The Rise & Fall

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Work

The Rise & Fall was released on 5 November 1982 by Stiff Records and is Madness's fourth studio album. The record began as a concept album about nostalgia for childhood, an idea of Chas Smash. The concept was dropped, but the theme remains audible, especially in Rise and Fall, Sunday Morning and Our House. The producers were Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley.

This is the band's most experimental record, with influences from jazz, English music hall and the East. Blue Skinned Beast is a sharp satire on the prime minister Margaret Thatcher and the Falklands War. A reviewer for AllMusic heard the influence of The Kinks and Ian Dury, but found the record unmistakably Madness, full of humour and cheerfulness. NME called it at the time the group's best record.

Listening

Track list

1. 1Rise and Fall3:17Apple Music ↗
2. 2Tomorrow's (Just Another Day)3:11Apple Music ↗
3. 3Blue Skinned Beast3:23Apple Music ↗
4. 4Primrose Hill3:37Apple Music ↗
5. 5Mr. Speaker (Gets the Word)3:01Apple Music ↗
6. 6Sunday Morning4:02Apple Music ↗
7. 7Our House3:23Apple Music ↗
8. 8Tiptoes3:31Apple Music ↗
9. 9New Delhi3:41Apple Music ↗
10. 10That Face3:40Apple Music ↗
11. 11Calling Cards2:20Apple Music ↗
12. 12Are You Coming (with Me)3:18Apple Music ↗
13. 13Madness (Is All In the Mind)2:53Apple Music ↗
14. 14House Of Fun2:58Apple Music ↗
15. 15Driving in My Car3:19Apple Music ↗

30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