful voice as lead. Something that anyone who’s seen live shows will know he can pull off with aplomb. My slight worry that swing or dirty dancing soundtrack riffing here would come off as a bit cheesy is washed away from the first note. This is big band bullet brilliance, sincere and believed. I’m blown away how well it all fits together. Louis is great on piano in this one. Jools Holland would like all this. This is the new album’s moment of soon you’ll gone 50’s. Sounds like they’ve already gone though, as loneliness laments in the lyrics. You’ll sing along. You can’t not. It’s a brilliant mix. Tears for cheers.

The Beatles are covered next in another turn of mood. A cover of a reggae cover of them being re-covered. It’s not the most recognized Beatles song, but it is known. Slowed here it’s slightly up for grabs as a re-imagined version it’s certainly no clone. I don’t think they quite manage to make it their own though. They boldly use new lyrics written or borrowed in a light rapping away towards the end which adds something, but I think it’s one of those tracks that stands out well from the rest of the album but won’t actually reach for anyone’s dish of the day in this banquet of Ska, never the less it’s something that’s nice to have on the menu as an option.  Speaking of food. I’m hungry for classic Thompson barmyness.

Lee loves The Coasters. He name checks Leiber and Stoller the writers on this every time they play it live. He’s a proud fan, and does their yakety sax knock about fun rock n roll justice with his ska band now. Bending trombones from Bob, sprightly trumpet, bouncy run around off-beats, springy steel guitar, eccentric elongated and accented vocals, pomp on piano, it all falls down a big man hole in a Marks Brothers movie, pops up for air and it raids the fridge in a Tom and Jerry cartoon, it joins Benny Hill for a jog around the block and it still stays credible all the way taking a taxi ride from the anthill mob only to crash into a restaurant kitchen of your choice. Dribble, drool, and a belly full of empty stomach moaning!  Down on its knees sampling some cheese to an unprecedented light flourished band bow. Tears of laughter here. Scooby snack me a sandwich somebody I’ve got horses to ride next for God’s sake!

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.  Pitter patter the drums as the sounds of hooves, You will just instantly love Western Standard Time from the clever title, to the trading off from Ennino Marcone’ cowboy films. Bob shoot his bullet straight into your ear, and the horses stampede in reaction through this Ska-stompper, you’ll chant along first listen to the “Ahhhh ahhh ahhh”. All very obvious. But sooo Brilliant. Twang those guitars boys. Head ‘em up, Roll them out. Riders on the storm of brass. Mr Eastwood is here to reload the rest of the album’s ammo. (Presumably we’ve just reached side two on the vinyl about now) We’ve still got two of my favourites to come. It’s The Magnificent 11 so far though.

To Be Continued…..

Jonathan Young

 

 

LIVE AND INTENSIFIED

Welcome to the Lion’s Den

Last weekend Madness headlined Boomtown Fair festival near Winchester. Now in its 8^th year Boomtown has previously held a fairly notorious reputation for attracting teenagers looking to get totally munted on the likes of acid, ketamine, mdna and similar substances. Fearing that the annual event was rapidly slipping towards the bowels of depravity that many attribute more to the Reading festival, over the past two years the organisers have taken a tough line on drugs, sniffer dogs on arrival have meant that anyone caught in possession has been strip searched and anyone carrying more than small quantities, arrested and charged.

To my mind the impact of these draconian measures has really cleaned up the less endearing face of the festival. I attend a wide variety of festivals across the UK each summer, but so far Boomtown 2016 has been by far the best, in terms of the acts performing, the spectacular spaces created and the really upbeat and friendly vibe. The stunning weather was an added bonus too. Regrettably major events like this rarely pass without some form of catastrophe. This year the fire in the carpark destroying 80 cars and badly damaging 40 others was somewhat unfortunate.

Boomtown is quite unique among festivals in the way that it tries to recreate an entire city within an area of open countryside, a kind of mini Las Vegas that rises out of the landscape for just one weekend each year. The varied districts of the city include a downtown area comprising china town and a red light district rising up a steep hill to the town centre, Mayfair and a hippy village with healing fields on the outskirts.

