Shut up - Madness

'Shut up' was another single drawn from Madness' 1981 album '7'. The lyric of the song tells a story of a criminal who, despite obvious evidence, tries to convince people he is not guilty. Even though the song is called 'Shut up', the two words do not appear in the lyric. However, they were the final words of an additional verse which was part of an early version of the song.

In the UK, 'Shut up' peaked at number 7 in the singles chart. The single was only a minor hit in the Netherlands, peaking at number 31 in the Dutch Top 40. I remembered it vividly from the tense atmosphere and the great piano backing in the last few seconds of the track.

My collection: 7" single no. 429
Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 29, 1986
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Shut up' / 'A town with no name'