TAKE COVER! A RECORD STORE DAY ROLLERCOASTER FOR MADNESS FANS

Record Store Day (RSD) 2025 promised thrills for Madness collectors with the exclusive release of Take Cover!—a translucent red vinyl LP limited to just 2,000 copies. For some, it was a triumphant addition to the shelf. For others, it became a bitter pill wrapped in queuing fatigue, unfair distribution, and the sting of eBay price gouging. Here’s how the day unfolded—complete with excitement, exhaustion, and no small share of Madness.

The Early Risers: Queues Before Sunrise

At Hot Rats in Sunderland, the day began with hope and cold feet. One fan, 57th in line by 7:10 a.m., waited nearly three hours—only to claim the last copy out of the eight allocated to the shop. “That’s Madness!” they exclaimed, and indeed it was. Lincoln saw a similarly intense turnout. “Queued from 3:45 a.m., was 11th in line,” said another diehard, who just made the cutoff with one of eight copies available.

Red House Records in Swindon offered a rare moment of success: “Up at 3.30am, queued from 4.30, number 20 in line. Got it, along with Peel Sessions by OMD.” Elsewhere, however, the odds weren’t so kind. “Queued for three hours and all four copies were sold. Who knew Leicester had so many Madness fans?” one frustrated fan posted.

Even in London, spirits were tested. “It’s 3.30am in the morning and I’m just arriving at Rough Trade / Brick Lane. Not sure if I’m ‘getting into the spirit’ or just a mug!” joked one fan. It was a sentiment echoed across the country—whether in Bristol, Glasgow, or Edinburgh.

The Ugly Side: eBay and the Global Fan Dilemma

Before the sun even set, those signed editions began surfacing on eBay. One copy fetched £234—sparking outrage across social platforms. “I’m sure the kind gesture by Suggs and Mr. B to turn up and do a signing would be for true fans, not people out to make money,” one fan lamented.

Others were furious: “People who deliberately switch RSD releases to eBay… FFS!” Another posted: “39 have already been resold online. It’s disgusting. Some people have no access to a proper record shop and are being ripped off.”

But while frustration over profiteering is valid, there’s a flip side that deserves pause: what if the person buying the LP at an inflated price is just a devoted Madness fan living in another country?

With the Take Cover! release only available in the UK, international fans—from Dublin to New York, Melbourne to Milan—were shut out of the hunt. For many, online resale is their only realistic option. As one user pointed out, “Have you considered that the buyer might be a fan in another country where the high price is significantly lower than buying an airline ticket to be there?”

That raises an important question: Is it really a poor decision to pay more if it’s the only way to access a piece of music you love, from a band you’ve followed for decades? For international fans, spending £150–£200 might actually save them the heartbreak (and thousands) of missing out entirely.

The real issue, then, may not be the resale itself—but the lack of global access. The passion is clearly there; the infrastructure to meet it is not.

Moments of Luck and Near Misses

Some fans lucked out with well-timed visits. “Turned up at 3pm, not overly hopeful, but managed to bag the last of the 3 copies the shop ordered,” said one fortunate buyer. Another described popping into Dales Music Shop in Tenby just as it was closing and walking out with a copy—a spontaneous victory that most could only dream of.

Yet for many, the experience felt like a cruel game of musical chairs. One fan in Glasgow visited five stores, queuing for two hours from 7 a.m., only to be told the Madness release had sold out. Salvation came when they strolled into another shop with no queue and five untouched copies. “Owner said it was one of the last releases to come in,” they recalled.

Meanwhile in Welling, one fan queued for six hours, ticket in hand, only to leave empty-handed and miss a fan meet-up due to train chaos.

Final Thoughts: A Call for Reform

The Take Cover! release perfectly captured the chaotic spirit of Record Store Day—part celebration, part battle royale. While it’s heartening to see such passion for Madness still alive, the imbalance in availability and the opportunistic resale culture left many questioning whether RSD still serves fans or simply fuels a frenzied collectors’ economy.

According to Madness guitarist Chris “CB” Foreman, even he’s taken aback by the fan reaction: “I’m really sorry for the genuine fans. I’m going to see what can be done about this in future,” he wrote, acknowledging the disappointment felt across the Nutty community.

Chris CP, one of many who queued through the early hours, added valuable insight: “Far too few were pressed. I think for the previous five years they’ve generally been pressing 3000–4000 of each. This year it was only 2000 (1700 UK and 300 rest of world).” Anticipating demand would far outstrip supply, he joined the queue at 3:30 a.m.—a decision that proved wise. In contrast, he notes, other RSD 2025 titles like The Rolling Stones LP and Blur’s Zoetrope edition are still available at face value, having clearly been produced in larger quantities.

The situation has sparked debate among fans about whether RSD’s structure truly serves the global Madness audience. Louis C, offered a measured view: “I agree it may be a problem. But it’s unlikely there’s any chance of changing the rules of the International RSD organization—unless Madness completely pull out of RSD, which would be a shame. It’s part of the charm.” He reminds fans of past fan frustrations, like the C’Est La Vie CD EP debacle: “Those are selling for close to £100 without a mention these days—forgotten in Nutty history, just like Take Cover! will be in time.”

And ultimately, that’s the irony. “Limited Edition” does exactly what it says on the label. Whether that’s a badge of honor or a source of frustration depends on where you stood in the queue—or if you were left watching prices soar online afterward.

As for those who missed out? There’s a Chinese proverb that seems fitting:

“坐失良机” — “To sit and miss the train.”

A reminder that in the world of collectibles, sometimes the moment comes only once.