Whilst gladly an extremely diverse festival in terms of music, Boomtown nevertheless strives to book a large number of Ska and reggae bands each year. Some will remember that various members of Crunch! AKA The Nutty Boys reformed to perform a gig there two years ago. This year the festival saw perhaps the biggest reunion of Two Tone era bands and musicians since 1979’s Two Tone Tour itself. Bands performing included Bad Manners, Neville Staple Band, The Selecter and as the main headline act of the entire festival; Madness.

Madness played a 90 minute set on the festival’s main stage “The Lion’s Den” to an ecstatic crowd. I suspect that the festival organisers have been hoping to welcome Madness to the Lion’s Den for some years now, but I doubt anyone could have predicted quite the massive reception they were given by the crowd. Many believe that Madness drew the largest crowd that has ever been drawn to any performance in the festival’s history. The Lion’s Den is set in a natural amphitheatre enabling everyone, even those at the back, to get an excellent view of the stage. The crowd was made up of surprisingly few Madness die hards (there was barely a fez, a pair of braces or a pork pie hat in sight) and I felt that perhaps partly for this reason the reaction from the crowd, who may have only seen them once or twice in the past, if at all, was even more electric than had it been comprised of fans that have seem them dozens of times.  The band seemed visibly stunned at the amount of love and energy being directed towards them. From my position at the middle of the front barrier I had to regularly turn around just to see the spectacular image of an entire hillside of approx. 30,000 people all jumping up and down in unison to the likes of House of Fun and Baggy Trousers.

As the main headline act, their set was of a length that you would normally only hear at one of Madness’s own gigs, rather than at a festival. In keeping with the ska/reggae emphasis of the festival the set included Max Romeo’s Iron Shirt and Prince Buster’s Girl Answer Your Name. Also, contrary to their own printed set list they decided to revert to opening with One Step Beyond rather than Embarrassment.

The tracks Herbert, Don’t Leave the Past Behind, Can’t Touch us Now and Mr Apples from the new album were all well received. All now sounding very well polished, no doubt following weeks of perfecting in the studio. Highway to Hell complete with impressive pyrotechnics provided yet another crowd pleaser as Chrissy Boy’s Showtime track.

As the festivals headline Act, the band were also honoured with the kind of spectacular effects normally reserved for the biggest headliners at Glastonbury.  It was pretty incredible to watch the likes of House of Fun and Night Boat to Cairo performed to an array of stunning pyrotechnics, lasers, waterfalls(!) before the gig was finally concluded with a firework display. Madness were clearly determined that the car park wouldn’t be the only thing on fire over the weekend!

After eventually managing to glean a copy of the set list, I came away feeling that I had witnessed one of the most spectacular Madness gigs of all time. Without doubt Madness made this year’s Boomtown their own. I’ve still got the likes of Clapham Common, Hyde Park, Minehead and the Christmas Tour to look forward to, so only time will tell as to whether I’ve now already witnessed their greatest gig of 2016. The set list was as follows:

One Step Beyond (with pyrotechnics)
Embarrassment
The Prince
NW5
My Girl
Take it or Leave it
Wings of a Dove
Herbert
The Sun and the Rain
Don’t Leave the Past Behind
Iron Shirt (Chase the Devil)
Can’t Touch us Now
Bed & Breakfast Man
Shut Up
Girl Answer Your Name
Highway to Hell (Showtime with pyrotechnics)
House of Fun (with pyrotechnics)
Baggy Trousers (with pyrotechnics)
Our House
It Must Be Love
– Encore –
Mr Apples
Madness
Night Boat to Cairo (with pyrotechnics)
– Fireworks –

Chris Carter-Pegg

 

 

THE BULLET POINTS PART 7 – LEE THOMPSON

Part 7 of our Bullet Points interviews and we celebrate Friday’s forthcoming album release with the band leader himself….

1. How were the recording sessions for you?

Fish factory studios was wacky. I would return home after the session, imagining I smelt of an old trout. Even though it had not operated as a Billingsgate sister company for many years, there were still ghosts of haddocks past lingering. Pelanconni’s mixes part 1. At ironworks I missed. Album re mixes resumed at Perivale studios the following week where after much discussion a blizzard of e-mails, texts, phone calls messages, carrier pigeons, smoke signals and bow & arrowed notes…..we decided that a re-mix by Pat Collier & the band would make for an altogether ‘happy experience’  and there a happy experience ensued.

