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Madness — One Step Beyond
Album: One Step Beyond...
Avg rating:
7.1

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2987









Released: 1979
Length: 2:16
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Hey you, don't watch that
Watch this!
This is the heavy heavy monster sound
The nuttiest sound around
So if you've come in off the street
And you're beginning to feel the heat
Well listen buster
You better start to move your feet
To the rockinest, rock-steady beat
Of Madness!

One step beyond!
Comments (405)add comment
A goofy, fun anthem for the times. 
Madness = instant smile. Enjoy this and enjoy life.

Wacky concerts too, btw.
 msbolton wrote:

Somewhere in my loft, probably covered in mouse and bat shit, is a 1964 single called Al Capone by Prince Buster's All Stars. The B-side is One Step Beyond. When the British Ska bands became successful in the 1970s, I ignored them because I thought that they were simply ripping off Jamaican artists like Prince Buster. I guess that's where they were getting their inspiration but I now see that bands like Madness were not just copying - they brought something new to the party.




ska was pretty much open about their reggae influences, I think
 fredriley wrote:

DIY. This isn't your station, and not your decision as to what does, or doesn't, go on the playlist.

Nor is it yours.  Keep your comments to yourself 
 msbolton wrote:

Somewhere in my loft, probably covered in mouse and bat shit, is a 1964 single called Al Capone by Prince Buster's All Stars. The B-side is One Step Beyond. When the British Ska bands became successful in the 1970s, I ignored them because I thought that they were simply ripping off Jamaican artists like Prince Buster. I guess that's where they were getting their inspiration but I now see that bands like Madness were not just copying - they brought something new to the party.


Cool story. Thank you for sharing it!
 Paul_H wrote:

I know very little about Madness, but if this isn't their most annoying song I'd be surprised. 




If this isn't your most annoying comment, I'd be surprised!
I know very little about Madness, but if this isn't their most annoying song I'd be surprised. 
Chair dance inducing.
Somewhere in my loft, probably covered in mouse and bat shit, is a 1964 single called Al Capone by Prince Buster's All Stars. The B-side is One Step Beyond. When the British Ska bands became successful in the 1970s, I ignored them because I thought that they were simply ripping off Jamaican artists like Prince Buster. I guess that's where they were getting their inspiration but I now see that bands like Madness were not just copying - they brought something new to the party.
 tferguso wrote:

Please more ska. I almost never hear it on RP.

Why is that?  Is it just me, or is it one of the genres that just doesn't make it onto RP much?




I Agree!!   MORE SKA!!
Please more ska. I almost never hear it on RP.

Why is that?  Is it just me, or is it one of the genres that just doesn't make it onto RP much?
Thanks for providing the lyrics. Quite helpful.
Excellent!!!
it doesn't matter the age of the song. Perfect !!!
 bbgun wrote:

Was finally lined up to see these fellas, along with English Beat, but then COVID came and changed all that. Hoping they can come back if/ when we get live music back up and running... was so looking forward to an evening of ska-mania!



Oh man. I would be right there with you, skanking myself stupid! (Which, given my age & fitness level wouldn't take very long).
this is so great! Madness!!!!
This music has the warmth and creative glow of a used Styrofoam food container...
The Dude really moves!
 On_The_Beach wrote:
Yep, pretty sure this breaks all the Covid protocols! . . .

 
but what a great song to out on!
Yep, pretty sure this breaks all the Covid protocols! . . .

Was finally lined up to see these fellas, along with English Beat, but then COVID came and changed all that. Hoping they can come back if/ when we get live music back up and running... was so looking forward to an evening of ska-mania!
 newbolddrive wrote:
Ugh...this song always reminds me of the weird theatre kids in high school...
 

sounds like you were an REO Speedwagon fan
 kcar wrote:
 

Jolly skankin' good times with the lads
Ugh...this song always reminds me of the weird theatre kids in high school...
 Schmoogsley wrote:
Good Lord, you guys are still jamming to this? There's no hope for you. lol 
 

Man, you must really feel sorry for all the classical musical listeners!
One of my favorites from High School!  Used to listen to this on my cassette :)
Sweet merciful crap! Immediately, I am transported back in time to London, 1979.
What a time it was...
Image result for one step beyond gif"
If you like this kind of music, you should also give a try to


