Madness was on Friday Night Live, a cult late-night comedy show hosted by Ben Elton. On the show the band performed "I Pronounce You" and the album track "Beat the Bride". On the show, John Hasler, the ex-Madness drummer and manager, helped out on drums. He also appeared on the drums in the "I Pronounce You" music video. Critical reception Upon release, Graeme Kay of Smash Hits described the album as "something of a hit and miss affair". He highlighted the tracks "Nail Down the Days", "What's That" and "Beat the Bride", but felt "the rest of the LP tries too hard to be clever". He concluded: "Not a great LP by any means, but not bad". Max Bell of Number One wrote: "Songwise, the Camden crooners continue to delve into sombre waters. The [new] Madness [music] is still reminiscent of a nightmare in a funfair on occasions but it's that very stylised sound which makes the Mad ones matter." Darryl Cater of AllMusic retrospectively stated: "The tinny, muddled pop sound proves what a big contribution producers Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley had made to the polished, resonant Madness records. There are flashes of trademark Madness melody, but too much of the album is an indistinguishable blur of drum machines, keyboards and '80s pop guitar. Exceptions include the reggae-flavoured "Beat the Bride" and the sitar-savvy single "I Pronounce You." These former British skinheads have always been better at the wacky than the meaningful, and the lyrical emphasis on social issues feels strained." Track listing Chart performance Personnel Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes. The Madness Graham "Suggs" McPherson – lead vocals (3-5, 7-9, 11, 12, 14), backing vocals (1, 2, 7, 13), piano (9, 13), timbales (9), bongos (14) Cathal Smyth – lead vocals on (1-4, 6, 10, 13), backing vocals (7, 9, 11, 14), acoustic guitar (3), keyboards (1) Chris Foreman – guitar (1-12, 14), sitar (3), synthaxe (5), piano solo (9), synthesizer effects (14) Lee Thompson – saxophones (1, 4-12, 14), flute (3), backing vocals (3) Additional musicians Steve Nieve – keyboards (1, 2, 4, 5, 12, 14), piano (6, 8) Roy Davies – keyboards (3) Ian Prince – Hammond organ (7), piano solo (7), piano (10), synthesizer (10) Jerry Dammers – piano (7), electronic organ (7), Hammond organ (9), hi hat (9) Seamus Beaghen – accordion (4), keyboards (8, 11), Hammond organ (6, 8) Bruce