Song#: 1574
Date: 08/20/1983
Debut: 85
Peak: 33
Weeks: 12
Genre: New Wave, Ska
Pop Bits: After scoring twelve Top 10 hits in their UK homeland, Madness finally broke through on the US chart with their song "Our House." The unexpected hit prompted a compilation of their best material to be released in the US that was simply titled Madness. Also included was this single that had already reached #4 in the UK in late 1981. It couldn't quite find the same audience in the US and peaked just outside of the Top 30. It would be the band's last US Top 40 entry.
ReduxReview: I'm not sure why this song didn't catch on better. Although it's not quite as strong as "Our House," it's still a great tune. The Madness album was one that I wanted back in the day but with little funds, I had to prioritize and it didn't make the cut. They had some other cool tunes like "Michael Caine" (#11 UK), but I don't think any really came close to "Our House" and this one.
ReduxRating: 7/10
Trivia: This is a cover version of a song written and recorded by British singer/songwriter Labi Siffre. His original version was issued as a single in 1971 and it reached #14 on the UK chart. Siffre recorded six LPs between 1970 and 1975 before dropping out of the music scene (he was also a poet and writer). He returned to music in 1987 with the UK #4 anti-Apartheid song "(Something Inside) So Strong." That particular song was covered by Kenny Rogers and served as the title track to his 1989 album. His version would reach #26 on the AC chart. Siffre's 1975 song "I Got The..." would later be sampled by rapper Eminem for his first charting single "My Name Is" (#37 Pop, #18 R&B, #10 Rap).
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