The Madman's Return

Last updated

The Madman's Return
Snap cover.jpg
Studio album by
Snap!
Released24 March 1992
Recorded1991–1992
Genre Eurodance
Length41:00 (original eight-track disc)
Label
Producer Snap!
Snap! chronology
World Power
(1990)		The Madman's Return
(1992)		 Welcome to Tomorrow
(1994)
Singles from The Madman's Return
  1. "Colour of Love"
    Released: 9 December 1991
  2. "Rhythm Is a Dancer"
    Released: 30 March 1992
  3. "Exterminate!"
    Released: 7 December 1992
  4. "Do You See the Light (Looking For)"
    Released: 4 July 1993

The Madman's Return is the second studio album by German Eurodance group Snap! It contains the international massive hit "Rhythm Is a Dancer", which reached No. 1 in France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Germany and the United Kingdom and peaked at No. 5 in the US and Canada. The album was certified platinum in Switzerland [1] and gold in Germany, [2] Austria [3] and the United Kingdom [4] but only reached No. 121 on the US Billboard 200. [5]

Contents

The earliest LP pressings didn't contain "Rhythm Is a Dancer". The album produced four singles; "Colour of Love", "Rhythm Is a Dancer", "Exterminate!" and "Do You See The Light (Looking For)".

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [6]
Calgary Herald B+ [7]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [8]
Music Week Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [9]

AllMusic highlighted songs like "Rhythm Is a Dancer", "Don't Be Shy", "Believe in It", "Colour of Love", and "Who Stole It?" as "standout" tracks of the album, adding that the latter has a sound that recalls one of the group's earlier hits, "The Power". Billboard complimented new singer Thea Austin, who "does an admirable job" especially on "See the Light", and remarked that "Who Stole It?" "could break big." [10] Arion Berger from Entertainment Weekly also highlighted "Who Stole It?", with its "fuzzy, stop-start hook". He also felt that the band "proves its talent for complex, hard-hitting dance beats" on the "eerie, futuristic" "Ex-Terminator", and "a witty warning to female gold diggers" on "Money". Berger named "See the Light" the album's "finest moment", describing it as "lilting" and "as lush as Soul II Soul’s best work, and even the sequences of mush-mouthed rapping can’t dull its gloss." [11] A reviewer from Melody Maker named "Colour of Love" the "highlight" of the album. [12]

Track listing

First edition

  1. "Madman's Return" – 4:35 (Durron Butler)
  2. "Colour of Love" – 5:32 (Butler, Penny Ford, Thea Austin)
  3. "Believe in It" – 5:08 (Benites, Garrett III, Austin, Butler)
  4. "Who Stole It?" – 5:10 (Butler)
  5. "Don't Be Shy" – 4:38 (Butler, Benites, Garrett III)
  6. "Rhythm Is a Dancer" – 5:32 (Austin, Benites, Garrett III)
  7. "Money" – 5:12 (Butler)
  8. "See the Light" – 5:45 (Butler, Ford, Austin)
  9. "Exterminate!" – 5:24 (Benites, Garrett III)
  10. "Keep It Up" – 4:05
  11. "Homeboyz" – 6:37
  12. "Sample City" – 1:08

Second edition

  1. "Madman's Return" – 4:35
  2. "Colour of Love" – 5:32
  3. "Believe in It" – 5:08
  4. "Who Stole It?" – 5:10
  5. "Don't Be Shy" – 4:38
  6. "Rhythm Is a Dancer" – 5:32
  7. "Money" – 5:12
  8. "See the Light" – 5:45
  9. "Rhythm Is a Dancer" (7" Edit) – 3:45
  10. "Ex-Terminator" – 5:24
  11. "Keep It Up" – 4:05
  12. "Homeboyz" – 6:37
  13. "Sample City V2.01" – 1:10

Third edition (marked as such on the front cover)

  1. "Madman's Return" – 4:35
  2. "Colour of Love" – 5:32
  3. "Believe in It" – 5:08
  4. "Who Stole It?" – 5:10
  5. "Don't Be Shy" – 4:38
  6. "Rhythm Is a Dancer" – 5:32
  7. "Money" – 5:12
  8. "See the Light" – 5:45
  9. "Rhythm Is a Dancer" (7" Edit) – 3:45
  10. "Exterminate" (Endzeit 7") – 4:20
  11. "Ex-Terminator" – 5:24
  12. "Keep It Up" – 4:05
  13. "Homeboyz" – 6:37
  14. "Sample City V2.01" – 1:10

Personnel

Charts

Certifications and sales

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Austria (IFPI Austria) [27] Gold25,000*
Germany (BVMI) [28] Gold500,000 [29]
Netherlands (NVPI) [30] Gold50,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) [31] Platinum50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [32] Gold100,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

Eurodance is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in the late 1980s in Europe. It combines many elements of rap, techno and Eurodisco. This genre of music is heavily influenced by the use of rich vocals, sometimes with rapped verses. This, combined with cutting-edge synthesizers, strong bass rhythm and melodic hooks, establishes the core foundation of Eurodance music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Snap!</span> German Eurodance group

