Missing Number as the Crosswords Nearly Done…

The song “Cardiac Arrest” by Madness gained significant popularity in the UK charts back in 1982, which demonstrated the band’s already established musical presence in Britain. However, over 40 years later, it has come to light that two different sleeves are available for the 12″ single. Interestingly, one of these sleeves is a misprint, which has been noted by fans and collectors alike.

Missing Number as the Crosswords Nearly Done…

The song “Cardiac Arrest” by Madness gained significant popularity in the UK charts back in 1982, which demonstrated the band’s already established musical presence in Britain. However, over 40 years later, it has come to light that two different sleeves are available for the 12″ single. Interestingly, one of these sleeves is a misprint, which has been noted by fans and collectors alike.

The single “Cardiac Arrest” by Madness achieved a notable position on the UK Singles Chart, rising up to the impressive #14 spot. This success is a testament to the band’s loyal and devoted fan base, as well as their established track record of producing hit songs such as “House of Fun,” “Baggy Trousers,” and “It Must Be Love.” Overall, “Cardiac Arrest” has proven to be a noteworthy addition to Madness’ impressive music repertoire.

The musical composition “Cardiac Arrest” encountered some difficulties in receiving airplay on the radio and was primarily because the song’s lyrics were deemed controversial, as they were seen as making light of severe medical conditions such as heart attacks and the stresses of everyday life.

Madness’s 1981 album 7 featured three standout singles that were instrumental in its success: “Grey Day,” “Shut Up,” and “Cardiac Arrest,” all achieving notable chart success. Released on February 12, 1982, “Cardiac Arrest,” primarily penned by Carl Smyth and Chris Foreman, reached #14 on the UK Singles Chart and held its position for an impressive 10 weeks. The album’s chart-topping singles, along with its critical acclaim, solidified 7 as a key release in Madness’ rise to prominence in the music industry.

The B-side, “In the City,” was a collaborative effort by Bill Crutchfield, Chas Smash, Chris Foreman, Daisuke Inoue, Graham McPherson, and Mike Barson. The track was originally composed specifically for a Japanese television advertisement promoting Honda City cars, showcasing the band’s versatility and their knack for crafting music tailored to unique contexts.

It is difficult to determine the number of crossword puzzle sleeves that are misprinted without the number 14, making it hard to decide which version is rarer – the misprinted or corrected one. Two “Cardiac Arrest” pressings exist, one by CBS Pressing Plant in Buckinghamshire and the other by P.R. Records Limited in London. Peter Lawrence, who worked on the metalwork, signed his work “PAG” (Peter+A.G., the chemical symbol for silver) at the P.R. Records plant.

Review the label for a secondary “lip” to identify CBS Pressing Plant or look for a slim single notch, and PAG etched into the runout to identify the “PAG” version pressed at P.R. Pressing Plant. Both plants used the mis-pressed vinyl sleeve equally, indicating that the sleeve printing was outsourced and shipped to the plants. Production may have been halted until the corrected sleeves were received once the error was noticed.

In closing, four distinct versions of the 12″ single exist, each with its unique sleeve. Of these four, one version from each plant has been identified with a misprinted sleeve, while the remaining two have corrected sleeves. I hope this information proves helpful to you.