One Step Beyond…

The French edition of One Step Beyond…, the debut album by British ska band Madness, offers an intriguing snapshot of international music distribution in the late 1970s. Released in 1979, the same year as the original UK edition, this vinyl LP pressing was distributed in France by Stiff Records and carries the catalog number Cat 940822, which also appears in the variant format 940 822. Though the content mirrors that of the standard edition, this French release includes notable quirks that set it apart, particularly for collectors and enthusiasts of the 2 Tone movement.

Madness, formed in 1976, gained prominence with their unique blend of ska, reggae, and pop, often infused with humor and social commentary. Their debut album One Step Beyond… was a commercial success in the UK, reaching number two on the Albums Chart and remaining there for more than a year. The album’s widespread popularity prompted international distribution, including this French vinyl release, which reflects both the cultural reach of Madness and the era’s physical media limitations.

Manufactured and distributed in France, this version of One Step Beyond… adheres to local copyright standards. It features the French price code BA-253 and rights society identifiers SACEM, SDRM, SACD, and SGDL. These details confirm the album’s compliance with French intellectual property law and mark it clearly as a domestic French pressing. The inner sleeve, printed by Grimoffset in Vitry, France, and the distribution by CPF—bearing the Barclay logo—further reinforce its French origin.

While the vinyl itself contains all fifteen tracks found on the original UK release, the French edition’s rear sleeve exhibits a noteworthy printing error. Track B7, titled “Madness,” is absent from the listing entirely, while the final track on side two, “Chipmunks Are Go !!!”, is misnumbered as track 7. As a result, the sleeve misleadingly implies that only seven tracks exist on side B, when in fact there are eight. Despite this discrepancy, the vinyl plays all tracks correctly, and the audio content matches the original release, maintaining the album’s integrity.

Another subtle but interesting variation lies in the track listing of side B: the song “Bed and Breakfast Man” is abbreviated as “Bed & Breakfast.” While this may appear to be a different track at first glance, the songwriting credit to Mike Barson and the duration of 2:32 confirm that it is the same song as in the standard edition, with only the title shortened for layout or translation simplicity.

Production-wise, the French pressing retains the original UK team of Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley as producers. The album was recorded at Eden and T.W. Studios and mixed at Rushent’s Mansion—also referred to as The Lucky Bleeder. The label credits “A Clanger Winstanley Production,” and all copyrights remain under Stiff Records, dated 1979. These consistent details ensure that, aside from the localized manufacturing and sleeve error, the album stays true to its source both sonically and visually.

Though sales figures specific to France are not readily available, the international distribution of One Step Beyond… suggests that it played a role in extending the reach of the 2 Tone ska movement across Europe. With its catchy rhythms, offbeat charm, and irreverent lyrics, Madness captured the attention of audiences far beyond their native UK. The French edition’s local branding and small production quirks offer a window into the record industry’s analog era, where physical packaging and regional differences often became part of a release’s identity.

In conclusion, the French pressing of One Step Beyond…, catalog number Cat 940822, stands out not only for its content but for its production anomalies and regional identifiers. Distributed by Stiff Records in France and manufactured with local components, it mirrors the standard track listing despite an error in the printed sleeve. These distinctions—though minor—add depth to the story of a record that helped define late 1970s ska, making this edition a compelling artifact for fans and collectors alike.