Snap! is a German Eurodance group formed in 1989 by producers Michael Münzing and Luca Anzilotti. The act has undergone several lineup changes over the years, featuring American singers, songwriters, and rappers such as Thea Austin, Turbo B, Niki Haris, and Penny Ford. Their most popular hits include "The Power" and "Rhythm Is a Dancer", both of which achieved No. 1 status in multiple countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penny Ford</span> American musician (born 1964)

Penny Ford, also known as Pennye Ford, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer from Cincinnati, Ohio. She rose to fame in the 1980s after signing a recording contract with Total Experience Records and releasing her debut solo album, Pennye. It spawned the singles "Change Your Wicked Way" and "Dangerous", which were produced and written by Ford.

<i>As Ugly as They Wanna Be</i> 1991 EP by Ugly Kid Joe

As Ugly as They Wanna Be is an EP by the American heavy metal band Ugly Kid Joe, released on October 8, 1991. The album title is a parody of 2 Live Crew's 1989 album As Nasty as They Wanna Be.

<i>Bare</i> (Annie Lennox album) 2003 studio album by Annie Lennox

Bare is the third solo studio album by Scottish singer Annie Lennox, released in Europe on 5 June 2003 by 19 Recordings and RCA Records and in North America on 10 June 2003 by J Records. It peaked at number three on the UK Albums Chart and number four on the US Billboard 200. The album has been certified Gold in both the UK and the US and was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album at the 46th Grammy Awards.

<i>Back to Front</i> (Lionel Richie album) 1992 compilation album by Lionel Richie

Back to Front is the first compilation album by American singer Lionel Richie, which was released on May 5, 1992, by Motown Records. It contains songs from both his successful solo career and as part of the band the Commodores, along with three new tracks (1–3). The international version of the album also includes the tracks "Dancing on the Ceiling" and "Stuck on You". It debuted atop both the UK Albums Chart and the ARIA Albums Chart, and spent 12 weeks at number one on the Dutch Album Top 100. The single "Do It to Me" reached number 21 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhythm Is a Dancer</span> 1992 single by Snap!

"Rhythm Is a Dancer" is a song by German Eurodance group Snap!, released in March 1992 by Arista and Logic as the second single from their second studio album, The Madman's Return (1992). It features vocals by American singer Thea Austin. The song is written by Benito Benites, John "Virgo" Garrett III and Austin, and produced by Benites and Garrett III. It was an international success, topping the charts in France, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Germany, and the United Kingdom. The single also reached the top-five on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart. It spent six weeks at the top of the UK Singles Chart, becoming the second biggest-selling single of 1992. Its music video was directed by Howard Greenhalgh and filmed in Florida, the US.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Power (Snap! song)</span> 1990 song by Snap!

"The Power" is a song by German Eurodance group Snap!, released as their debut single. It was released on 3 January 1990 by Ariola and Arista as the lead single from their debut studio album, World Power (1990). The song reached number one in Greece, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, the UK and Zimbabwe, as well as on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play and Hot Rap charts. On the Billboard Hot 100, "The Power" managed to reach number two for one week. In 2022, Rolling Stone featured it in their list of the "200 Greatest Dance Songs of All Time".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Exterminate! (song)</span> 1992 single by Snap!

"Exterminate!" is a song by German Eurodance group Snap! featuring American singer Niki Haris, released in December 1992 by Logic Records as the third single from their second studio album, The Madman's Return (1992), and features vocals by the group's new front woman, Haris, who also is credited for co-writing it. Going for a more trance-like song than its predecessor, "Rhythm Is a Dancer", it is based on the track "Ex-Terminator" and was included in later editions of the album. Released first at the end of 1992, it was a hit in several countries, peaking at number-one in Finland and Spain, and number two in the United Kingdom, where it spent 15 weeks on the charts. The music video for "Exterminate!" was directed by Angel Gracia.

<i>World Power</i> 1990 studio album by Snap!

World Power is the debut album by German Eurodance project Snap!, released in May 1990 by Logic Records. The album received generally positive reviews from music critics, as the project's musical style and its vocalists, Turbo B and Penny Ford, were well received. It also achieved considerable commercial success with the help of four international top-ten hits, including its best-selling single "The Power".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turbo B</span> American rapper (born 1967)

Durron Maurice Butler, known as Turbo B, is an American rapper and beatboxer. He was once the frontman of the German electronic music group Snap!

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Jam discography</span>

The discography of the British band the Jam consists of 6 studio albums, 5 live albums, 8 compilation albums, 5 box sets, 6 videos, 3 extended plays, 18 singles, and 3 B-sides. The band, who formed in 1972, didn't debut until five years later in 1977, when they released their debut studio album In the City, which entered the UK Albums Chart at No. 20, and contained the title-track, "In the City". Their second album, This Is the Modern World, was the first to get into the Billboard 200, taking its place at No. 201 while at No. 22 in the UK Albums Chart. Their most successful studio album was their final album The Gift in 1982, which reached No. 1 in the UK and peaked at No. 82 in the US.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Do You See the Light (Looking For)</span> 1993 single by Snap!

