Universal Madness

Universal Madness
Live album by
Madness
Released2 March 1999
Recorded26 April 1998
VenueUniversal Amphitheatre, Los Angeles
Genre
Length43:48
LabelGoldenvoice
Madness chronology
Total Madness – The Very Best of Madness
(1997) 		Universal Madness
(1999) 		Wonderful
(1999)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic link

Universal Madness is the second live album by ska/pop band Madness, released on 2 March 1999 (see 1999 in music) through the Goldenvoice label.[1] It was recorded at the Universal Amphitheater on 26 April 1998 in Los Angeles. The show was Madness' first in America since 1984.[2]

Reception

As the album features most of the band's singles, it "ultimately serves as mere nostalgia," according to AllMusic, "not quite a hollow experience, but not an epiphany either." They felt that while the album "doesn't disappoint too greatly, it rarely captures the giddy glee Madness can pull off," adding that the band "sounds fine in a workmanlike way."[3] Trouser Press wrote, "The musicianship is tight as ever ([Lee] Thompson sounds particularly inspired on sax) and the sound quality is good, but [Graham] McPherson's singing falters more and more as the disc goes on. ... Madstock! is the better choice for anyone searching for a disc of live Madness."[2]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."One Step Beyond"Cecil Campbell3:25
2."Embarrassment"Mike Barson, Lee Thompson3:14
3."The Prince"Thompson3:28
4."The Sun and the Rain"Barson3:52
5."My Girl"Barson2:51
6."Shut Up"Graham McPherson, Chris Foreman3:21
7."Baggy Trousers"McPherson, Foreman2:37
8."It Must Be Love"Labi Siffre3:39
9."Bed and Breakfast Man"Barson2:21
10."Our House"Cathal Smyth, Foreman3:52
11."Swan Lake"
3:27
12."Night Boat to Cairo"McPherson, Barson4:02
13."Madness"Campbell3:39

Personnel

Madness
Technical
  • Cedric Singleton – executive producer
  • Guy Charbonneau – engineer
  • Charlie Bouis – assistant engineer
  • Jerry Finn – mixing
  • Chuck Sperry – artwork
  • Ron Donovan – layout, design

References

  1. ^ "Madness Plan Two New Albums". MTV. 12 January 1999. Retrieved 29 October 2021.[dead link‍]
  2. ^ a b Young, Jon; Robbins, Ira; Schinder, Scott; Neugebauer, Delvin. "Madness". Trouser Press. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  3. ^ Pearson, Paul. "Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 October 2021.


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