KING AUTOMATIC - here comes the terror
I have to give props for this gif. I work 4 til midnight in the UK and we have Radio Paradise playing in the background in the office every day. I looked round to see the monitor on our wall, and I see THE DUDE grooving away to Madness. I'm in the office on my own right now, and absolutely wetting myself with laughter. Absolutely has made my night. Kudos.

dlaumor wrote:


 

Good Lord, you guys are still jamming to this? There's no hope for you. lol 
 KurtfromLaQuinta wrote:

It really is.

 
It really isn't.  Don't be the equivalent of a black hole when it comes to fun music.
 ziggytrix wrote:
How many rudeboys does it take to change a light bulb?

Four. One to drop it, and 3 to "pick it up! pick it up! pick it up!" {#Bananasplit}

 
+1
 ScottishWillie wrote:
Such a good album cover. And the contents isn't half bad either!

 
It really is.
I remember being in London and seeing this video when it first came out and getting blown away.  Brilliant.  Two tone glory.  And then I got to hear it in Spanish.  Un Paso Adelante.  Double brilliant.
Ugh.  This sounds even more repugnant after the sublime Billie Holiday.
More Madness! More ska!
 CaptainPicard wrote:
I saw them perform at 013 in Tilburg, The Netherlands last December. One of the best nights of my life. Never saw so many middle aged, bolding, overweigth men going nuts on this song and gasping for air when it finished. Great fun!

 
HEY....I resemble that remark  {#Dancingbanana_2}{#Dancingbanana_2}{#Dancingbanana_2}{#Dancingbanana_2}{#Dancingbanana_2}{#Dancingbanana_2}{#Dancingbanana_2}


 timmus wrote:

ONE STEP BEYOND!

Also why the hell is this being rated almost a full point below Caro Emerald "ooh I gotta love that man"?

 
Because Caro Emerald never had a US release or heavy rotation stateside, so RP listeners stateside can listen to it objectively instead of as "over-played garbage". (That said, I totally dig pretty much everything I've heard from Caro Emerald.)

Love hearing this, especially after a few quiet, introspective songs. Livens things up.
The trifecta of Madness, Ferris' Cameron and the Dude has just given me the giggles.
Had to get a chuckle out of this. I'm old enough to remember when this was in steady rotation on MTV. Long ago and far away...

ONE STEP BEYOND!

Also why the hell is this being rated almost a full point below Caro Emerald "ooh I gotta love that man"?
I saw them perform at 013 in Tilburg, The Netherlands last December. One of the best nights of my life. Never saw so many middle aged, bolding, overweigth men going nuts on this song and gasping for air when it finished. Great fun!
Intemporal sing{#Bananajam}
Any band that creates music which in turn creates a response from their audience that registers on the Richter Scale (true story) deserves a 9 as a minimum. 
How many rudeboys does it take to change a light bulb?

Four. One to drop it, and 3 to "pick it up! pick it up! pick it up!" {#Bananasplit}
Oh God, not this crap again. 
Dude!!!!
 dlaumor wrote:


 
Madness Abides. {#Roflol}
Always gets me up outta my chair and dancing around the room. 

Most excellent! 
Such a good album cover. And the contents isn't half bad either!
One step beyond!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Quite timely seeing  as the great Prince Buster 'King of Ska' has just passed away yesterday at 78.
They even had the class to name the band after one of his songs.
 dlaumor wrote:


Has Robert Plant taken up eating and DIY?

 


Ohgoddammit.... Ska!... my secret kryptonite.
Reaction to Madness
What a great night here on RP !

 dlaumor wrote:

I open up to comment and see this, and what more is there to say.  Perfect.
 

 kanga311 wrote:

{#Roflol}

 


 dlaumor wrote:


 
{#Roflol}
 VH1 wrote:
As I said for The Specials - Thank God they recorded this song, because it is the only one EVER played on RP, even though they have made much better ones. But without this one, we would NEVER hear a song from Madness on RP.

Shame - RP is ALWAYS playing the SAME SONGS FROM THE SAME BANDS. I can recite the play list by heart after listening to RP for a few years now.