2. Which song/s did you write and what was your approach?

I was involved with Louis Vauses’ ‘Wickerman’. I started writing the lyrics a few weeks before, then put the idea to one side. This was due to a few mental blocks with the chorus. Then on the way to debut the new material along with ‘Wman’ at the DC, I had a revelation on the 263 South on the Archway RD and completed it by reaching Camden Town.

3. Which cover version did you choose for the album or which did you have the most hand in colaboration to how it turned out?

Hongry & Cuss Cuss. I handed the song covers over to the band & asked them to better them. Once they got the groove going the rest, as they say, followed. Of the two, I would say that I was happier with the Cuss Cuss cover/finished cut. The Sax on Hongry? I should have made more raw & staccato, I took my eye off the ball. Although a Great T Bone & bottle neck guitar solo’s by Bob & Kevin.

4. Which tune has been the best to play live from this album?’

Well, I’m still finding my range….’I’ll be back’ is a challenge. Cuss cuss could explode, when I’ve had a bad day(& a few brandy’s)

5. If you had 1 bullet to sort a problem who or what would you shoot?

Bernard law, and then reload just in case.

6. Bite the Bullet means to “take action now.” What do you need to bite the bullet on next?

Tolerance.

7. What’s been the best moment of being in the Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra so far for you?

It used to be being in control, but now… I’ve lost it. I was never any good at being a control tweak.

8. Who is a big inspiration from Ska or beyond?

First generation? Tommy McCook.

9. What’s the best scene from the movies featuring a bullet?

Er….bullet. Chinatown(ouch!) Deer hunter(Russian roulette.) Godfather (hot shave/barber scene).you feeling lucky……punk!(opening & closing scene’s to dirty harry)

Bonny & Clyde (final scene.)…….Mesrine (Suggs recommends) bonus bullet.

10. Which music genre/style do you like most apart from Ska

Doo Wop

10. Which ska song or song to ska up, do you think should be on album 3?

Assuming we get to that stage,i would put an all out heavy metal/reggae version of ‘zulu’

BONUS QUESTION. Which song from the first album, Sister Mary, still wows you after years of hearing it?

Hot reggae. Fantastic groove on wax live.

 

 

MIS FEATURE CONTD. – BOND, BURNING & BULLETS

Reload. We continue our review of the new Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra album.

Well, I’ve been expecting you Mr. Bond. When I once cut a Sean Connery video to the bands version of Eastern Standard Time some years ago, I didn’t know they would venture this far into Bond territory! Of course, while a great film, (On Her Majesty’s Secret Service), this is the bond flick that had George Lazenby and it’s hard being him in a world of Craig, Moore, and Brosnan running around under that Sean Connery scrutiny. It’s hard being Her Maj’s Ska Service then up against a pantheon of original versions for film soundtracks and decades of covers. Do they beat off John Barry OBE?

Sorry, Dame Diana Rigg just high-kicked me in the face for even asking such a preposterous question even if Mark and Thommo have met her Majesty as well. They can barely keep up puff with David Arnold in the far distance to be honest, If they are lucky they might just pass The Propellorheads if it’s not a clubbing night in the great marathon of bond music. When it comes to any comparison of versions any expensive soundtrack team would show up this orchestra up to be just a band, not a philharmonic array. This version is slick though, credit to the brass players it does sound filmic. Aimed perhaps to be this albums Mission Impossible I actually think the earlier pastiche of Ennio Morricone & westerns upstages this track in that regard. There is a vibraphone solo from Mez that’s quite haunting though, and a spooky reprise finish is tacked on the end, they give it character by including asides, possibly to other bond music, or Jamaican bands that have played Bond theme’s as it’s a long tradition. When not looking at the whole world of the big bond sound and only this album, the tune fits in fine, and is wonderful to hear, it won’t stop any enjoyment of the full album play, only in isolation would you be perhaps unaware it was this bands version. It might get used on a vegetable advert but the Broccoli family wont be calling up for Spectre 2. Sheesh too harsh? Hey, This never happened to the other album!

