The Business – the Definitive Singles Collection


The Business – the Definitive Singles Collection is a 3 disc box set by the ska/pop band Madness released in 1993. It contained all the band's singles until that point with their respective b-sides and other bonus tracks, some rare. It also includes a 52-page booklet and snippets of interviews with people associated with Madness between some tracks. The interviews date from around the time of the Keep Moving album and were conducted by John Tobler. Among those interviewed were founder member John Hasler, former manager John "Kelloggs" Kalinowski and Dave Robinson of Stiff Records.

Critical reception

Upon its release, Paul Moody of NME felt that The Business did not "add anything to Madness' considerable charms" and was more suited to collectors. He commented that the compilation was "probably most notable for bearing assorted characters from their past wedged between the tracks in the quest for added curiosity value" and summarised, "The truly great songs are still some of the best moments the '80s offered us, but tangled up amongst B-sides and a stream of jingles they lose the focus that was always Madness' greatest asset. Collectors, you are allowed to love it. For anyone else, get a copy of the singles collection."

Track listing

Disc one

  1. "Introduction"
  2. "The Prince"
  3. "Madness"
  4. "One Step Beyond"
  5. "Mistakes"
  6. "Nutty Theme"
  7. "My Girl"
  8. "Stepping into Line"
  9. "In the Rain"
  10. "Night Boat to Cairo"
  11. "Deceives the Eye"
  12. "Young And The Old"
  13. "Don't Quote Me On That"
  14. "Baggy Trousers"
  15. "The Business"
  16. "Embarrassment"
  17. "Crying Shame"
  18. "The Return of the Los Palmas 7"
  19. "That's The Way To Do It"
  20. "My Girl"
  21. "Swan Lake"
  22. "Grey Day"
  23. "Memories"
  24. "Shut Up"
  25. "A Town With No Name"

Disc two

  1. "Never Ask Twice"
  2. "It Must Be Love"
  3. "Shadow on the House"
  4. "Cardiac Arrest"
  5. "In the City"
  6. "House of Fun"
  7. "Don't Look Back"
  8. "Driving in My Car"
  9. "Terry Wogan Jingle"
  10. "Animal Farm"
  11. "Riding on My Bike"
  12. "Our House"
  13. "Walking With Mr. Wheeze"
  14. "Tomorrow's (Just Another Day)"
  15. "Madness (Is All in the Mind)"
  16. "Wings of a Dove"
  17. "Behind the Eight Ball"
  18. "One's Second Thoughtlessness"
  19. "The Sun and the Rain"
  20. "Fireball XL5"
  21. "Visit to Dracstein Castle"
  22. "Michael Caine"

Disc three

  1. "If You Think There's Something"
  2. "One Better Day"
  3. "Guns"
  4. "Victoria Gardens"
  5. "Sarah"
  6. "Yesterday's Men"
  7. "All I Knew"
  8. "It Must Be Love"
  9. "Uncle Sam"
  10. "David Hamilton Jingle"
  11. "Inanity over Christmas"
  12. "Please Don't Go"
  13. "Sweetest Girl"
  14. "Jennie "
  15. "Tears You Can't Hide"
  16. "Call Me"
  17. "(Waiting For) The Ghost Train"
  18. "One Step Beyond"
  19. "Maybe In Another Life"
  20. "Seven Year Scratch"
  21. "Release Me"
  22. "Carols on 45"
  23. "National Anthem"