By Mark Nobes, chief editor
This is a fine song both lyrically and musically, featuring an infectious chorus and meaningful, mood-lifting lyrics, but I'll come back to those in a moment. It's certainly one of my favourite tracks by the band.
As with most Madness videos, this is a sheer joy to watch (despite the lack of sunshine!) and, of course, total madness!
The video opens with the band members walking into Holts shoe shop in Campden Town (a real store which was renamed The British Boot Company during the 1980s). The band actually bought their loafers from the shop, and it also featured in their video for "The Prince". The Sex Pistols and The Clash also bought their boots from the store, and it was a popular destination for punks and skinheads back in the day.
The band asks one of the elderly gentleman behind the counter "What makes Campden Town", and he replies "The weather". They then ask "What makes the weather", and he replies "The sun and the rain".
Then we see the song's writer, Mike Barson, playing the song's piano intro as he develops extended arms, followed by the band breaking through the piano!
The rest of the video features Suggs singing out in the street in fake rain, with the rest of the band performing their quirky dance routines, at one point dressed in red and carrying red umbrellas. Lee Thompson has a rocket strapped onto his back, for whatever reason! Near the end of the video, Madness fans join in with the dancing and singing in the street.
The vinyl sleeve of the single features part of a painting entitled "The Storm" by the French artist Narcisse Virgilio Díaz de la Peña.
Additional string arrangements on the A-side were provided by David Bedford.
In the U.S., the single spent 5 weeks in the Billboard Hot 100, reaching a peak position of No.72.
7" picture disc - P BUY 192
In the chorus, Suggs sings "I hear the sound of rain falling in my ears, washing away the weariness like tears".
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