Shut Up (Madness song)

Infobox Single
Name=Shut Up


Artist=Madness
from Album=7
Released=September 11, 1981
Format=7"
12"
Recorded=1981
Genre=Pop
Length=2:51
Label=Stiff Records
Writer=Graham McPherson (lyrics)
Chris Foreman (music)
Producer=Clive Langer Alan Winstanley
Chart position=* #7 (UK)
Reviews=
Artist=Madness
Last single="Grey Day"
(1981)
This single="Shut Up"
(1981)
Next single="It Must Be Love"
(1981)Extra tracklisting
Album = 7
Type = studio
Tracks = ;Side One
# "Cardiac Arrest"
# "Shut Up"
# "Sign of the Times"
# "Missing You"
# "Mrs. Hutchinson"
# "Tomorrow's Dream";Side Two
# "Grey Day"
# "Pac-A-Mac"
# "Promises Promises"
# "Benny Bullfrog"
# "When Dawn Arrives"
# "The Opium Eaters"
# "Day on the Town"Extra tracklisting
Album = Divine Madness
Type = Compilation
prev_track = "Grey Day"
prev_no = 8
this_track = "Shut Up"
track_no = 9
next_track = "It Must Be Love"
next_no = 10

"Shut Up" is a pop song written by Suggs and Chris Foreman. cite web|url= http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:jxfwxqw5ldfe |title= "Allmusic.com 7 overview" Retrieved on July 21, 2007.] It was recorded by British pop/ska band Madness, and was featured on the band's third album "7". It was released as a single on September 11, 1981, spending 10 weeks in the UK Singles Chart. cite web|url= http://www.madness.co.uk/time/1981/text.htm |title= "The Madness Timeline: 1981" Retrieved on July 21, 2007.] It reached a high position of number 7.

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 lyrics at all. However, they were the final words of an additional verse which was part of an early version of the song.

Music video

(in police uniform) plays the song's guitar solo on a "Super Yob" guitar.

Appearances

In addition to its single release and appearance on the album "7", "Shut Up" also appears on the Madness collections "Complete Madness", "It's... Madness Too", "The Business", "Divine Madness" (a.k.a. "The Heavy Heavy Hits") and "". It also features on two US Madness compilations, "Madness" and "Total Madness".

Formats and track listings

These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "Shut Up".

*7" Single
#"Shut Up" (McPherson/Foreman) - 2:51
#"A Town With No Name" (Foreman) - 2:52

*12" Single
#"Shut Up (Extended)" (McPherson/Foreman) - 4:07
#"Never Ask Twice" (McPherson/Barson) - 3:08
#"A Town With No Name" (Foreman) - 2:52

Notes