Ian Dury (And The Blockheads): 1977 - 1980 (3 Albums)

 

This post is dedicated to my Brother Blog: "Blog Nobody Reads". I suppose you like very much Ian Dury, Andy, my Rock friend from England.
                   

           
Ian Robins Dury (12 May 1942 – 27 March 2000) was an English singer, songwriter and actor who rose to fame in the late 1970s, during the punk and new wave era of rock music. He was the lead singer and lyricist of Ian Dury and the Blockheads and previously Kilburn and the High Roads. Ian Dury was a

rock and roll vagabond with the wit, humour and intelligence of Noël Coward and Oscar Wilde. His verbal dexterity as an entertainer and a lyric writer gave the world some of its most famous phrases – “sex and drugs and rock and roll” and “reasons to be cheerful.” He was a true Renaissance man – a talented painter, musician and actor –  who left behind a body of work that continues to amuse, impress and delight to this day.
                

The death of Gene Vincent in 1971 inspired Ian to form his first band, Kilburn and the High Roads. He

became the vocalist and lyricist, co-writing with keyboard players Russell Hardy and Rod Melvin. Kilburn and the High Roads, later the Kilburns, found cult fame on London’s pub rock circuit and signed to Dawn Records in 1974, but despite acres of favourable press coverage, an album – Handsome – and a tour opening for The Who, the group never rose above cult status.
               

In 1975 the Kilburns disbanded and Ian focussed on writing new material and considered his options. A

chance encounter with former Byzantium guitarist Chaz Jankel led to a new song writing partnership. Jankel, armed with stacks of Dury’s lyrics, collaborated on a number of songs, including the classic Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll. Jankel’s influence was precisely what Ian had been searching for and soon they were recording, assisted by drummer Charley Charles, bassist Norman Watt-Roy and the former Kilburns’ saxophonist Davey Payne, amongst others.
                  

An album was completed but major record labels passed on Ian, whom they may have seen as a pub rock no-hoper. However, next door to Ian’s manager’s office was the newly formed Stiff Records, a

perfect home for his oddball genius. The now legendary single Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll, with Razzle in My Pocket as the B-side, marked his Stiff Records debut and this was swiftly followed by the platinum album New Boots and Panties!!  In November that year, Ian released the irrepressible hit song "Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick", which went to No1 in the UK charts in January 1979. Dury was now a bona fide pop star and with the Blockheads, toured to great acclaim.
                  

While New Boots and Panties!! headed towards its remarkable 90-week chart run, the group commenced work on the follow up album, entitled Do It Yourself. Another Top Ten single, Reasons to Be Cheerful (Part Three), kept Dury in the public eye during this arduous period of recording. The

album was eventually released in June 1979 in a Barney Bubbles-designed sleeve, of which there were over thirty variations, all based on samples from the Crown wallpaper catalogue. In 1980 Chaz Jankel departed the Blockheads to concentrate on a solo career, signing with A&M Records and was replaced by former Dr Feelgood guitarist Wilko Johnson. Wilko further enlivened the group’s stage act and contributed to the next album, Laughter, and its two minor hit singles – I Want to Be Straight and Sueperman’s Big Sister.
                     

In 1981 Ian Dury and the Blockheads disbanded and Ian left Stiff Records and signed instead to Polydor, who released the album Lord Upminster. This included the controversial single Spasticus (Autisticus). For this record, Dury was re-united with Chaz and they recorded in the Bahamas with the

legendary rhythm section of Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare. A second Polydor album, 4000 Weeks’ Holiday was released in 1984 and it was toured with a new band, Ian Dury and the Music Students. In the mid-eighties Ian scaled down his musical output to concentrate on film and stage acting. His theatrical CV includes films such as Roman Polanski’s Pirates, Bob Hoskins’ the Raggedy Rawney and Hearts of Fire with Bob Dylan, plus the fondly remembered voice-over, “Hello Tosh got a Toshiba?” from the well-known TV commercial.
                 

