Madness

When Madness released this "Lovestruck" single on July 24, 1999, it was a major event in pop music history. Besides being the first new Madness single since "Waiting for the Ghost Train" in 1986 and their first Top Ten hit since "The Sun and the Rain" in 1983, it also marked a return to peak form for one of the premiere singles bands in two decades of British pop. "Lovestruck" is an intoxicatingly catchy pop tune in the vein of early '80s Madness songs like "Our House" or "Sun and the Rain." An alcoholic's ode to the bottle ("All I want to do is fall in love with you/A nightcap in the early morning dew"), it is a clever bit of songwriting by pianist Mike Barson, probably the band's best composer, and sax man Lee Thompson, who is arguably their best lyricist. The first edition of the single also contains a previously unreleased track called "Round and Round." It's a fairly competent song, but like many B-sides, it's easy to see why this one didn't make the album. The third track, "Maddley," is a medley of material from the new album, Wonderful. (Get it? Maddley, medley? There's just no such thing as too many "madness" puns.) The track was undoubtedly a keen attraction for avid fans desperate for a sneak preview of the first new Madness album in 14 years, but when the album hit the market three months after the release of the single, "Maddley" ceased to be a reason to buy this edition. ~ Evan Cater, All Music Guide