The Rise & Fall

The Rise & Fall, the fourth studio album by Madness, stands out for its bold experimentation with a diverse range of musical styles. Released on 8 October 1982 by Stiff Records, it showcases a fusion of jazz, English music hall, and Eastern influences. This musical diversity, coupled with its conceptual depth, led NME to hail it as ‘the best Madness record’ upon its release, a sentiment echoed in its retrospective recognition as a concept album.

While The Rise & Fall didn’t make it to the US market, its influence was undeniable. Several tracks from the album, including the iconic ‘Our House ‘, were later featured on the 1983 Madness compilation, which became the band’s only top 10 hit in America.

Initially conceived as a concept album about nostalgia for childhood, the concept was eventually dropped. However, the original theme is still evident, particularly in the title track and the album’s major hit, “Our House”. This theme was also mentioned recently when interviewed as part of “T in the Park” music festival highlights, where their lead vocalist Suggs claimed that all the band members were told to write about their childhood memories for The Rise & Fall (although he did say that their keyboardist Mike Barson got the wrong idea, and went off and wrote about New Delhi).

Madness, known for their apolitical stance, took a bold step with the track ‘Blue Skinned Beast’. This song was a direct satire on then-UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and her handling of the Falklands War. This marked a significant shift in the band’s approach, paving the way for more political commentary on their subsequent albums. The impact of this shift cannot be overstated, as it challenged the band’s previous stance and set the stage for their future musical direction.

The album cover photo was shot just west of Camden Town at the Primrose Hill viewpoint. It looks southeast towards central London, with the BT Tower on the horizon; interestingly, a mushroom cloud was added to the photograph; you can find it on the right side of the back cover, on the horizon.