In 1990, the Blockheads drummer Charley Charles became ill with cancer and the group supported its bandmate with a series of benefit concerts but sadly Charley did not live to see these shows. The re-united Blockheads, with new drummer Steve Monti, produced the live album Warts ‘n’ Audience,

released on Demon Records. Ian continued to work with UNICEF, traveling to Sri Lanka with Robbie Williams in October 1998 and, using his continued high profile to good effect, he joined forces with Cancer Bacup on the launch of a new helpline number. In April 1999, Ian and the band played three sell out London gigs followed by a string of shows around the country and later that year they returned to the studio to start laying down tracks for a new album – Ten More Turnips from the Tip. Sadly, Ian became too ill to finish this album which was released posthumously in 2002 with the unrecorded vocals covered by Chaz and Robbie Williams.
                    

Right before he died, at the start of the new Millennium and alongside the Blockheads, Ian managed to

entertain an audience one last time. “New Boots and Panto” was performed at the London Palladium on February 6th, 2000 and was a special and memorable evening with Kirsty MacColl as guest support and Phill Jupitus as MC. Ian drew on his meagre reserves of energy to deliver an astonishing final gig. Six weeks later he passed away peacefully at home with his family.
             

Dury died of metastatic colorectal cancer on 27 March 2000, aged 57, in Hampstead, London.
            

1. IAN DURY - NEW BOOTS AND PANTRIES!! 1977 (40th ANNIVERSARY BOX - SET)

              

Ian Dury's primary appeal lies in his lyrics, which are remarkably clever sketches of British life delivered with a wry wit. Since Dury's accent is thick and his language dense with local slang, much of

these pleasures aren't discernible to casual listeners, leaving the music to stand on its own merits. On his debut album, New Boots and Panties!!, Dury's music is at its best, and even that is a bizarrely uneven fusion of pub rock, punk rock, and disco. Still, Dury's off-kilter charm and irrepressible energy make the album gel, with the disco pulse of "Wake Up and Make Love with Me" making perfect sense next to the gentle tribute "Sweet Gene Vincent," the roaring punk of "Blockheads," and the revamped music hall of "Billericay Dickie" and "My Old Man."
                 

Ian Dury – New Boots And Panties!!
Label: Edsel Records – NBAPBOX01
Format: Box Set, 4 x CD, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition
Country: UK
Released: Oct 27, 2017
Genre: Rock
Style: Punk, Pub Rock

LINE - UP

Bass – Norman Watt-Roy
Drums – Charley Charles
Guitar [Ballad] – Edward Speight
Guitar, Keyboards – Chaz Jankel
Saxophone – Davey Payne
Synthesizer [Moog] – Geoff Castle
Vocals – Ian Dury
Written-By – Jankel (tracks: A1 to A3, B1 to B5), Dury, Nugent (tracks: A4, A5)

NOTES

            

Continuing the successful Demon Records Deluxe range, the next title is Ian Dury’s classic debut album New Boots And Panties!!. Coinciding with the 40th Anniversary of this album and released the

same day as the anniversary box set. Originally released on Stiff Records in 1977. It’s often cited as one of the first classic UK punk albums, the record covers a diverse range of musical styles reflecting Dury's influences and background in pub rock, taking in funk, disco, British music hall and early rock and roll. It’s considered Dury’s best album and it was also his most successful after it was certified Platinum in the UK 2 years after its release.
                    

40th Anniversary Edition 4CD + Vinyl
including the classic album, B-Sides, Demos, a live concert.

CD1.

                

01. Wake Up And Make Love With Me
02. Sweet Gene Vincent
03. I'm Partial To Your Abracadabra
04. My Old Man
05. Billericay Dickie
06. Clevor Trever
07. If I Was With A Woman
08. Blockheads
09. Plaistow Patricia
10. Blackmail Man

Flac Size: 259 MB

CD2.

          

01. Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll (Recorded at Alvic Studios, Wimbledon)
02. Razzle In My Pocket
03. You're More Than Fair
04. England's Glory [live]
05. Close To Home
06. Two Steep Hills
07. Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll (BBC John Peel Session)
08. Clevor Trever (BBC John Peel Session)
09. Sweet Gene Vincent (BBC John Peel Session)
10. Blockheads (BBC John Peel Session)

Flac Size: 233 MB

CD3.

