Track Listing

1. Baggy Trousers
2. Embarrassment
3. E.R.N.I.E.
4. Close Escape
5. Not Home Today
6. On the Beat Pete
7. Solid Gone
8. Take It or Leave It
9. Shadow or Fear
10. Disappear
11. Overdone
12. In the Rain
13. You Said
14. Return of the Los Palmas 7

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #231403 in Music
• Released on: 2000-06-05
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Import, Original recording remastered
• Dimensions: .21 pounds

Album Description
UK reissue of the 1980 album from the much loved new wave/ska act, digitally remastered with special packaging. Includes CD-ROM videos for 'Bed And Breakfast Man', 'Baggy Trousers', 'Embarrassment' and 'Return Of The Los Palmas 7'.2000 release. Standard jewel case.

Customer Reviews

Not Quite "One Step Beyond," But Almost!
I believe Madness started things powerfully with "One Step Beyond" and "Absolutely." Their vibrant spirit dwindled a bit with each release afterwards, until I hardly recognized their sound by the time "Our House" became a hit in 1983.

While "One Step Beyond" is my personal favorite release by Madness, this album comes in a very close second. The opening song "Baggy Trousers" foretells the prankster essence of the entire CD--- where "One Step Beyond" had the soul of happy-go-lucky nutzy young men, "Absolutely" brings out a rowdier, slightly brattier crew, yet still shining that innocent funboy spirit.

The songs on this CD were never hits here in the U.S.A., which means there are a lot of past & modern day ska fans missing out. The show stealer is "On the Beat Pete," the leader of the high-gear songs like "E.R.N.I.E" and "Not Home Today."

I hate to spend to much time pointing out which song rules over another on "Absolutely," only because this is a fantastic and one of the most underrated albums within the 1970s-80s ska archive. This CD is just plain fun. Give it a go!

The best Madness album ever?
When I bought Madness 1st album, I thought there was nowhere to go but down. How could they possibly improve on a debut where EVERY song was so good, it just had to be played over and over? Then I heard Baggy Trousers on the Rodney on the ROQ show and I knew they did it again. I was never really sure which album was better until I found myself playing it twice as much over the next 18 years!!! If you like the first album, you HAVE to get this one or you will be seriously denying yourself the joy and pleasure that only a truly great record can bring. By my definition, a record you can listen to over and over for 18 years and never gets old or out-dated. Buy it before its out of print forever!!!!

BEST MADNESS CD
Having followed Madness from the beginning through to their embarassing demise (after the departure of Mike Barson). I have to say - 20 years on this CD is still the best they did. One Step Beyond was great - always a classic, but the songs on Absolutely make this a great CD. The next CD Madness 7 had it's moments - both good and bad but this was Suggs & Co. at their very best. Great band, great memories.