Take Cover!

Madness make their return to Record Store Day 2025 with Take Cover!, a specially curated compilation celebrating the band’s rich history of cover versions—many of which have never been available on vinyl until now. Pressed on translucent red vinyl and strictly limited to just 2,000 copies worldwide, this exclusive release is already generating major buzz among collectors and fans alike.

This is the first time that the occasional cover versions Madness have recorded over their 40+ year career—be it as singles, album tracks, B-sides, or contributions to tribute albums—have been brought together in one collection. Personally curated by the band, Take Cover! is a rare glimpse into the songs and sounds that have inspired Madness throughout their storied career.

The compilation shines a spotlight on the band’s unique ability to reinterpret tracks from a remarkably diverse lineup of original artists, including John Lennon, ABBA, Ian Dury, Billy Ocean, Jimmy Cliff, and many more—each filtered through that unmistakable Madness lens.

Notably, Take Cover! marks the first time on vinyl for Madness’s renditions of “Love Really Hurts” and “Money, Money, Money”, previously only available in digital or CD formats. Even more significantly, it includes the first official vinyl release of “In the Hall of the Mountain King,” a delightfully quirky instrumental that’s long circulated as a bootleg but never before received an authorized pressing—until now.

Housed in a poly-lined inner sleeve with an accompanying 12” x 12” insert, this translucent red vinyl LP is strictly limited to 2,000 copies worldwide (1,700 in the UK and 300 internationally).

With hand-signed copies by Suggs and Mike Barson already appearing at Rough Trade East, and online listings selling out in minutes, Take Cover! stands as one of the most collectible and musically compelling Madness releases in years. Whether you’re a longtime fan or discovering their deep cuts for the first time, this Record Store Day gem offers a joyful dive into the lesser-known corners of the Madness catalogue.