release date: Apr. 23, 1982
format: digital (2003 reissue)
[album rate: 4 / 5]
producer: Clive Langer, Alan Winstanley
label: Virgin Records - nationality: England, UK
1st best of compilation album by Madness originally released by Stiff Records - the vinyl issue of the album was attached with an additional label saying: "16 Hit tracks".
The album is issued after only three studio albums, but it does fill out its role. Madness is by many associated with singles, specific songs and their always British comedy-directed videos.
In retrospect there are better albums compiling the band's material, but for someone looking for an album compiling the bad's earliest period this is a fine collection of songs. Six songs stem from the debut album One Step Beyond... (1979); four from the second album Absolutely (1980); three songs are taken from the most recent album 7 (1981); two A-side singles and one B-side are also included: "It Must Be Love" (cover of Labi Siffre 1971 song) from Nov. '81, "House of Fun" to be released May '82 (after this album release), and "In the City" (originally the B-side to 'Cardiac Arrest') from Feb. '82.
My only regret about it is the random order of the songs.
[ allmusic.com 5 / 5 stars ]
