The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band – Still Barking (Madfish Records Box Set Review)
Hi everyone, Phil Aston here from Now Spinning Magazine with another deep dive into one of the most beautifully put-together box sets you’ll ever see.
This one has been high on my wish list for a long time — Still Barking by The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, lovingly assembled and released by Madfish Records. And believe me, they’ve done it again. This is one of those career-defining, everything-in-the-box sets that will have fans grinning from ear to ear.
What’s Inside Still Barking?
First of all, let’s talk about the sheer size of this thing. It’s enormous. You take the lid off — very much like opening an iPhone — and you’re immediately met with a treasure trove of Bonzo brilliance.
Inside you get:
17 CDs featuring remastered albums, BBC sessions, live shows, demos, and outtakes.
3 DVDs packed with rare colour footage, including Do Not Adjust Your Set, Colour Me Pop, and Madness at the Marquee.
A 148-page hardback book that could stand proudly on any coffee table.
Signed art prints from surviving members of the band.
Vintage posters, press releases, and reproductions of memorabilia that capture the late-60s creative spirit.
It’s the definitive story of this unique and very British band — part jazz, part absurdist theatre, part psychedelic pop — and Still Barking celebrates it all in glorious detail.
The DVDs – Bonzos in Motion
For many fans, the three DVDs will be one of the main attractions.
You get Do Not Adjust Your Set (1967–68), Beat Club, Colour Me Pop, and Madness at the Marquee — with appearances that show exactly how the Bonzos blurred the line between music and surreal comedy.
There are moments here that make it obvious how much the band’s anarchic humour inspired Monty Python. You can almost feel the Pythons waiting in the wings, taking notes!
Some of the footage shows its age, of course, but that’s part of the charm — a time capsule from a world where anything seemed possible.
The Music – From Gorilla to Let’s Make Up and Be Friendly
If you’re new to the Bonzos, this might seem like a lot to take in. But for those of us who grew up with them, it’s a dream come true.
My introduction was the Gorilla album — particularly The Intro and the Outro (“Adolf Hitler on vibes… Val Doonican as himself!”). That combination of chaos, jazz, and humour was irresistible.
The box covers all their studio albums, including:
Gorilla (mono and stereo)
The Doughnut in Granny’s Greenhouse
Tadpoles
Keynsham
Let’s Make Up and Be Friendly
Plus live recordings from the Fillmore East and Amsterdam, a mountain of BBC sessions, and a singles collection that rounds up every last gem.
Some live recordings are understandably raw — but that’s part of their magic. You can feel the spontaneity, the laughter, and the glorious mess of it all.
The Book – A Labour of Love
Madfish have become the masters of presentation, and this book is another triumph.
Introduced by Stephen Fry, it features contributions from Yvonne Innes, Roger Ruskin Spear, Rodney Slater, Legs Larry Smith, and many others. There are essays from fans and peers like Pete Townshend, John Entwistle, and Chris Welch, plus beautifully reproduced posters and photos from the era.
It’s not just a history — it’s a love letter to the band, the times, and the people who created this joyful mayhem.
The book even details the long legal battle the surviving members had to win back the Bonzo name, ensuring this set could exist at all. That emotional weight gives Still Barking even more depth.
Why It Matters
As I said in my video, this isn’t a set for everyone — but if you love Monty Python, British eccentricity, late-60s creativity, or music that walks the line between genius and madness, this is essential.
It’s also a perfect example of why Madfish Records have set the gold standard for how archival releases should be handled. You can tell this was made by people who genuinely care — who asked “What else can we include?” rather than “What can we leave out?”
The Bonzos made us laugh, think, and dance — often all at once. And Still Barking captures every shade of that glorious chaos. It’s funny, touching, historic, and utterly unique.
Final Thoughts
If you already own the old 3CD set, you might think that’s enough. But this box set isn’t just about the music — it’s about the story, the personalities, and the spirit of a band that defied every category.
It’s one of the finest box sets Madfish have ever produced, and for fans, it might just be the crown jewel of their collection.
So yes — it’s still barking. And long may it bark.
Music is the healer. It makes us laugh, it makes us smile, it makes us feel good inside.
And this is one of those sets that does exactly that.
Keep spinning those discs,
ORDER THE STILL BARKING BOX SET FROM HERE
Phil Aston | Now Spinning Magazine