IT IS ALWAYS THE SAME TRACKS FROM THE SAME BANDS! BBBBOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGG!{#Stupid}{#Wall}{#Naughty}

 
RP also plays "Our House." Well, okay, even two songs isn't necessarily representative of this fine band, but they're better than nothing.
 bluejay08003 wrote:

Yeah, that's a fair point. I normally hate songs with repetitive lyrics. But this most excellent track grooves with the walking bass and licks. I always give some credit for tunes in their context: what else was released in1979? What was popular?

Bonus points for following this track with Manu Chao's  repetitive but equally groovy "Denia.". 

 
These guys were popular back around that time when unemployment was an issue in Northern England and their style was up beat and moving forward.... their name :

The name "UB40" was selected in reference to the signing-on document issued to people claiming unemployment benefit from the UK government's Department of Employment at the time of the band's formation. The designation UB40 stood for Unemployment Benefit, Form 40.The UB40 no longer exists, although the term is still well understood to refer to unemployment claims in the UK.  

Saw them recently in Perth (aus) and a great show. No one was sitting!  
 Elroweho wrote:
Can't tell what the title of this song is by listening to the lyrics can you??
 
Yeah, that's a fair point. I normally hate songs with repetitive lyrics. But this most excellent track grooves with the walking bass and licks. I always give some credit for tunes in their context: what else was released in1979? What was popular?

Bonus points for following this track with Manu Chao's  repetitive but equally groovy "Denia.". 
 CaffeineSam wrote:
I think this is the silliest song you can hear. It is the best of songs. It is the worst of songs. It speaks of inner truth. It shows the way.

 
not the worst of songs but I concur with the rest of it {#Biggrin}
{#Dancingbanana}
 dlaumor wrote:


 
I think the Cohen Brothers could have used your input for the Soundtrack...

Cheers 
Takes me back... Great grooving song from the 80's (actually released in "79). Danced my but off to it many times.
{#Bananajam}{#Bananajumprope}{#Dancingbanana_2}{#Bananasplit}
This is just whats needed.  Always brilliant.
Can't tell what the title of this song is by listening to the lyrics can you??

 CaffeineSam wrote:
I think this is the silliest song you can hear. It is the best of songs. It is the worst of songs. It speaks of inner truth. It shows the way.

 
Brilliant song and a spot on post, my friend.  Stiff 10 from Bristol.
nice surprise!  {#Bananasplit}
very good! Like Gogol Bordello!
 CaffeineSam wrote:

If I would be so bold as to state that no song were recorded in that radio station...

 
That wouldn't be "so bold" as much as it would be "pretty confusing".
Very bad like Gogol! Bordello
 Meolla_Reio wrote:
This is for another radio station, please PSD!

 
DIY. This isn't your station, and not your decision as to what does, or doesn't, go on the playlist.
 dwhayslett wrote:

Since you heard this here, your premise is clearly incorrect.

 
If I would be so bold as to state that no song were recorded in that radio station...
I think this is the silliest song you can hear. It is the best of songs. It is the worst of songs. It speaks of inner truth. It shows the way.
 Meolla_Reio wrote:
This is for another radio station, please PSD!

 
Since you heard this here, your premise is clearly incorrect.
lolwut
Whats up with this station!!!??  Very awful music!?
Sung by Cameron Frye from "Ferris Bueller's Day Off".
 Meolla_Reio wrote:
This is for another radio station, please PSD!

 
DIY - it just takes one click.
This is for another radio station, please PSD!
Its a small, silly but funny song, I always liked it, elevated my spirits!
 TerryS wrote:

Lowest Common Denominator of R & R.

Should only be played on October 31st. Sorry 'bout that.



  I'm sorry that you can only be silly on Halloween...


funny! 
I'm gonna go to a bar tonight and hear a pretty good band and I hope I can walk around like the guys on the cover of the album.

That's what's RnR can do, man. Ya dig it?   
 Stingray wrote:
Endless repitition of the same theme.

Not so great....

 
 Stingray wrote:
Endless repitition of the same theme.

Not so great....

