Embarrassment
BACKGROUND
‘Embarrassment’ was a brave choice for a band who had traded on their sense of fun. Thompson originally had in mind the melody from ‘Ghost Dance’ by Prince Buster, but Mike Barson had other ideas. He created a song which sounded as if Motown’s backing band ‘The Funk Brothers’ had recorded the theme tune for The Sweeney, and its irresistible melody and instrumental swagger rightly rewarded Madness with another Top Five hit single. The 7-inch was backed by an overlooked Barson song, ‘Crying Shame‘, a Coasters-flavoured ditty which was undeniably stronger – melodically, at least – than many of the tracks on Absolutely. Maybe this explained its later choice for the band’s encores.
RELEASE DETAILS
CHART HISTORY
SINGLES
TRACK LISTING
| Disc | Position | Track | Version | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A1 | Embarrassment | 3:10 | |
| 1 | B1 | Crying Shame | 2:36 |
MUSICANS
| Musican | Instrument | Role | Credit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Barson | Piano, Organ, Vibraphone, Marimba, Harmonica | Band | |
| Chris Foreman | Guitar, Sitar, Slide Guitar | Band | |
| Lee Thompson | Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone | Band | |
| Mark Bedford | Bass | Band | |
| Daniel Woodgate | Drums | Band | |
| Graham McPherson | Vocals, Percussion | Band | |
| Cathal Smyth | Backing Vocals, Trumpet | Band |
PRODUCTION CREDITS
| Role | Credited | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Producer | Clive Langer | |
| Producer | Alan Winstanley |
COPYRIGHT AND Licencing
| Ownership | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Copyright © | Stiff Records | |
| Phonographic Copyright ℗ | Stiff Records |
Representation
| Representation | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Record Label | Stiff Records | |
| Publisher | Nutty Sounds Ltd. | |
| Publisher | Warner Chappell Music Ltd. | |
| Recording Studio | Eden Studios |
References
Extensive efforts have been made to gather factual information and knowledge on madness from various sources and document them. These sources include publicly accessible websites, books and publications, historical artefacts, and other pertinent materials. As a result, a comprehensive index of resources has been compiled and integrated into the website. These resources, if relevant to this article, are listed below.
| Reference | Source |
|---|---|
| wikipedia.org | Website |
| discogs.com | Website |
| officialcharts.com | Website |
MADZINE MAGAZINE
ALBUM BY ALBUM, SINGLE BY SINGLE
ABSOLUTELY
Introducing Madzine Magazine, Album by Album, Single by Single, Collection Series Two – a 48-page paperback magazine focusing on the first Madness album released in 1980 and the singles released worldwide from 1980 through 1981 from Absolutely. The magazine covers every aspect of the first album and single releases, making it a must-have for hardcore collectors and casual Madness fans who enjoy reading about the band’s history and catalogue.
Our Madzine Collection Series will meticulously document the Madness Discography as we curate an extensive and comprehensive collection of all things Madness. Using advanced AI search algorithms and an intuitive search function, navigating and discovering within our collection will be effortless and enjoyable. Join us on this exciting journey as we delve into the world of Madness and build the ultimate resource for fans and enthusiasts alike.