Album of the Day

Named after a Prince Buster song, Madness was among the most successful ska revival bands to emerge from England in the late 1970s. Released just over 40 years ago, debut album ONE STEP BEYOND captures the London sextet at its exuberant best (the collection also marks the debut of the Clive Langer - Alan Winstanley production team, who would later helm albums by Elvis Costello, Morrissey, David Bowie and others). “The Prince,” “Night Boat to Cairo” and the title track are but a few of the winners on the Sire set, which spent more than a year on the U.K. album chart, peaking at #2. Suggs and company declared their manic mash-up of styles “the heavy-heavy monster sound … the nuttiest sound around,” and if the gleeful ONE STEP BEYOND doesn't make you want to kick up your heels, you'd better check your pulse...