Nutty Boys - It's OK I'm a Policeman [EP]

All Music Guide

"It's OK I'm a Policeman" was the first single to be released by the Nutty Boys, which reunited Madness saxaphonist Lee Thompson with guitarist Chris Foreman. The EP was released two years after their debut album Crunch and may have been timed to capitalize on the explosion of Madness activity that took place in 1992, including Virgin's release of the greatest hits set Divine Madness and several accompanying CD singles, as well as the first ~Madstock reunion concert in August and the subsequent concert CD, video, and single. None of the four tracks on this single are available on the album, making it a worthwhile purchase for fans of the band. The EP features Thompson's distinctive, half-spoken vocals and the rough but edgy ska sound heard on Crunch, but it also introduces the band's new seven-piece lineup. The title track uses a lot of sampling (apparently from a cop flick) and several spoken reassurances from "El Thommo" that "It's OK, I'm a Policeman." "Fight Amongst Yourselves" als...o samples from the movies, this time from the scene in the Madness film Take It or Leave It in which the original "nutty boys" are chased from Acklam Hall. "Birthday Girl" has a memorable hook, and all of the tracks are as good as most of Crunch, but none are as catchy as "Magic Carpet," raising the possibility that the album cut might have made a stronger first single. - Evan Cater, All Music Guide Read more Less