Ian Dury and the Blockheads were one of the most popular groups of the New … Read Full Bio ↴Ian Dury and the Blockheads were one of the most popular groups of the New Wave era in the U.K. in the 70s and early 80s. Their eclectic sound was drawn from their many musical influences; these included funk, jazz, rock and roll, soul, and reggae, not to mention leader Ian Dury's love of music hall. Dury's lyrics were a unique combination of lyrical poetry, word play, acute observation of British everyday life, and scatalogical humour. As the Blockheads, the band continued to play after Dury's untimely death in 2000.
The band started when frontman Dury (born in Upminster, Essex, United Kingdom on 12 May 1942 and died 27 March 2000), had a chance encounter in a musical instrument hire shop with guitarist Chaz Jankel. Jankel took Dury's lyrics, fashioned a number of songs, and they began recording with drummer Charley Charles, bassist Norman Watt-Roy and the former Kilburns saxophonist Davey Payne. An album was completed, but major record labels passed on the band. However, next door to Dury's manager's office was the newly formed Stiff Records, a perfect home for Dury's maverick style. The classic single "Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll", marked Dury's Stiff debut and this was swiftly followed by an album. titled 'New Boots and Panties', which was to eventually achieve platinum status.
It wasn't until October 1977 that Dury and his band started to go out as Ian Dury and the Blockheads, when the band signed up for the Stiff "Live Stiffs Tour" alongside Elvis Costello And The Attractions, Nick Lowe, Wreckless Eric and Larry Wallis. The tour was a success and Stiff launched a concerted Ian Dury marketing campaign, resulting in the Top Ten hit What a Waste and the classic UK number one Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick. The band toured to great acclaim throughout Europe.
The band's second album Do It Yourself was released in June 1979 in a Barney Bubbles-designed sleeve of which there were over a dozen variations, all based on samples from the Crown wallpaper catalogue. Another top ten single, Reasons to be Cheerful, kept Dury in the public eye.
In 1980 Jankel left The Blockheads to concentrate on a solo career and was replaced by former Dr Feelgood guitarist Wilko Johnson, who also contributed to the next album Laughter and its two minor hit singles.
Ian Dury And The Blockheads disbanded in 1981 after Dury secured a new recording deal with Polydor Records through A&R man Frank Neilson, choosing to work with a group of young musicians which he named The Music Students and recorded the album Four Thousand Weeks' Holiday. This album marked a departure from his usual style and was not as well received by fans for its American jazz influence.
The Blockheads reformed several times before Ian Dury's death, most notably to play a series of benefit concerts for Charley Charles.
The band started when frontman Dury (born in Upminster, Essex, United Kingdom on 12 May 1942 and died 27 March 2000), had a chance encounter in a musical instrument hire shop with guitarist Chaz Jankel. Jankel took Dury's lyrics, fashioned a number of songs, and they began recording with drummer Charley Charles, bassist Norman Watt-Roy and the former Kilburns saxophonist Davey Payne. An album was completed, but major record labels passed on the band. However, next door to Dury's manager's office was the newly formed Stiff Records, a perfect home for Dury's maverick style. The classic single "Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll", marked Dury's Stiff debut and this was swiftly followed by an album. titled 'New Boots and Panties', which was to eventually achieve platinum status.
It wasn't until October 1977 that Dury and his band started to go out as Ian Dury and the Blockheads, when the band signed up for the Stiff "Live Stiffs Tour" alongside Elvis Costello And The Attractions, Nick Lowe, Wreckless Eric and Larry Wallis. The tour was a success and Stiff launched a concerted Ian Dury marketing campaign, resulting in the Top Ten hit What a Waste and the classic UK number one Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick. The band toured to great acclaim throughout Europe.
The band's second album Do It Yourself was released in June 1979 in a Barney Bubbles-designed sleeve of which there were over a dozen variations, all based on samples from the Crown wallpaper catalogue. Another top ten single, Reasons to be Cheerful, kept Dury in the public eye.
In 1980 Jankel left The Blockheads to concentrate on a solo career and was replaced by former Dr Feelgood guitarist Wilko Johnson, who also contributed to the next album Laughter and its two minor hit singles.
Ian Dury And The Blockheads disbanded in 1981 after Dury secured a new recording deal with Polydor Records through A&R man Frank Neilson, choosing to work with a group of young musicians which he named The Music Students and recorded the album Four Thousand Weeks' Holiday. This album marked a departure from his usual style and was not as well received by fans for its American jazz influence.
The Blockheads reformed several times before Ian Dury's death, most notably to play a series of benefit concerts for Charley Charles.
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Reasons To Be Cheerful
Ian Dury and the Blockheads Lyrics
Apples Delilah the dancer from Soho Was making her way down the…
Billericay Dickie (spoken) good evening i'm from Essex in case you couldn't …
Billy Bentley Hello, playmates Here's a little London song All about a you…
Blockheads You must have seen parties of Blockheads With blotched and …
Clevor Trevor Just cos i ain't never…
Crippled With Nerves I could give her the respect she deserves But I can't…
D'Orine The Cow *Moo!* I'm D'Orine the Cow, Tom the Bull's better half My d…
Dance of the Crackpots Oh, let's get up and let's get excited It's a public…
England's Glory This one's for Julie, who we love I love her almost…
Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick In the deserts of Sudan And the gardens of Japan From Mila…
I Want to Be Straight (spoken introductions) I'm Charley, you know I'm Norman ple…
I'm Partial To Your Abracadabra I'm partial to your abracadabra I'm raptured by the joy of…
If I Was With A Woman If I was with a woman she'd wonder what was…
Inbetweenies In the mirror, when I'm debonair My reactions are my own…
Mumble Rumble Woke up this morning in a state of shock I heard…
O'Donegal Fresh mist on the morning and tears in my eyes I'm…
Pam's Moods When me and Pam Are hand in hand We make a lovely…
Pam's Moods 2 When me and Pam Are hand in hand We make a lovely…
Plaistow Patricia arseholes, bastards fucking cunts and pricks aerosole, the …
Poo-Poo in the Prawn I took a sudden notion To go down to the ocean I'd…
Profoundly in Love With Pandora My mother's heart and soul Have gone halfway up the pole M…
Really Glad You Came Although you think I'm sleeping as you get set to…
Rough Kids Rough kids play rough games and kick tin-cans They walk in…
Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll Sex and drugs and rock and roll Is all my brain…
Superman's Big Sister Till I met her, I thought I knew the answers I…
Sweet Gene Vincent Blue gene baby Skinny white sailor, the chances were slender…
The Call Up Let her go, let her go When the look in her…
The Roadette Song Shaken on her shoulder, shaking on her arse Ain't no doubt…
This is What We Find Oi, Reg, meat and two veg? He done him with a…
Upminster Kid When I was fifteen I had a black crepe jacket…
Waiting for Your Taxi Waiting for your taxi Which taxi never comes Waiting for you…
Wake Up and Make Love With Me I come awake with the gift for womankind you're still alseep…
What a Waste I could be the driver an articulated lorry I could be…
You're More Than Fair You're more than fair, you've got a gorgeous bum Why don't…
You're My Inspiration Dury-McEvoy You're my inspiration, so welcome to my heart…