Enough of the Queen, I’ve missed out telling you about the King. No not Elvis. A tune written by Andy and if “Feel a little better” was downtrodden this is the kick back. This is a song of domination and alpha male bluster. Oh you will answer to me, once sang the gangster of drip fed fred, now hear this, you will be mine! sings I am King. “I will keep coming after you.” Man sees, man conquers, and man does those chack-chack ska noises subtle in the background mix a bit as well. Stong song stuff.

There’s room too for more subtle approaches to the ladies, dance with me baby, step up sister. Written to be in a Prince Buster style by Mez. I loved this one live, it’s instantly wowed crowds.  It’s got infectious dancability you just want to join it’s rhythm and sway.  What I love about it on the album is the absolute perfect balance of Lee, Darren and Sumudu on this track. You can hear all three in distinct uses. A gentle confident lead, some boosted backing, and soulful ooh’s with just one line echoed, and even a rebuttal skillfully woven in at one point enhancing the dancefloor tale of woohing. Second single??? If this isnt my favourite pure fun song it’s the next surprise.

Cuss Cuss a late addition to the album and by far my favourite tune with some real edge. It’s my Bullseye Bullet of choice. It’s the new bangarang to me. Got into my head on a deep level. The charactorial performance from Lee reminds of me Crunch! saving for a rainy day, but it’s a deeper dub reggae groove over all that is just immense to me, the rest of the album could be pop fluff to me when I hear this one go off I’m transported and pumped up. It’s kick ass cuss cuss man. It’s a looper and loopers are my favourite kind of ear worm. Lyrically it’s slang and it’s a tune about troubles and casting them out. You could use that in your life to rid yourself of anything dragging you down. This is also like Dangermen’s So Much Trouble in the World. Echo effects used to great effect, a storm surround sound near the end is great production. Stop the burning. Stop the killing. Don’t stop the music. Repeat play repeat play repeat play.

Wickerman charmingly spooky and just a little bit dirty, we save new lyrics from Lee as the cherry popped on the cake of this tune from Louis and Andy. Mischievous chuckles, nursery rhymes like poetics dancing along a piano line, and underpinned organ. Incredbibly playful song. Confessional yet cryptic. And with a gentle sighing fade our album play is over. The wickerman’s ashes are the perfectly placed end for the album that began with gunfire.  I loved every minute.

Note: Well, it would be over if not for a cut track, a Toots cover, misfired near to release plans. Other tracks that didn’t make it along the way, include a song about a famous war hero from trumpeter chalky, a mystery tune from Seamus, Acapulco by Louis (that to my ear sounded just a little too Louis solo album rather than ska orchestra material) A gospel Bedford/Thompson work in progress, a some lyrics about rain. In fact, Thommo mentioned his favourite track from album work had been cut democratically in fact during the process. Whether these were full album mixed, only or demos on paper or just things knocked around in rehearsal rooms, some bullets can be blanks, lacking enough powder just yet to target. The 12 chosen are all strong explosions to my ear, even if just a couple fall short of any long range targets, there is enough to fill two six shooters. Sweet and Dandy then a fully produced 13th track, really isnt needed here, it’s a fairly obvious reggae staple lovingly executed and sure it would be nice if say by the time the band Bite The Butlins later this year it’s been fired off online for diehard fans in need of more fire power before catching the band live again. But your CD’s and Vinyl are all the more impactful for it having been shot off the end of the LP. 

Bite The Bullet is ready for you to load from Friday. Blast it out.   

Jonathan Young

 

 

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 Number 641 – Sunday 21^st August – Saturday 27^th August 2011

This week saw the official line-up of the forthcoming Madness Butlins Weekender announced, so likely came as little surprise to discover that much of the issue was devoted to the event in some way, shape or form.

So, what did the full line-up look like five years ago? Take a look!