                       

01. Wake Up And Make Love With Me (Demo)
02. Sink My Boats (Demo)
03. Apples (Demo)
04. England's Glory (Demo)
05. Tell The Children (Demo)
06. I Made Mary Cry (Demo)
07. Sweet Gene Vincent [backing track] (Demo)
08. Blackmail Man (Demo)
09. My Old Man (Demo)
10. Something's Going To Happen In The Winter (Demo)
11. Wifey (Demo)
12. Sink My Boats [alternate version] (Demo)
13. I'm Partial To Your Abracadabra (Demo)
14. If I Was With A Woman (Demo)
15. Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll (Demo)
16. Clevor Trever (Demo)
17. Blockheads (Demo)

Flac Size: 433 MB

CD4.

            

01. Sex & Drugs And Rock And Roll (Live At The Paris Theatre, London, 01/07/1978)
02. Wake Up And Make Love With Me (Live At The Paris Theatre, London, 01/07/1978)
03. Clevor Trever (Live At The Paris Theatre, London, 01/07/1978
04. Plaistow Patricia (Live At The Paris Theatre, London, 01/07/1978
05. I Made Mary Cry (Live At The Paris Theatre, London, 01/07/1978)
06. What A Waste (Live At The Paris Theatre, London, 01/07/1978)
07. Blockheads (Live At The Paris Theatre, London, 01/07/1978)
08. If I Was With A Woman (Live At The Paris Theatre, London, 01/07/1978)
09. Upminster Kid (Live At The Paris Theatre, London, 01/07/1978)
10. Sweet Gene Vincent (Live At The Paris Theatre, London, 01/07/1978)
11. Sex & Drugs And Rock And Roll (Reprise) (Live At The Paris Theatre, London, 01/07/1978)

Flac Size: 394 MB

2. IAN DURY AND THE BLOCKHEADS - DO IT YOURSELF 1979  (DELUXE EDITION)

         

Ian Dury's music always bordered on the functional, since it was used as a backdrop for his wry vignettes and stories, but on his second album, Do It Yourself, that aspect came to the fore. Largely

abandoning the punk inflections that were scattered throughout New Boots and Panties!, Do It Yourself is a record of midtempo pub rock disco -- competently played, but rarely engaging. Dury's stories are all wonderful, filled with humor and penetrating detail, but only a handful of tracks, such as the terrific "Inbetweenies," are married to actual hooks, and by the end of the record, the steady disco throb has become a little numbing. Even with these faults, Do It Yourself remains one of Dury's very best records, since his lyrical facility throughout the album is simply amazing.
         

Ian Dury & The Blockheads – Do It Yourself
Label: Fuel 2000 – 3020615382
Format:    2 x CD, Album, Remastered 2006
Country: US
Released: 1979
Genre: Rock
Style: New Wave

CD1. DO IT YOURSELF        

            

01. Inbetweenies    5:17
02. Quiet    3:32
03. Don't Ask Me    3:17
04. Sink My Boats    4:12
05. Waiting For Your Taxi    2:51
06. This Is What We Find    4:10
07. Uneasy Sunny Day Hotsy Totsy    2:10
08. Mischief    3:34
09. Dance Of The Screamers    6:40
10. Lullaby For Franci/es    5:07

BONUS TRACKS        

    
11. What A Waste    3:26
12. Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick    4:05
13. There Ain't Half Been Some Clever Bastards    3:01
14. Reasons To Be Cheerful, Part 3    4:44
15. Common As Muck    3:58
16. Reasons To Be Cheerful, Part 3 (12" Version)    6:40

Flac Size: 456 MB

CD2. BONUS DISC: DEMOS        

                

  
01. This Is What We Find    4:48
02. Boogie Woogie (Duff 'Em Up)    4:02
03. Quiet    3:50
04. Inbetweenies (Backing Track)    5:25
05. Babies Kept Quiet (Uneasy Sunny Day Hotsy Totsy)    2:54
06. Blow (Instrumental)    5:21

