There aren’t many British bands whose music is quite as instantly recognisable as Madness. Whether it’s Our House, Baggy Trousers, It Must Be Love or One Step Beyond, their songs have been part of British life for generations.
And now, fans will have the chance to revisit the albums that started it all.
Madness have announced that their first five studio albums will be reissued on 29 January 2027, with each available on CD, 180g black vinyl and a limited-edition coloured vinyl.
The collection includes One Step Beyond… (1979), Absolutely (1980), 7 (1981), The Rise & Fall (1982) and Keep Moving (1984), taking listeners back to the years when seven lads from Camden became one of Britain’s most successful bands.
It’s a wonderful opportunity to revisit a period when Madness seemed to be everywhere, delivering hit after hit while creating a sound that was unmistakably their own.
And the band seem to be enjoying the trip down memory lane just as much as their fans.
“Five albums, a fair few dodgy haircuts and more than a couple of tunes that have stood the test of time!” they said.
“It’s quite something to look back at those early records and realise how much mischief we managed to get up to. We’re chuffed to be giving them a new lease of life and hope they bring back a few memories for those who were there the first time around, as well as hopefully finding their way into the collections of a new generation of Nutty Boys and Girls.”
The reissues have been given special attention, with new vinyl remasters created in 2026 using transfers from the original quarter-inch master tapes.
Each album also retains its original artwork, while the complete lyrics to songs written by Madness are included for the first time across the reissues.
For vinyl collectors, there’s another reason to be excited. Each album will have its own coloured pressing, available as a one-time release that won’t be repressed.
- One Step Beyond… – Violet
- Absolutely – Blue
- 7 – Silver
- The Rise & Fall – Red
- Keep Moving – White
It’s a lovely way to celebrate five albums that each played an important part in the band’s story.
Their 1979 debut, One Step Beyond…, was recorded in around three weeks with producers Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley. Featuring My Girl, Night Boat To Cairo, The Prince and the unforgettable title track, it reached number two in the UK and went Platinum.
Just a year later, Madness followed it with Absolutely, another number two album that gave us Baggy Trousers, Embarrassment and Return Of The Los Palmas 7.
By the time 7 arrived in 1981, the band were continuing to develop their songwriting, with tracks including Grey Day, Shut Up and Cardiac Arrest. The new edition will also feature their much-loved version of Labi Siffre’s It Must Be Love as a bonus track.
Then came The Rise & Fall in 1982, an album that included one of the band’s biggest and most enduring songs, Our House.
The single reached number five in the UK, became their only Top 10 hit in America and won Best Pop Song at the 1983 Ivor Novello Awards.
It’s one of those songs that can instantly transport you back to a particular time or place, whether you remember hearing it when it was first released or discovered it years later.
The collection finishes with 1984’s Keep Moving, the band’s final album for Stiff Records.
Featuring Michael Caine and One Better Day, the reissue will also include Wings Of A Dove and The Sun And The Rain, making this the first vinyl edition to bring together the complete album and all four singles from that period.
Looking back at those five records, it’s remarkable just how much music Madness released in such a relatively short space of time.
Between 1980 and 1986, their singles spent a combined 214 weeks on the UK Singles Chart, a joint record for a group during that decade.
But what’s particularly special about Madness is that their music has never really disappeared.
Their songs continue to be played, enjoyed and passed between generations, and the band themselves are still making music and performing.
In 2023, they released Theatre Of The Absurd Presents C’est La Vie, which became their first number one studio album after more than four decades together.
Their greatest hits collection Hit Parade followed in November 2025, reaching the UK Top 10.
The upcoming reissues also arrive following the BFI’s restoration of the band’s 1981 film Take It Or Leave It, which has received a new 4K restoration and its first BFI Blu-ray and DVD release.
And there will be plenty of opportunities to enjoy Madness live next summer.
The band have announced ten outdoor UK shows between 19 June and 24 July 2027, finishing with a performance at Rock N Roll Circus in London’s Gunnersbury Park.
For fans who grew up with the original records, the reissues offer a chance to revisit some wonderful memories. For those discovering Madness for the first time, they’re an opportunity to explore the albums behind so many familiar songs.
And with five albums, a collection of colourful vinyl editions and a summer of live music ahead, there’s certainly plenty for Nutty Boys and Girls to look forward to.
Madness will release One Step Beyond…, Absolutely, 7, The Rise & Fall and Keep Moving on 29 January 2027.
All five will be available on black vinyl, limited-edition coloured vinyl and CD. One Step Beyond…, Absolutely and 7 will be available worldwide, while The Rise & Fall and Keep Moving will be available worldwide excluding the USA and Canada.
Pre-order here.
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