Complete Madness

“Complete Madness,” released in 1982, is the inaugural greatest hits compilation by Madness. It encapsulates the band’s meteoric rise to fame and presents a collection of their most successful singles, including “Baggy Trousers,” “One Step Beyond,” “My Girl,” “House of Fun,” and “It Must Be Love.” This 16-track album showcases Madness’s unique fusion of ska rhythms, catchy pop melodies, and witty lyrics that vividly portray British working-class life. Notably, it achieved a No. 1 position on the UK Albums Chart and became one of the best-selling albums of the year, captivating both seasoned fans and newcomers alike as a comprehensive representation of the band’s energetic and playful early musical endeavors.

Some copies of the album included an application form for the Madness Information Service (MIS) and an order form for the “Complete Madness” video. Serious vinyl collectors may be interested in the CBS pressing variant with matrix B10, which has a slightly longer pause between ‘Grey Day’ and ‘Take It Or Leave It,’ and also includes ‘Goodnight’ at the end of ‘The Return Of The Los Palmas 7.; similar to the album Absolutely version.

The A4/B4 variant of earlier pressings, has distinct features. Song gaps are extended by 5 seconds, ‘Shut Up’ is 30 seconds longer, ‘Night Boat To Cairo’ plays quicker and fades out 15 seconds earlier, ‘Take It Or Leave It’ fades out 15 seconds earlier, and ‘In The City’ fades out 7 seconds earlier. These rare versions enhance their appeal to collectors.