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Work Rest and Play

December 18, 2023

Work Rest and Play is an EP by British ska/pop band Madness. The EP was headlined by the song "Night Boat to Cairo", from the band's debut studio album One Step Beyond... (1979). It entered the UK Singles Chart on 5 April 1980, reaching a high of number 6.[1]

Work Rest and Play
EP by
Madness
ReleasedMarch 1980
Recorded1979–1980
Genre
Length12:02
LabelStiff Records
Producer
Madness chronology
One Step Beyond...
(1979) 		Work Rest and Play
(1980) 		Absolutely
(1980)

Background edit

After the release of "My Girl", the band felt that they had exhausted the material from One Step Beyond..., and did not want to release any more singles from the album.[1] However, Dave Robinson, head of Stiff Records, disagreed.[1] Eventually, a compromise was made, and the band decided to release an EP featuring one album track and three new tracks.[1] The Work Rest and Play EP was the result.

Content edit

The EP's success was largely down to "Night Boat to Cairo", which headlined the set and had an accompanying music video. The fourth song, "Don't Quote Me On That", was a commentary on press coverage which had tried to paint the band as racists who supported the National Front (NF). Some of the band's shows had been disrupted by skinhead violence and, in a 1979 NME interview, Madness member Chas Smash was quoted as saying "We don't care if people are in the NF as long as they're having a good time." This was quoted to add to the speculation that Madness was a racist band supporting the National Front, although the band members denied those allegations.[2]

A promotional 12" single was issued in the UK featuring "Don't Quote Me on That" backed with "Swan Lake" from the One Step Beyond... studio album. The version of "Don't Quote Me on That" is a different, shorter mix from the one eventually used on the UK EP, and seems to have been used in all European countries outside the UK. It can be heard during the opening titles of the Madness film Take It or Leave It.

The 2010 re-release of the band's first studio album One Step Beyond... includes the three original songs from the Work Rest and Play EP as bonus tracks on a second CD.

International releases edit

Releases varied. Some countries opted to issue "Night Boat to Cairo" as a two-track 45rpm single, containing a variety of B-sides: in France "Swan Lake"; in Belgium "The Young and the Old" and in Germany "Don't Quote Me on That". In the Netherlands "Night Boat to Cairo" was the B-side and "Tarzan's Nuts" from One Step Beyond... was the A-side of the 45rpm single, this is in addition to the 33rpm EP which was also issued there. In Portugal, the EP featured a different mix of "Night Boat To Cairo".

In the UK 45rpm DJ and jukebox editions were printed up with "Deceives the Eye" as the B-side. In Italy a 33rpm 12" single was released with "Un Passo Avanti" ("One Step Beyond" sung in Italian) and "Night Boat to Cairo" on one side and "The Young and the Old" and "Don't Quote Me on That" on the other.

When Japan released the "Grey Day"-led 6-track 12" EP in 1981, it contained the three 1980-recorded Work Rest and Play EP tracks, two of which were alternate mixes; the aforementioned "Don't Quote Me on That" plus "Deceives the Eye" which ends cleanly without Suggs's echoing, fading vocal.

"Night Boat to Cairo" music video edit

 
Lee Thompson plays saxophone.

After the decision to issue the EP, a promotional music video was needed. However, there was a lack of time before the release, and not enough to make an effective one.[1] As "Night Boat to Cairo" was the leading track from the EP, a music video of the song was created to represent the EP as a whole.

Madness filmed a karaoke type video in front of a blatantly chroma keyed backdrop of an Egyptian pyramid, with the lyrics appearing on screen in "bouncing ball" style as Suggs sang them.[1] During the long instrumental sections of the song, the band often run around the set, marching and performing their signature "Nutty Train".

Despite the video's poor effects and unprofessional feel, it became very popular amongst fans.[1] This is possibly due to the carefree nature and fooling around of the band, probably down to the large amount of alcohol drunk while filming.[1]

Track listing edit

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Night Boat to Cairo"Graham McPherson, Mike Barson3:30
2."Deceives the Eye"Mark Bedford, Chris Foreman1:58
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The Young and the Old"McPherson, Barson2:03
2."Don't Quote Me on That"Peter Tosh, Chas Smash4:31

Personnel edit

Madness

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "The Madness Timeline: 1980". Retrieved on 19 June 2007.
  2. ^ "The Madness Timeline: 1979". Retrieved on 19 June 2007.

