MADNESS - WINGS OF A DOVE / WAITING FOR THE GHOST TRAIN

WINGS OF A DOVE 

Released: August 20, 1983

Charted:  UK: #2 

"Wings of a Dove" (also known as "Wings of a Dove (A Celebratory Song)") is a track originally released in 1983 as a stand-alone single, it was later included in the American version of their studio album "Keep Moving" in 1984.

The song was penned by Suggs and Chas Smash, who also shared lead vocals on the track. Notably, the song incorporated steel drums played by Creighton Steel Sounds and the harmonious voices of the gospel choir, The Inspirational Choir of the First Born Church of the Living God. In a gesture of environmental concern, Madness contributed the song to the 1985 multi-artist compilation "Greenpeace – The Album."

Carl says: Late one night i was watching “black on black”  and that night they were featuring gospel singers, one act in particular caught my ear, “The Inspirational Choir of the first Born Church of the Living God”. A voice spoke to me and said ‘boy, write a song for these good people’.  So, after i wrote it (sorry! Suggs helped with the words), i saw the bishop and he ok’d it and we done it. Hallelujah!

The music video portrays all contributors to the song, including the steel band and choir, celebrating in a party atmosphere aboard an airplane piloted by Chas Smash with Suggs as the co-pilot. The climax unfolds as they bail out in a small white van when Smash loses control of the plane. The concluding scene features the van gently parachuting down to earth.

WAITING FOR THE GHOST TRAIN

Released: October 27, 1986

Charted:  UK: #18 

"(Waiting For) The Ghost Train" was released as a single in 1986, coinciding with the band's announcement of their split. It marked their final single before regrouping in 1992. The song made its debut on the band's 1986 'Utter Madness' greatest hits compilation, released just one month after the single's release.

Suggs says: it's indirectly about South Africa thinking nothing will or has to ever change. Waiting for the train that never comes but the ghost train is rumbling along the track. I'm not a very good piano player and my piano is in a room that Overlooks the street, when I play people throw rocks and boots at the window, so I have to play with bits of cotton wool stuck on the end of my fingers.

After the split, Suggs embarked on a moderately successful but occasionally criticized solo career, while other members explored offshoot projects like the lesser-known Butterfield 8 and the relatively more successful Voice Of The Beehive. Some members attempted to continue as 'The Madness' yet met with little success.