I think it is a shame that most people think only of Sheena Easton as the lady who had the commercial hit 9 to 5 (Morning Train) when she has so much more to offer the music buying public. In this album she gives a vocal workout on the title track "Madness , Money And Music " which contains the unforgettable lyrics "Heaven's door or the Gates of Hell for me" and then she slows the pace with an exquisite version of Janis Ian's "In The Winter". This lady can rock with the best of them!!! Well done Ms. Easton!!!

When Sheena Easton burst onto the music seen, she was known as the short (5") Scottish lass with the powerful voice. Madness, Money, & Music, Miss Easton's third album, showcases that title to perfection! Sheena Easton has always been one of my favourite singers, and though her last couple of albums have fallen by the wayside (Fabulous-somewhat understandable unfortunately, Freedom-admit I have not heard it yet), she still has the ability to blow your socks off with her vocals. This album, I feel, showcases her best vocal performances despite the fact it came nowhere near the sales of the first two. The third track "I wouldn't Beg for Water" has one of her most heartfelt vocals and hits some notes that "SOAR". Two others that showcase are the title track "Madness, Money and Music" & "In The Winter". When you blend the marvelous Sheen Easton and excellent orchestrations, you have this album. If you are looking for more rock/pop type songs of her next couple of albums you will not find them here, but you will find pure vocal talent with emotion to spare.

When this hit the shops, Machinery was released as the lead single - perhaps to indicate a shift to the dance and new wave direction Easton was going to take.

Although Machinery is very upbeat, I thought it was a bit of a misfit here as the album is nothing like it. Madness, Money And Music is filled with introspective melancholic ballads like In The Winter and weepies (Wind Beneath My Wings) to mid tempo stuff (There When I Needed You).

The title track and Weekend In Paris showcase Easton's power packed voice. And I really love You Do It - her vocals are very tender and yet very catchy.

I prefer the song sequence of the States version as compared to the Uk's - which I found a tad scattered. However England's vinyl had Please Don't Sympathise and I Don't Need Your Word. Both can be found on the One Way reissues of Sheena Easton and Best Kept Secret respectively.

The three extras are beautiful ballads that fit with the album perfectly - Some Of Us Will, Loner and So We Say Goodbye. That explains why Madness, Money And Music remains a firm favourite after 30 years.

I agree with the reviewers who wrote that the first three of Sheena Easton's albums, recorded in the UK, were her best. The American albums which followed and the style they presented just weren't nearly as good as these first three albums. The two albums which preceded this one were filled with excellent, catchy pop songs, delivered beautifully by Ms. Easton. But I've always felt that this was her best album. On this one, while there are several pop tunes, she and her producer get more "serious," and introduce richer arrangements and more mature ballads. It gave her a chance to display a wider range for her vocals, and it makes for a truly engaging album. Standout tracks include "I Wouldn't Beg For Water," "Weekend In Paris," her phenomenal rendition of Janis Ian's "In The Winter," and "Wind Beneath My Wings," which as far as I am concerned is the definitive recording of this song - vastly superior to the more commercially-successful Bette Midler version. These last two tracks alone make this hard-to-find album worth having.

Sadly, the albums which followed did not continue this musical direction; and as good a singer as she is, her albums became more top-40 formulaic and she soon blended into the ocean of other 80's pop singers. It's a shame, really, in my opinion, because her vocal talents were outstanding and she could have delivered some exceptional and truly special recordings if she had continued along the path she began with this wonderful, seriously underrated album. Highly recommended!

This is by far one of Sheena's best albums, and unfortunately one that bombed in the US at a time when it could have continued the upwards swing that came from her first two US releases. There is not a loser track on the whole album - aside from "Machinery", which is just odd - and it contains an absolutely beautiful version of "Wind Beneath My Wings". (For those die-hard fans, you should find "Todo Me Recuerda A Ti" to hear the equally beautiful Spanish version). "I Wouldn't Beg For Water" is a standout tune showcasing the best of Sheena's powerful voice. This album has some great pop tunes on it and an amazing cover of Janis Ian's "In The Winter"; "You Do It" (covered by Diana Ross the next year) and the title track which should have been the collections' lead off single. Unfortunately, the aforementioned Machinery took that honor and ultimately quelled the popularity of the album.