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Track Listings
| 1. Dance Little Rude Boy |
| 2. I Believe |
| 3. It Ain't Cool |
| 4. Cowboys |
| 5. Ballad Of The Sulphate Strangler |
| 6. I Could Lie |
| 7. One love |
| 8. Happy Hippy |
| 9. Books and Water |
| 10. You're The Why |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Ian Dury was one of the most colourful, empathetic, life-affirming characters ever to grace British pop. Do not mourn him with a black handkerchief and a glass of Thunderbird wine, instead celebrate the palpable "joie de vivre" perkiness of "I Believe", which lists a whole load of run-of-the-mill reasons for keeping cheerful ("saying thanks", "Santa Claus", "fresh air", "birfdee cake", "being nice") and boasts the Blockheads' most delectably twangiest lead-guitar part since "Sex Drugs And Rock n Roll". Equally special is the real-life comic-strip biography of "Ballad Of The Sulphate Strangler" (featuring Dury at his growliest best), the story of the late and chaotic Pete Rush, Dury's one-time volatile "Desperate Dan" style minder who, according to The Blockheads', dealt with antagonists by grabbing them by the throat and biting their nose. In light of which, its entirely fitting to remark that 10 More Turnips from the Tip is a really great record to sink your teeth into! --Kevin Maidment
Review
The title seems to imply some kind of rejected product is on offer here. How far this is from the truth is immediately made plain from the sophisticated stroking of a Fender Rhodes that opens the first track "Dance Little Rude Boy". Tarred with the somewhat derogatory "pub rock" brush, the one quality that the Blockheads always had in spades was, well...quality. In later years Dury and chums came out of the closet about their love of studio doyens Steely Dan. Chaz Jankel's Blockhead's were nearer to these American legends than to Joe Strummer's 101ers, and it's the same incredibly funky mastery of each musical building block that left Dury free to express himself in his own inimitable way. This fitting testament leaves you in no doubt that Dury and Jankel needed each other in equal measure.
Several tracks do actually date from the intensely prolific period, paradoxically spawned by Ian's inevitable decline in the face of illness. You would never know it from the evidence. The aforementioned "Rude Boy", "Books And Water" and "It Ain't Cool" all bounce with robust good health with Dury's razor-sharp lyrics cutting a swathe through the smoothest jazz-funk this side of the Atlantic. Outtakes from the previous album Mr Lovepants ("Ballad Of The Sulphate Strangler" and " Happy Hippy"), with original Blockhead Davey Payne on sax and flute, exhibit an astonishing deftness of touch which is missing from most artists major output. Jankel's bubbling guitar, Norman Watt-Roy's funkalicious bass, Mick Gallagher's keyboard sweeps, and Dury's cockney shenanigans concerning legendary roadies, new age bliss and the sheer joy in life itself; all combine to make this an incredible monument to the timeless talent that Lord Upminster himself embodied.
It's topped off with Jock Scot's moving eulogy to Essex's finest son and a rendition of his last lyric completed after his death and featuring a vocal by Robbie Williams. Above all you're left with the sense of life-affirming fun that always flowed through the great man's work. Let's remember him this way. Oy! Oy! --Chris Jones
Find more music at the BBC This link will take you off Amazon in a new window
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Customer Reviews
The sticker says 'The last Studio Album of Ian DUry and the Blockheads' and it has the feel of it. The songs seem to rap up the Lord Upminster's life and songs 'Dance Little Rude Boy' continues his London Life commentary made with 'Rough Kids' and 'Blockheads' and 'Have a Word' - 'It Ain't Cool' and 'I Could Lie' seem like Ian confessions whilst vaguley remicent of highly personal album 'Laughter', 'Happy Hippy' returns the humour of 'Billericay Dickie', 'Poor Joey' and 'This is What we Find' with 'One Love' which seems apologetic of songs like 'Wake Up and Make Love With Me' and 'If I was With a Woman'
'Ballad of teh Sulphate Strangler' Ian's last tribute song finnishes up Ian's trend of tributes (this time to long time PA and psycopath Peter Rush 'the Sulphate Strangler)set with 'Sweet Gene Vincent' and 'Bill Hayley's Last Words' while 'Books and Water' is the protogee to 'Sex and Drugs and Rock 'n' Roll' and please let's not get into the blockheads suprub playing, although you can tell on teh songs recoreded after saxaphonist Davey Payne's explusion that all is not Blockheady as it should be - mind Mickey's Keys and Norman's bass are as great as Ian's Lyrics
Ian Dury and the Blockheads never lost it, despite what 'Lord Upminster' says and Ten More Turnips From The Tip just proves it beyond a doubt
Two of the tracks did not have vocals recorded at the time of his death and these have been supplied by Chas Jankel (on "I Could Lie) and Robbie Williams, who apparently was a fan. In fact, Willaims' song, "You're the Why" shows that as well as a great wit, Dury could write some really good love songs.
The Blockheads feature on all the tracks and all their hallmark playing is evident. Most of the tracks were finished by the Blockheads after Dury's death and the end result is polished and could easily pass for a 'normal' album rather than a collection of odds and ends.
I don't know if there are any other Ian Dury outtakes, lost songs or unreleased live recordings in the archives but after this showing, maybe an "Anthology" type of album would be justified. Or after his song on here and his cover of Sweet Gene Vincent on Brand New Boots and Panties, maybe a Robbie Williams and the Blockheads album of Ian Dury covers wouldn't be a bad idea.
buy this. you wont regret it.
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