Absolutely (Madness album) explained

Absolutely
Type:Studio album
Artist:Madness
Cover:Absolutely.jpg
Recorded:1980
Studio:Eden, London
Label:Stiff
Prev Title:Work Rest and Play
Prev Year:1980
Next Title:7
Next Year:1981

Absolutely is the second studio album from the British ska band Madness. The album reached number 2 in the UK album charts.[1]

Absolutely spawned some of the band's biggest hits, most notably "Baggy Trousers", which peaked at number 3 in the UK and spent more than four months in the singles chart. "Embarrassment" reached number 4, and the instrumental "The Return of the Los Palmas 7" climbed to number 7. Although the album reviews were generally less enthusiastic than those of One Step Beyond..., they were mostly positive.

In 2009 and 2010, Madness re-released their back-catalogue of studio albums up to and including 1999's Wonderful with a bonus CD and extra tracks. The re-release of Absolutely has seven bonus tracks plus an additional CD featuring a 1980 concert recorded at the Hammersmith Odeon.

In a 2020 interview with GQ magazine Lee Thompson said it was his favourite Madness album.[2]

Album title

The album is named after one of the oft-said expressions of the band's then tour manager and sound man Tony Duffield.[3]

Cover

The front cover sees the band standing in front of Chalk Farm tube station in Camden. When the original vinyl was released the first, more sombre, cover photograph was changed to a more animated pose after around 10,000 albums were pressed. The two sleeves can be distinguished by keyboardist Mike Barson's holding of the umbrella: in the earlier pressing he holds it up to his chin while in the later, and subsequently used, releases the umbrella is on the ground.[4]

The inner sleeve features a London Underground-style roundel for a railway station called "Cairo East" on one side (this roundel later reappeared in the video for "(Waiting For) The Ghost Train") and a history of the group on the other. The "Cairo East" roundel is illustrated by painter, and former bass player with Kilburn and the High Roads, Humphrey Ocean.[5]

Critical reception

The album received mixed reviews at the time of release.[2] Billboard recommended Absolutely to consumers, noting that it was "less gimmicky and more R&B/funk oriented" than Madness' debut album One Step Beyond..., while still retaining enough of the band's "'nutty' sound" to appeal to fans of the debut.[6] Greil Marcus, however, likened Madness to "the Blues Brothers with English accents" in a scathing review for Rolling Stone that also took aim at fellow ska revivalists the Specials.

In a retrospective review, AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote, "Absolutely does motor ahead on breakneck ska rhythms, but it never quite feels as raw as its predecessor, and that hint of gloss serves the three big hit singles very well." Erlewine felt that Absolutely usually delivers more of the same as the debut in "a highly appealing fashion."

Track listing

2010 reissue

In 2009 and 2010, Madness re-released their entire back catalogue of studio albums until 1999's Wonderful with a bonus CD and extra tracks.

Disc 1

The promo videos:
Disc two
  • BBC live in concert – Hammersmith Odeon, 23.12.80
  • Personnel

    Madness
    Technical
    2010 reissue

    Chart performance

    Chart (1980)Peak
    position
    Total
    weeks
    Dutch Albums Chart[7] 243
    Finnish Albums Chart[8] 243
    German Albums Chart[9] 219
    New Zealand Albums Chart[10] 314
    Norwegian Albums Chart[11] 264
    Swedish Albums Chart[12] 153
    UK Albums Chart[13] 247
    US Billboard Hot 200[14] 1464

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: The Madness Timeline: 1980 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070928002834/http://www.madness.co.uk/time/1980/text.htm . 28 September 2007 . Retrieved 19 June 2007.
    2. Web site: An exclusive interview with Madness to mark 40 years of Absolutely . Chick . Stevie . . 24 December 2020. 1 October 2021.
    3. http://madness.co.uk/time/1980/text.htm
    4. Web site: Smash Hits magazine March 31 – April 13, 1983 page 10.
    5. Web site: Absolutely . . 1 October 2021.
    6. Billboard's Recommended LPs . . 0006-2510 . 85 . 44 . 1 November 1980 . 30 May 2020 . 88, 91 . World Radio History.
    7. http://www.dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Madness&titel=Absolutely&cat=a Absolutely at Dutch Charts
    8. Book: Nyman, Jake . Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja . Tammi . 2005 . 951-31-2503-3 . 1st . Helsinki . 178. fi.
    9. Web site: Media Control Charts . https://web.archive.org/web/20140714140901/http://www.officialcharts.de/album.asp?artist=Madness&title=Absolutely&cat=a&country=de . dead . 14 July 2014 . charts.de . 18 September 2013.
    10. Web site: Steffen Hung . New Zealand charts portal . charts.nz . 14 October 2011.
    11. Web site: Steffen Hung . Norwegian charts portal . norwegiancharts.com . 15 June 2006 . 14 October 2011.
    12. Web site: Steffen Hung . Swedish Charts Portal . swedishcharts.com . 7 October 2011 . 14 October 2011.
    13. Web site: UK Singles & Albums Official Charts Company . . 14 October 2011 .
    14. Web site: AllMusic . AllMusic . 16 September 2011 . 14 October 2011.