Sunday, February 13, 2011

For Valentine's Day, 2011: Madness "It Must Be Love"




PhotobucketThis is one of the best songs on the original "Madness" album released in the USA. Very appropriate for Valentine's Day. I'd like to dedicate this one to Shirley and wish you all some Valentine happiness these coming days.

(Note: "doug's site" does not endorse playing electric musical instruments in
swimming pools, chlorinated or otherwise.)

From the ever useful Wikipedia site:

"The original Labi Siffre recording was released as a single in 1971, and reached number 14 in the UK singles chart. It also appeared on his 1972 album Crying Laughing Loving Lying.


"Madness' version was originally issued as a standalone single in 1981 and appeared on their UK number one compilation album Complete Madness the following year, and on many other Madness compilations since. In 1983, it peaked in the US Billboard Magazine chart at #33."


"The video mostly shows band members playing in a white room and standing over a grave. It also features guitarist Chris Foreman and saxophonist Lee Thompson playing their instruments underwater. Foreman appears at the start of the video warning viewers not to attempt the "very dangerous stunt" they are about to see, presumably referring to the swimming pool sequence. Labi Siffre makes a cameo appearance as a violin player."


"Madness' recording was re-issued in 1992, and this time reached #6 in the UK charts."

23 comments:

  1. I must be a geek, because I was pretty fond of the band, Madness....

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  2. I always liked this song. I hope you and your wife have a great valentines day

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  3. My kids always liked Madness (the 'kids' are almost pensioners now) so by the time this came out I was already a miserable old fart saying things like the Stones knocks spots off them. I have since grown to like Madness and have stopped negatively comparing them with Frank Zappa, this is a good song, a very homely sounding song to me and a great choice.

    Have a great Valentines Day both of you :-)

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  4. Put me down as a Brother Geek as well, Will. ;-)

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  5. Thanks, and you too Fred. I think its great this song pops up so often in romantic-comedies (the ones Shirley makes me watch in exchange for cooking dinner now and then.)

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  6. Yes, time flies, AA, especially if one gets a glimpse or an earful of what the younger fry are into at the Music World.

    I and the missus were at a sterile movie multi-plex the other night and as I walk out of the show there was a sudden avalanche of 'tween girls and a few lads and such in the lobby, hopping about and chattering like they had just at a live rock show. Instead of a typical 2-D movie.


    Turned out this five screen popcorn- blockhouse/arcade room was also showing a movie with this warbling teen idol named Justin Bieber called "Never Say Never". (Odd title that, don't you think. He's a kid--like sixteen or twelve or something. How can he do a film with a title like he's finally getting some recognition after a long career paying his dues?! He's not even old enough to smoke a flaming cigarette without getting collared! )

    I caught myself feeling really crotchety there. It was just Beatlemania or Springsteen mania (what have you) for a generation that sees me as somebody's grandfather.

    Thanks AA.

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  7. I cook more often than that and I seem still to see those movies

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  8. It's simply a burden we men must bear. ;-)

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  9. I can't say I have heard of them but interesting and appropriate for this occasion...
    A rather fun easy going band....Doug.

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  10. I hadn't heard of them, either, but they're delightful . Thanks for sharing, Doug. Good Saint Valentine's to 'ya.

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  11. as long as they continue to hang with us makes it all good

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  12. Doug you may get a kick out of this as Harrison financed this Monty Python version of the Beatles called, " The Rutles "

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  13. Glad I could iintroduce them to you, Sigurd. And a happy holiday to you as well.

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  14. Yeah, that was a classic bit of spoofery. Haven't that one since '87 or so. I know Harrison was a major Python fan from the start of the original series.

    Thanks Jack.

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  15. I couldn't resist as it was the first thing that came to mind and within this blog I thought I would make the add just to get a hoot as
    Doug & Sig - the Beatles where love and then this spin off was all too funny. The Rutles believe it or not just like The Beatles have
    bands out there believe it our not that tour as replicas....

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  16. Doug when I saw your title, "It Must Be Love" it was my reflex...

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  17. I'm glad that it was. They could have fooled me.

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  18. How cute, Doug! Thanks for sharing this.

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  19. Better late than never I hope, sorry for only just catching up with this Doug. I have to declare a special interest as a huge, huge Madness fan. When first released I was unsure about the song choice and would have preferred a self-penned song over a cover, however over this has become a firm favourite particularly at their live shows. The video is great - the warning at the beginning was prompted from when they first showed it on TOTP and the FB presenter made a comment about it not setting a good example. The band always said they thought it was ridiculous

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  20. Better late than never I hope, sorry for only just catching up with this Doug. I have to declare a special interest as a huge, huge Madness fan. When first released I was unsure about the song choice and would have preferred a self-penned song over a cover, however over this has become a firm favourite particularly at their live shows. The video is great - the warning at the beginning was prompted from when they first showed it on TOTP and the FB presenter made a comment about it not setting a good example. The band always said they thought it was ridiculous reprimand, hence the tongue in cheek warning. The song featured in a favourite film of mine, The Tall Guy starring Jeff Goldblum and Emma Thompson

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  21. Oh sod this! I'll complete this when I get back to a PC with a proper keyboard!!

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