  
Indeed.
Fun, fun, fun!! {#Bananajam}
Tempted to throw around the phrase "stuffed-shirts" here. Not all music needs to be earth-moving or earth-changing for that matter. Some music can be well-crafted fun without having to be sublime. And speaking of earth-moving - Madness gained a mention in Guiness Book of World Records when they (or more accurately, the crowd) registered on Richter Scales from the audience stomping to this tune. Now, THAT"S IMPRESSIVE!!!

Lowest Common Denominator of R & R.

Should only be played on October 31st. Sorry 'bout that.


Endless repitition of the same theme.

Not so great....
Endless repitition of the same theme.

Not so great.... 
 sbegf wrote:

Play them together, I just did (albeit only a few seconds for each song, as it is all I could take), no song could sound closer to Monster Mash (the goofy voice, the annoying rhythm).  Not trying to insult your tastes, but this song is that genre of song (whatever that genre is) and too me it is horrible.

I think I have been going to a lot different parties than you as well...  :)

 
Maybe they could both be considered "goofy", or "novelty" songs but the chord structure of each song is very different - those two songs probably don't even share one common chord.  Also, this song's tempo is at least twice as fast as that of "Monster Mash".  However, I can hear what you mean about the "goofy voice" being reminiscent, especially if they are played together, so I could see how the two songs could sound similar to you.  I never would have made such a connection, but I guess everyone can hear different aspects of songs.  The parties we've attended may not have been that different...:)
This takes me back!
But I hated it then as well.

I don't understand why my feet are tapping....
Great to hear, but there are some better madness songs out there
To the rockinest, rock-steady beat
Of madness

{#Propeller}
chck chck chck
{#Good-vibes} 
pick it up pick it up pick it up 
This song brings me to my happy place.
 Krakus wrote:

OMG, I haven't heard this in loooong time. One of the grreatest British bands of the 80's! I am walking funny around my office...



 
try a little talcum powder... gold bond has that nice tingle.
 zenhead wrote:
My son organized a ska big band - Ska-Hool,  with his high school jazz band, they did this song in their one and only performance, with him rockin' the vocals (he's usually a drummer). Great tune.

 
"Vocals" on this particular cut being a variable term...BTW, love the band name.
My son organized a ska big band - Ska-Hool,  with his high school jazz band, they did this song in their one and only performance, with him rockin' the vocals (he's usually a drummer). Great tune.

OMG, I haven't heard this in loooong time. One of the grreatest British bands of the 80's! I am walking funny around my office...


It's totally awesome.
{#Dancingbanana}
Someone needs to upload some of Madness' better tunes. This one is such a throwaway. They have much better tunes in their repertoire. 
 dwhayslett wrote:
I did not know this song was about basketball.
 
Chuckle, chuckle.
 Proclivities wrote:

This sounds nothing like "Monster Mash".  Both good party tunes, though.

 
Play them together, I just did (albeit only a few seconds for each song, as it is all I could take), no song could sound closer to Monster Mash (the goofy voice, the annoying rhythm).  Not trying to insult your tastes, but this song is that genre of song (whatever that genre is) and too me it is horrible.

I think I have been going to a lot different parties than you as well...  :)
 sbegf wrote:
All I hear is "Monster Mash"....really, really cannot stand this song....

 
This sounds nothing like "Monster Mash".  Both good party tunes, though.
Pulp Fiction soundtrack -esque.
 garrettb wrote:


Not at all - checkout the ska scene in England during the 80's, you will see that this music was alive, aggressive and top-notch. Saying it was dumb ass betrays your ignorance :(

 
Assuming people are ignorant because they don't like a particular song (a crappy one, at that) betrays your ignorance :( 

I remember hot sweaty nights dancing (in the loosest sense of the word dance) to this back when it was first realised. How I wish I was still able to dance like that?


poor then and poor now
 Elroweho wrote:
What a dumb-ass song!  {#Ass}

 

Not at all - checkout the ska scene in England during the 80's, you will see that this music was alive, aggressive and top-notch. Saying it was dumb ass betrays your ignorance :(
What a dumb-ass song!  {#Ass}
Best song on the dance floor for all the blokes who couldn't dance.
Loved it, love it.