13 of Madness’ catchiest songs of all time
Don't they just make you want to boogie?
Last updated 23rd Jan 2024
A true staple in 80s music has to be the catchy songs released by Camden Town based Ska and Pop band Madness. And let's be honest, Madness' iconic songs are still as catchy as ever, being played on the radio and at functions across the country - and their latest album even making it to Number 1.
Many will agree, there's nothing better than dancing around to 'House of Fun' or 'Baggy Trousers', with your family members reminiscing about where they were when that certain single came out, or the memories the songs remind them of. So we've decided to take a trip down memory lane and take a look back at some of Madness' most knee-slapping songs.
And don't forget - you can catch some of Madness' biggest hits on Greatest Hits Radio!
13 of the best and catchiest songs by Madness:
'One Step Beyond'
'One Step Beyond' was released in 1979 and was a single from the album of the same name. The song peaked at Number 7 in the UK, spending 14 weeks in the charts. Interestingly, the song, which features all seven members of the band including lead singer Suggs, was originally written and recorded by the Jamaican ska musician Prince Buster.
Listen to 'One Step Beyond' here on YouTube
'My Girl'
Featuring on Madness' debut album 'One Step Beyond', 'My Girl' was released on 21th December 1979, spending 10 weeks on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at Number 3. Penned by keyboard player Mike Barson, the music video for the single features the band performing the song at the Dublin Castle pub in London.
The song was then re-released in 1992, reaching Number 27 in the UK.
Listen to 'My Girl' here on YouTube
'Night Boat to Cairo'
And it seems like this was the album that kept on giving as 'Night Boat to Cairo' was also a single released from 'One Step Beyond', peaking at Number 6 in the UK charts.
The song was used in 2011 for the Wii game 'Just Dance 3' and even inspired the Israeli hit single 'Rakevet Laila Le-Kahir' (Hebrew for 'Night Train to Cairo') by the Israeli rock group Mashina.
Listen to 'Night Boat to Cairo' here on YouTube
'Baggy Trousers'
From their album 'Absolutely' in 1980, 'Baggy Trousers' was Madness' next single to be released following the success of 'One Step Beyond.' Written by Suggs and the band's guitarist Chris Foreman, the song lyrics reminisce about their school days.
And it seemed to resonate with the nation, as it reached Number 3, spending 20 weeks in the UK charts and becoming the 28th best-selling single of 1980 in the UK.
The song was featured in the 2001 film Mean Machine, and an interesting fact for you - the song's melody was used in a Colgate advert in 1986!
Listen to 'Baggy Trousers' here on YouTube
'Embarrassment'
Released from their second studio album, 'Embarrassment' was a change in Madness' musical direction as a result of the darker lyrics and meaning behind the song.
Mainly written by Lee Thompson, the founder and saxophonist of the British band, the song's lyrics directly discuss Lee's teenage sister who became pregnant and was unmarried, which was frowned upon at the time, and the rejection she faced from her family due to racism back then.
Released in 1980, the single spent 12 weeks in the UK singles chart and reached a high of Number 4.
Listen to 'Embarrassment' here on YouTube
'It Must Be Love'
Reaching Number 4 in the UK charts in 1981, 'It Must Be Love' was released as a single from their third studio album album '7.' The song was also included on the track list for their Number 1 album 'Complete Madness' in 1982.
The song was actually a cover of Labi Siffre's version released 10 years prior, and the single has since gone on to be used in various TV advertisements - including for Vodafone, Midland Bank, and was even the title song for the 2017 film 'The Lovers', starring Debra Winger and Tracy Letts.
Listen to 'It Must Be Love' here on YouTube
'Our House'
One of Madness' most iconic songs, 'Our House', was released as the lead single from the album titled 'The Rise and Fall' in 1982. It was the band's fourth studio album, with the song landing in the top 10 in 10 countries across the globe. In the UK, it peaked at Number 5 and even became their biggest US single to date, peaking at Number 7 in the Billboard Hot 100.
Following its success, the song then became a theme tune for an ITV children's show called Dodger, Bonzo and the Rest in 1985. It also was used in various TV advertisements, including Bird's Eye's, in which Suggs appeared.
A musical under the same title ran for just under a year from 2002-2003 in London's West End, which celebrated all of Madness' most popular songs. The musical is still performed locally, nationally and globally.
Listen to 'Our House' here on YouTube
'House of Fun'
Produced by the band's keyboard player Mike Barson and saxophonist Lee Thompson, 'House of Fun' was released as a one-off single in May 1982. The music video shows the band performing the song on a roller coaster. How they managed to do that we have no idea!
The single reached Number 1 in the UK Singles Chart and spent nine weeks there. Surprisingly, it is the band's only UK Number 1 single, but unsurprisingly, it was voted eighth in an ITV poll which asked the nation what their favourite 1980s songs were.
Listen to 'House of Fun' here on YouTube
'Driving In My Car'
Madness released 'Driving in my Car' in July 1982 as a single from their album 'The Rise and Fall', spending eight weeks in the UK charts, peaking at Number 4.
The record was 13th in a run of 20 consecutive Top 20 singles.
Listen to 'Driving In My Car' here on YouTube
'Wings of a Dove'
'Wings of a Dove' was released in 1983, spending 10 weeks in the British charts and peaking at Number 2.
Written by Suggs and the band's backing singer Chas Smash, the pair share lead vocals on this record. They also teamed up with Creighton Steel Sounds and the gospel choir The Inspirational Choir of the Pentecostal First Born Church of the Living God for the single.
You may even recognise the song from the 1999 American romantic comedy '10 Things I Hate About You', which shot the song back into the mainstream.
Listen to 'Wings of a Dove' here on YouTube
'One Better Day'
'One Better Day' was released in June 1984, featuring on their fifth studio album 'Keep Moving'. Peaking at Number 18, the song spent seven weeks in the charts.
The track offered a slightly slower tempo from the group, and was written by Suggs and bassist Mark Bedford. Speaking about the track's conception, Suggs told Daniel Rachel, for the book Isle of Noise: Conversations with Great Songwriters: "The idea of that song was when you'd hear people say, 'Oh, he's seen better days,' like when you see a guy in a suit looking a bit tatty. I thought, 'What was that one better day?' Then I had the idea that he would meet this other homeless person that happened to be a woman - and they fell in love. Between them they could engender one better day as people who had, supposedly, seen better days."
Listen to 'One Better Day' here on YouTube
'The Sun and the Rain'
'The Sun and the Rain' was released in October 1983, and following its release peaked at Number 5 in the UK - spending a total of 10 weeks in the chart. Achieving success across the pond in the U.S., it was also their last single to chart in the Billboard Hot 100.
The track was penned by keyboardist Mike Barson, and has been praised as "a shade more traditional than some of their previous works".
Listen to 'The Sun and the Rain' here on YouTube
'Uncle Sam'
Released in October 1985, 'Uncle Sam' peaked at Number 21 in the UK charts, living on to be one of the band's most popular tracks. Spending 11 weeks in the UK Singles Chart in total, the song went on to feature on their greatest hits albuma 'Divine Madness', 'Total Madness' and 'The Business'.
Along with the themed music video, the song's lyrics are said to be that of the narrative of a soldier's experiences in the Second World War.
Listen to 'Uncle Sam' here on YouTube
Now read:
Madness: Everything you need to know about the 'Our House' icons
45 of your favourite music icons: Then and now
Madness' Suggs reveals his first record and the mischievous way he acquired it