External links edit

  • Work Rest and Play at Discogs (list of releases)

December 18, 2023
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Work Rest and Play is an EP by British ska pop band Madness The EP was headlined by the song Night Boat to Cairo from the band s debut studio album One Step Beyond 1979 It entered the UK Singles Chart on 5 April 1980 reaching a high of number 6 1 Work Rest and PlayEP by MadnessReleasedMarch 1980Recorded1979 1980GenreSka 2 toneLength12 02LabelStiff RecordsProducerClive Langer Alan WinstanleyMadness chronologyOne Step Beyond 1979 Work Rest and Play 1980 Absolutely 1980 Contents 1 Background 2 Content 3 International releases 4 Night Boat to Cairo music video 5 Track listing 6 Personnel 7 Notes 8 External linksBackground editAfter the release of My Girl the band felt that they had exhausted the material from One Step Beyond and did not want to release any more singles from the album 1 However Dave Robinson head of Stiff Records disagreed 1 Eventually a compromise was made and the band decided to release an EP featuring one album track and three new tracks 1 The Work Rest and Play EP was the result Content editThe EP s success was largely down to Night Boat to Cairo which headlined the set and had an accompanying music video The fourth song Don t Quote Me On That was a commentary on press coverage which had tried to paint the band as racists who supported the National Front NF Some of the band s shows had been disrupted by skinhead violence and in a 1979 NME interview Madness member Chas Smash was quoted as saying We don t care if people are in the NF as long as they re having a good time This was quoted to add to the speculation that Madness was a racist band supporting the National Front although the band members denied those allegations 2 A promotional 12 single was issued in the UK featuring Don t Quote Me on That backed with Swan Lake from the One Step Beyond studio album The version of Don t Quote Me on That is a different shorter mix from the one eventually used on the UK EP and seems to have been used in all European countries outside the UK It can be heard during the opening titles of the Madness film Take It or Leave It The 2010 re release of the band s first studio album One Step Beyond includes the three original songs from the Work Rest and Play EP as bonus tracks on a second CD International releases editReleases varied Some countries opted to issue Night Boat to Cairo as a two track 45rpm single containing a variety of B sides in France Swan Lake in Belgium The Young and the Old and in Germany Don t Quote Me on That In the Netherlands Night Boat to Cairo was the B side and Tarzan s Nuts from One Step Beyond was the A side of the 45rpm single this is in addition to the 33rpm EP which was also issued there In Portugal the EP featured a different mix of Night Boat To Cairo In the UK 45rpm DJ and jukebox editions were printed up with Deceives the Eye as the B side In Italy a 33rpm 12 single was released with Un Passo Avanti One Step Beyond sung in Italian and Night Boat to Cairo on one side and The Young and the Old and Don t Quote Me on That on the other When Japan released the Grey Day led 6 track 12 EP in 1981 it contained the three 1980 recorded Work Rest and Play EP tracks two of which were alternate mixes the aforementioned Don t Quote Me on That plus Deceives the Eye which ends cleanly without Suggs s echoing fading vocal Night Boat to Cairo music video edit nbsp Lee Thompson plays saxophone After the decision to issue the EP a promotional music video was needed However there was a lack of time before the release and not enough to make an effective one 1 As Night Boat to Cairo was the leading track from the EP a music video of the song was created to represent the EP as a whole Madness filmed a karaoke type video in front of a blatantly chroma keyed backdrop of an Egyptian pyramid with the lyrics appearing on screen in bouncing ball style as Suggs sang them 1 During the long instrumental sections of the song the band often run around the set marching and performing their signature Nutty Train Despite the video s poor effects and unprofessional feel it became very popular amongst fans 1 This is possibly due to the carefree nature and fooling around of the band probably down to the large amount of alcohol drunk while filming 1 Track listing editSide oneNo TitleWriter s Length1 Night Boat to Cairo Graham McPherson Mike Barson3 302 Deceives the Eye Mark Bedford Chris Foreman1 58 Side twoNo TitleWriter s Length1 The Young and the Old McPherson Barson2 032 Don t Quote Me on That Peter Tosh Chas Smash4 31Personnel editMadnessGraham Suggs McPherson lead vocals Mike Barson keyboards Chris Foreman electric guitar Mark Bedford bass guitar Lee Thompson saxophone Daniel Woodgate drums Chas Smash backing vocals lead vocals on Don t Quote Me on That Notes edit a b c d e f g h The Madness Timeline 1980 Retrieved on 19 June 2007 The Madness Timeline 1979 Retrieved on 19 June 2007 External links editWork Rest and Play at Discogs list of releases Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Work Rest and Play amp oldid 1158577363, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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