MADNESSS

Beardyman

Paul Heaton

Dan le sac v Scroobius pip

The Cuban Brothers

The Whip

The Correspondents

Man Like Me

Missing Andy

The Milk

Barry Peters

Brass Roots

Wagon Tales

 

DJS

Rob da Bank

Mr Scruff – keep it unreal

Norman Jay

Jaguar Skills

Andrew Weatherall

Craig Charles funk and soul show

Greg Wilson

Don Letts

Toddla T & MC Serocee

Doorly

Justin Robertson

Marc Roberts

Squeaky Hill

 

COMEDY

Bob Mills

Ben Norris

Nick Wilty

Marcus Birdman

Al Barrie

Gordon Southern

Kevin McCarthy

Michael Smiley

Junior Simpson

Abandoman

 

The poster also boasted of a darts exhibition between Wayne “Hawaii 501” Mardle &  Peter “One Dart” Manley, and for some reason separately billed Jerry Dammers’ DJ set with Dennis Alcapone, Roger Beaujolais, Harry Brown & Damian Hand.

This week we also reported that The Ska Orchestra had been booked to play a London gig, launching a new club night. The band would be performing at Queen of Hoxton Pub in Hackney in September. This gig was added to an already impressive list of live performances due to take place over the coming weeks and months.

Moving on, and Holly Barringer at Union Square Music got in touch to tell us the new box sets had arrived fully complete and were looking brilliant.  We planned to run a competition in the next few weeks where you could be in with a chance to win a copy. In the meantime Holly was kind enough to give Madness fans a sneak peak of a new poem by Suggs which is taken from the sleeve notes of the box set ‘A Guided Tour Of Madness’, out in September.

Best advice: always be kind

Because every single person you meet is having a hard time.

 

Hello I’m Suggs, an unusual fellow,

sometimes loud I’m usually mellow.

Introverted and quite shy,

or larger than life, reaching for the sky.

 

When I was a kid, I used to have dreams

of being normal, whatever that means.

I used to sit, sit feeling blue,

until I realised that everyone else did too.

 

That everybody is, basically the same.

The same fears and worries, the same pain/shame,

Sometimes scared inside and insecure

about nothing really, except there must be more.

 

More of what you are, of what you wanted to be.

The more you realise, the more you see

you are what you are, you are what you are.

A f#cked up, mixed up, shining star!

 

I was born in a dustbin, at the age of three.

Me myself and I make 27 Different personalities.

On the starting blocks, all ready for the race.

Names to follow,

Wikipedia, if you need info.

 

X My name is Suggs.

 

We brought this issue to a close with the news that Big 10 were due to play another 90 minute skanking set at The Dublin Castle on Sunday 28^th August. A night not to be missed!

10 years ago…

Issue 381 – Sunday 20th August to Saturday 26th August 2006

This issue kicked off with news from Stav, who reported that the BBC had now confirmed that the Stiff documentary would be broadcast on the weekend of September 8/9/10 – exact details had yet to be confirmed but the programme could be shown in one 90 minute viewing or two 45 minute shows.

Stav continued by saying that there would also be a certain amount of Stiff related programming shown on one of the nights including the Madness film and the Br-Stiff movie (very probably). Most of the main players in the Stiff story were interviewed, including Messrs Riviera and Robinson, and this was really the definitive documentary.

Next we moved over to subscriber Mikel, who was kind enough to put together a detailed review of Madness’ recent performance in Marbella Spain, where himself and seven friends made the trek across the country to catch North London’s finest.

The day after Mikel and his party did it all again when they saw the band perform yet again in Spain, this time in Bilbao.

We continued with the subscriber contributions with the subsequent article as we passed the reigns over to Vespa Col, who gave us a nice write-up on his family’s holiday down in deepest darkest Whitstable.

While trying to locate all the famous locations from Suggs’ ‘Off On Holiday’ music video, he also attempted to locate the great man’s beach hut, but to no avail.

This issue was brought to a close by us pointing you in the direction of YouTube, and more specifically, a nice video of the various markets in and around Camden Town. For those who had been the area it would bring back some good memories. For those who hadn’t, it would help to give them some idea of just what the area was like.

15 years ago…

Issue 119 – Sunday 19th August to Saturday 25th August 2001

Getting this issue off the proverbial starting blocks was a transcription of a letter Steve Chapman had managed to get printed in a recent edition of the Radio Times.

