Madness's 1981 film, 'Take It or Leave It', which offers a semi-fictional account of the band's early days, has been given a new 4K restoration. The project, which was an investment by the seven-piece group, is now primed for rediscovery after initially sinking into obscurity.
The film, shot in March 1981, revisited the band's youthful haunts and aimed to capture the 'dreary reality of forming a band' in 1970s London. It was the brainchild of Stiff Records honcho Dave Robinson, who secured funding from the band members and manager John Kalinowski, covering the rest of the budget himself.
Robinson employed 'guerrilla-film-making methods', often shooting without permission and using cameramen experienced in documentaries. The band members co-wrote the script and ad-libbed scenes, with realism being paramount, as evidenced by filming in actual locations like The Dublin Castle and keyboardist Mike Barson's childhood home.
The movie also features a soundtrack by Madness, including covers of Elvis Presley and Fats Domino, often performed deliberately poorly to reflect their early sound, alongside new songs such as 'Don’t Look Back'.