Looking Back: The Saints "A Little Madness to Be Free"

While I’ll always adore the Saints’ debut album, (I’m) Stranded, and in particular the title track it spawned (one of the top 25 singles of all time), it was the band’s 1978 follow-up, Eternally Yours, which proved to be the Saints’ true masterpiece. Adopting a more R&B approach to the music which incorporated elements of jazz by way of an infused brass section, Chris Bailey would further utilize and hone this approach on subsequent Saints’ records following the departure of founding members Ed Kuepper (guitar) and Ivor Hay (drums), culminating with the band’s 1984 album, A Little Madness to Be Free.

Anyone who had been following the career trajectory of the Saints with each of their releases since Eternally Yours would probably view A Little Madness to Be Free as the obvious conclusion for Bailey’s vision up to that time. It’s a perfect melodic pop record that harkens back to the days of Abbey Road and Let It Bleed; for a time when pop records didn’t entirely consists of bleeps and bloops that, arguably, lack real fire and any type of emotion. A Little Madness to Be Free permeates feelings and requires devout attention.

You can tell that Bailey had some money to spend on this record as many of the songs contain carefully constructed layers of string and brass arrangements as well as tasteful hints of Caribbean steel drums; all of which sound huge and absolutely gorgeous. That being said, nothing on this album would work if it weren’t for Bailey’s voice, one of the best ever in rock, and the incredible performance he gives. While the punk band that was is nowhere to be seen on this album, the same energy and power the music displays is just as evident as it was on those first two albums.

The Saints – Ghost Ships (mp3)

The Saints - Wrapped Up & Blue (b-side to Ghost Ships) (mp3)

(from the Cadiz 4-CD Box set, A Little Madness to Be Free (Disc 3), 2006)