MADNESS - THE SUN AND THE RAIN 

Released: October 29, 1983

Charted:  UK: #5  US: #72

"The Sun and the Rain," released as a stand-alone single in 1983 and later included in the American/Canadian version of their album "Keep Moving" in 1984, marked Madness' final entry into the USA Billboard Hot 100 Charts. During their peak in the early '80s, Madness maintained a prolific production pace, delivering regular hits that found a home on both albums and stand-alone singles, many of which later featured on their numerous hits compilations.

Among these independent singles were notable tracks like "It Must Be Love," "Driving in My Car," "House of Fun," and the infectiously ecstatic "Wings of a Dove." "The Sun and the Rain" from 1983 stands out as a unique tribute to precipitation, showcasing a quintessentially English theme. The urgent, string-laden stomp accompanied by Suggs' lyrics about "standing up in the falling down" and Barson's joyful honky-tonk piano contribute to the song's distinctive and memorable sound.

The music video for "The Sun and the Rain" depicts Madness performing in a rainy street, featuring references to Christmastime and the holiday season. Toward the end, the band is joined by enthusiastic Madness fans who participate in the dancing. The video starts with a scene of the band entering 'Holts' shoe shop in Camden Town, later renamed British Boot Company. Additional scenes showcase the band dressed in red with umbrella hats, playfully causing chaos inside Suggs' ear. Notably, there are shots of Lee Thompson running around with a rocket strapped to his back, referencing the single's b-side and adding a whimsical touch to the visual narrative.

The cover art for "The Sun and the Rain" is a detail from the painting "The Storm" by French artist Narcisse Virgilio Díaz de la Peña. Created in 1871, the full painting can be found in the National Gallery in London. The use of this artwork adds a historical and artistic dimension to the visual representation of the single, connecting Madness's music to a piece of classic art.

Madness's performance of "The Sun and The Rain" on Top of the Pops featured an interesting interaction. During the show, Chris of Madness engaged with Feargal Sharkey, who was performing "Never Never" with The Assembly. Chris brought up a song written by Madness's Carl called "Never Listen to Your Father," which the band had demoed. He asked Sharkey if he would be interested in recording it with them at some point, and, as it turns out, Sharkey eventually agreed to collaborate on the song with Madness in the future.