So impressed was he with the recent Radio 4 comedy, I Think I’ve Got a Problem, starring Suggs, that he’d felt the need to write in and tell them how good it was. Well, the editorial team must have liked it as they’d gone and printed it.

It was over to Mr.G and his review of the McMadmeet 3 in our next article. Following his in-depth write up of the day (and night) we were treated to the usual post-meet awards line-up, which this time even included a hero and villain of the meet!

We moved on to more technical matters for the following segment, following reports that some readers had received the previous issue without incident while others had discovered their weekly slice of Madness had vanished into the either. At the time this issue went out the problem was still being investigated, but it looked to be down to an issue when some new software was installed on the list server.

We were back to more relevant subject matter next, where Swanny announced that Crunch had confirmed a booking at none other than The Dublin Castle on the 8th of September. Prices would be in the region of £6 to £8. Very reasonable indeed.

This issue rounded off with a transcript from that fantastic Madness fanzine Nut Inc. The article in question took a look at all the issues of the original and official MIS comics, and detailed their contents. The comic ran for 15 issues – from 1980 to 1986, and finished with a free flexi disc of Waiting For The Ghost Train.

Rob Hazelby

 

 

THAT FACEBOOK

Stiff Records has just turned 40. Happy Birthday Stiff. (Though Madness only joined

the label some 37 years ago.)

Here are a couple of Facebook posts nodding to the label’s anniversary.

Rhoda Dakar “If nothing else…thank you, Stiff, for pogoing round the upper sixth common room to New!” 

Robert Miles-Kingston “No one mention Madness?  And the football team?

The best football team. Me and Gary and Bruce up front. Chalkie and Bedders Mike and Jerry. Dave and John and Russel in Goal. Every Monday night at Paddington rec. Virtually undefeated!!!”

 

 

TIME…

We’ve just got time for a second review to finish this week’s Bite the Bullet issue. Here’s Darren Dixon, who provided the photographs used in the album sleeve…

“My photos which have been used on the album are the full band photo taken during the sound check at the Jazz Club gig back in January.  Others of mine used are of Steve White, Steve Hamilton and Trevor Mire’s which were also taken at the Jazz Cafe.  

Two more of my photos were taken during the Ska Orchestra performance at Glastonbury in 2014 and they are of Bob Dowell and Andy Neal. 

My favourite cover version is Cry To Me. Darren is sounding great on this song.  I’m glad he managed to get to sing on this album after I heard him do Many Rivers To Cross on the You Lucky People EP. 

To choose my favourite original is a really difficult one but I think I would have to go for Wickerman.  There are so many good tracks on it I think my favs will change with a few more listens. I like Sweet and Dandy. I think it should have been on the album, could be a single.”

Check out http://ddphotography.me.uk/

And finally, before we finish we’d just like to say a huge heart warmed thank you to the 170 souls who are playing, helping, or donated money and are coming along as the audience for COMMONERS AGAINST CANCER mad meet.

We will see you all at The Dublin Castle this coming Sunday, August 28^th, to warm you all up for the House of Common with Madness Monday – their Massive event.

We’ve given the charity Specialized £1,100 in direct and indirect routes to Teenage Cancer cash including sponsoring the production of One Heart Specialized, the forthcoming Bob Marley tribute album.

Lee Thompson DJ’s Bite the Bullet at NOON so be there early to see the ambassador of Specialized start our show in style. Plus we’ve just heard from Mez and the Fezzez that their guest bass player is the one and only Mark Bedford! Bedder goes Fezzers! We are Thrilled!

See you all there, and we will be in touch during the week with some final details.   If you didn’t get in touch to buy a wristband from us earlier then sorry, it’s all sold out. While we’ve cleared our waiting list just today, it’s highly unlikely we will have any more room for on the day tickets so please don’t come down to be disappointed if you were thinking we might have more space. We won’t. We’re crammed with commoners especially come evening time.

Thanks for everyone’s help, see you there.

All the best,

Jon Young, Rob Hazelby, Simon Roberts, Paul Williams

(With thanks to Chris Carter-Pegg and Darren Dixon)