7 (Madness album)

Critical reception

In a retrospective review for AllMusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine described 7 as "a great leap forward" for Madness, noting that while "they're still clearly the same nutty band that tore it up with One Step Beyond", the album "finds the group expanding its horizons considerably, ratcheting up the melodious pop quotient in their songwriting, as well as the distinctly English character sketches."

Track listing

There were several different versions of the album released throughout the world. Some territories removed the not so tourist-friendly "Day on the Town" while others replaced it with "Never Ask Twice (a.k.a. Aeroplane/Airplane)", which was issued on the "Shut Up" 12" single in the UK. In Belgium "Never Ask Twice" was issued on a one-sided 7" single with initial copies of the album. France renamed "Day on the Town" as "A Place in the City". Australia added "It Must Be Love" and "Never Ask Twice", Spain replaced "Cardiac Arrest" with "It Must Be Love" and Japan added "In the City", which was issued there as a single after it was initially written for and used to promote Honda City cars in television commercials.

Initial vinyl pressings featured different mixes of some tracks (most notably "Mrs Hutchinson" and "Day on the Town"), which haven't been used since.

2010 reissue

In 2009 and 2010, Madness re-released their entire back catalogue of studio albums up until 1999's Wonderful with a bonus CD and extra tracks. 7 was reissued by Union Square Music's collector's label Salvo on 12 April 2010.

; CD 1 ; The original album : *The first disc contains the thirteen tracks from the original album plus four promo videos. ; The promo videos

1. Grey Day
2. Shut Up
3. It Must be Love
4. Cardiac Arrest

;CD 2

Personnel

Madness

• Graham "Suggs" McPherson – lead vocals
• Mike Barson – piano, organ, vibes, marimba, tubular bells
• Chris Foreman – guitar, sitar
• Mark Bedford – bass
• Lee Thompson – saxophones, burps, squeaks, lead vocals on track 10
• Daniel Woodgate – drums, congas
• Chas Smash – backing vocals, trumpet

Technical

• Clive Langer – producer, engineer
• Alan Winstanley – producer, engineer
• Arun Chakraverty – mastering
• Stella Artwork – cover
• C-More – cover
• Mike Putland – photography

2010 reissue

• Dale Griffin – producer on Richard Skinner session
• Mike Engels – engineer on Richard Skinner session
• Tim Turan – remastering
• Martin 'Cally' Callomon – art direction, design
• David Quantick – liner notes

Chart performance

Album

Singles

Certifications and sales

References

References

1. "The Madness Timeline: 1981". Madness Official Website.
2. "Madness - Madness 7". [[British Phonographic Industry.
3. "Chris Cupboard - Madness".
4. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "''7'' – Madness". [[AllMusic]].
5. Earls, John. (May–June 2021). "Madness: ''7''".
6. Harrison, Ian. (May 2010). "Madness: ''7''".
7. Dalton, Nick. (August 2021). "Madness: ''7''".
8. Ludgate, Simon. (3 October 1981). "Heaven 7".
9. Considine, J. D.. (2004). "The New Rolling Stone Album Guide". [[Simon & Schuster]].
10. Silverton, Pete. (1–14 October 1981). "Madness: ''7'' (Stiff)".
11. Burkham, Chris. (3 October 1981). "More Mad!".
12. Lewis, John. (May 2010). "Madness: ''Absolutely'' / ''7''".
13. (January 2010). "10. Full details of the Seven re-issue tracklisting". Madness Central Newsletter: Issue 15.
14. [http://www.dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Madness&titel=7&cat=a ''7'' at '' Dutch Charts''] Retrieved 18 June 2013
15. Steffen Hung. "Swedish Charts Portal". swedishcharts.com.
16. "UK Singles & Albums Official Charts Company". [[Official Charts Company]].