"Do You See the Light (Looking For)" is a song by German Eurodance group Snap!, released in May 1993 by Logic and BMG Ariola as the fourth and final single from their second studio album, The Madman's Return (1992). It features American singer Niki Haris, who also is credited for co-writing it. The song received positive rewiews from music critics; many of them were comparing it to the work of Giorgio Moroder. "Do You See the Light (Looking For)" reached number one in Finland while peaking within the top 10 in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, Netherlands, Switzerland, and the UK. On MTV Europe, its accompanying music video received heavy rotation.

Thea Tereese Austin is an American singer-songwriter/composer from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She is the lead vocalist and co-writer of the German Eurodance hit song "Rhythm Is a Dancer" by Snap!

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colour of Love (Snap! song)</span> 1991 single by Snap!

"Colour of Love" is a song by German Eurodance group Snap!, released in December 1991 by Arista and Logic as the first single from their second studio album, The Madman's Return (1992). It features vocals by American singer-songwriter Thea Austin and rap by Turbo B, and received positive reviews from music critics, many of them naming it a standout of the album. Quite successful on the charts in Europe, the song became a top-10 hit in at least 11 countries, as well as on the Eurochart Hot 100, where it peaked at number eight. The accompanying music video was filmed in Death Valley, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ooops Up</span> 1990 single by Snap!

"Ooops Up" is a song by German Eurodance group Snap!, released in June 1990 as the second single from their debut studio album, World Power (1990). The song is a re-working of "I Don't Believe You Want to Get Up and Dance (Ooops!)"; a 1980 hit by the Gap Band, with whom band member Penny Ford was a former backing singer.. It also samples "Maldòn", a 1989 hit recorded by the Guadeloupean band Zouk Machine.The single was a world-wide hit and reached number-one in Greece. Lyrically the song is about Murphy's Law. The narrator talks about it and everything that went wrong during his day. Its music video was directed by Liam Kan.

<i>Snap! Attack: The Best of Snap!</i> 1996 compilation album by Snap!

Snap! Attack: The Best of Snap! is the first Greatest hits album from German Eurodance group Snap!.

<i>The Cult of Snap!</i> 2003 compilation album by Snap!

The Cult of Snap! is a compilation album from German Eurodance group Snap!.

This is the discography for German electronic music ensemble Snap!

<i>Jonathan Butler</i> (album) 1987 studio album by Jonathan Butler

Jonathan Butler is a 1987 album by South African singer-guitarist Jonathan Butler.

References

  1. ↑ "Hitparade.ch: Snap!". Schweizer Hitparade . Retrieved 4 February 2012.
  2. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Snap!)" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie . Retrieved 27 July 2010.
  3. ↑ "Gold & Platin". IFPI Austria. Archived from the original on 8 June 2009. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
  4. ↑ "Certified Awards Search". British Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on 15 January 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
  5. ↑ "US Albums Positions to Snap!". Billboard Magazine . Retrieved 27 July 2010.
  6. ↑ AllMusic review
  7. ↑ Muretich, James (19 April 1992). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald .
  8. ↑ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music . Omnibus Press. p. 578.
  9. ↑ Jones, Alan (23 January 1993). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Albums" (PDF). Music Week . p. 25. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  10. ↑ "Album Reviews". Billboard . 4 April 1992. p. 46.
  11. ↑ Berer, Arion (15 May 1992). "The Madman's Return". Entertainment Weekly .
  12. ↑ Push (25 January 1992). "Albums". Melody Maker . p. 28. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  13. ↑ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 258.
  14. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Snap! – The Madman's Return" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  15. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Snap! – The Madman's Return" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  16. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Snap! – The Madman's Return" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  17. ↑ "Charts.nz – Snap! – The Madman's Return". Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  18. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Snap! – The Madman's Return". Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  19. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Snap! – The Madman's Return". Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  20. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Snap! – The Madman's Return". Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  21. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  22. ↑ "Billboard 200 Chart: Week of December 5, 1992". Billboard . Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  23. ↑ "Jahreshitparade Alben 1992". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  24. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1992". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  25. ↑ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  26. ↑ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1992". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  27. ↑ "Austrian album certifications – Snap – The Madman's Return" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  28. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Snap; 'The Madman')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  29. ↑ Wolfgang Spahr (13 May 2000). Grammy's Two Way Street. Billboard . Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  30. ↑ "Dutch album certifications – Snap – The Madman's Return" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers . Retrieved 27 March 2022.Enter The Madman's Return in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1992 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  31. ↑ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('The Madman's Return')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  32. ↑ "British album certifications – Snap – The Madman's Return". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 27 March 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.