FROM THE "STIFFS LIVE STIFFS" TOUR, 1977        

    
07. Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll    5:29
08. I'm Partial To Your Abracadabra    3:06
09. Wake Up And Make Love With Me    4:31
10. Clevor Trever    5:20
11. Sweet Gene Vincent    4:25
12. Billericay Dickie    3:41
13. My Old Man    3:46
14. If I Was With A Woman    4:07
15. Blockheads    4:02
16. Plaistow Patricia    4:10
17. Blackmail Man    4:04

LINE - UP

Bass – Norman Watt-Roy (tracks: 1-1 to 1-10)
Drums – Charley Charles (tracks: 1-1 to 1-10)
Guitar – Chaz Jankel (tracks: 1-1 to 1-10), John Turnbull (tracks: 1-1 to 1-10)
Keyboards – Chaz Jankel (tracks: 1-1 to 1-10), Mickey Gallagher (tracks: 1-1 to 1-10)
Saxophone – Davey Payne (tracks: 1-1 to 1-10)
Vocals – Ian Dury
Written-By – Charles (tracks: 1-2, 2-3, 2-6), Jankel (tracks: 1-1, 1-3 to 1-5, 1-9, 1-10, 1-12, 1-14 to 1-16, 2-4, 2-6 to 2-11, 2-14, 2-15), Payne (tracks: 1-14 to 1-16, 2-6), Dury (tracks: 1-1 to 2-5, 2-7 to 2-17), Turnbull (tracks: 1-2, 1-7, 1-8, 2-3, 2-5, 2-6), Gallagher (tracks: 1-2, 1-6, 1-8, 2-1 to 2-3, 2-6), Watt-Roy (tracks: 1-2, 1-8, 2-3, 2-6), Melvin (tracks: 1-11), Hardy (tracks: 1-13), Nugent (tracks: 2-12, 2-13, 2-16, 2-17)

NOTES

1-1 to 1-10 recorded at The Workhouse.
2-1 to 2-6 Recorded at Ian's house, Rolvendon, Kent, November 1978.
2-7 to 2-17 recorded live at Leicester University, 22nd October 1977.

Flac Size: 470 MB

3. IAN DURY AND THE BLOCKHEADS - LAUGHTER 1980

                 

Laughter is the third studio album by Ian Dury and the Blockheads; released in 1980, it was the last

studio album Dury made for Stiff Records. It was also the last studio album he made with the Blockheads, until 1998's Mr. Love Pants, though a live album Warts 'n' Audience was produced in 1991. Working with lead guitarist Wilko Johnson (Dr. Feelgood), Ian Dury gradually moves away from disco with his third album, Laughter. The steady dance pulse is still apparent, but it's balanced by rockers and pub singalongs that give the album more depth.
        

Ian Dury & The Blockheads – Laughter
Label: Fuel 2000 – 3020615902
Format: 2 x CD, Album, Reissue
Country: US
Released: 2006
Genre: Rock
Style: New Wave, Pop Rock

CD1.

              

01.  Sueperman's Big Sister
02.  Pardon
03.  Delusions Of Grandeur
04.  Yes And No (Paula)
05.  Dance Of The Crackpots
06.  Over The Points
07.  (Take Your Elbow Out Of The Soup You're Sitting On The Chicken)
08.  Uncoolohol
09.  Hey, Hey Take Me Away
10.  Manic Depression (Jimi)
11.  Oh Mr Peanut
12.  Fucking Ada

BONUS TRACKS        

    
13. I Want To Be Straight
14. That's Not All
15. You'll See Glimpses

Flac Size: 318 MB

CD2. ALBUM OUTTAKES        

                

01. Duff 'Em Up And Do 'Em Over (Boogie Woogie)
02. You Are Here
03. Come In No. 9

DEMO INSTRUMENTALS BY THE BLOCKHEADS

    
04. Chicken [Take Your Elbow Out Of The Soup]
05. CC's Rock
06. I Know Your Name
07. Public Party [Dance Of The Crackpots]
08. Black And White [Yes And No (Paula)]
09. Manic Depression
10. More Turns For Everyone
11. Blue Light [That's Not All]
12. Back To Y-Front
13. Fatback
14. On The Spot (Do The Block)
15. Duff 'Em Up And Do 'Em Over Boogie Woogie [Oh Mr. Peanut]
16. Peter Gunn
 

Flac Size: 359 MB