Michael Caine – Madness (1984)

Description

Additional information about this, Madness vinyl art.

Madness – The Artist

Madness are an English ska band from Camden Town, north London, who formed in 1976. One of the most prominent bands of the late 1970s and early 1980s two-tone ska revival, they continue to perform with six of the seven members of their original line-up. The most successful period for the band was from 1980–1986 when Madness spent 214 weeks on the UK singles charts.  The core of the band formed as the North London Invaders in 1976, and included Mike Barson (Monsieur Barso) on keyboards and vocals, Chris Foreman (Chrissy Boy) on guitar and Lee Thompson (Kix) on saxophone and vocals. They later recruited John Hasler on drums and Cathal Smyth (better known as Chas Smash) on bass guitar. Later in the year, they were joined by lead vocalist Dikron Tulane. This six-piece line-up lasted until part-way through 1977, when Graham McPherson (better known as Suggs) took over the lead vocals after seeing the band perform in a friend’s garden. Madness have had 15 singles reach the UK top ten, which include “One Step Beyond”, “Baggy Trousers”, “Wings of a Dove”, “Our House”, “House of Fun” and “It Must Be Love”.  In 2000 the band received the Ivor Novello Award from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors for Outstanding Song Collection.

Michael Caine – The Song

‘Michael Caine’ is a song by British band Madness, released in January 1984 as the first single from their album Keep Moving. The song was written by Carl Smyth and Daniel Woodgate, and features Smyth on lead vocals in place of usual Madness vocalist Suggs. “Michael Caine” spent eight weeks on the British chart, peaking at number 11. The song is about an informer during the Troubles, and the lyrics suggest a state of paranoia and mental disintegration. It is named after English actor Michael Caine and includes his vocal samples, recorded specifically for this song. The song’s hook, a repetition of Caine introducing himself by name, recalls his role in the 1960s spy film The Ipcress File, in which his character, Harry Palmer, repeats his name while trying to stay sane under torture.

Michael Caine – The Shape

This record has been modelled into the silhouette of Michael Caine in the 1960s. Sir Michael Caine, CBE (born Maurice Joseph Micklewhite Jr., 1933) is an English actor, film producer and author. He has appeared in more than 130 films in a career spanning over 60 years and is considered a British film icon. Known for his cockney accent, Caine was born in south-east London. He made his breakthrough in the 1960s with starring roles in British films, including Zulu (1964), The Ipcress File (1965), Alfie (1966), for which he was nominated for an Academy Award, The Italian Job (1969) and Battle of Britain (1969).

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