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Do It Yourself [Bonus CD]

 
Album Review: Do It Yourself [Bonus CD]
 

  • Artist: Ian Dury
  • Rating: StarStarStarStarHalf Star
  • Release Date: January 31, 2006
  • Type: Lyrics are included with the album
  • Genre: Rock

Review

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 mid-tempo 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. [Fuel 2000's 2006 reissue of Do It Yourself adds several singles -- "Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick," "There Ain't Half Been Some Clever Bastards," "Reasons to Be Cheerful, Pt. 3," "Whata Waste," and a 12" mix of "Reasons to Be Cheerful" -- to the first disc. The second disc contains demos of "This Is What We Find," "Boogie Woogie (Duff 'Em Up)," "Quiet," "Babies Kept Quiet (Uneasy Sunny Day Hotsy Totsy," a backing track of "Inbetweenies," and an instrumental of "Blow." Best of all, the second disc also contains a set from the Blockheads' slot on the 1977 Stiff's Live Stiffs package tour, finding the band in terrific form as it tears through New Boots and Panties!!-era songs like "Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll," "I'm Partial to Your Abracadabra," "Sweet Gene Vincent," and "Wake Up and Make Love With Me." This live set is worth the price of admission alone.] ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Tracks



CD 1

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
Inbetweenies Ian Dury, Blockheads (5:18)
Quiet Ian Dury, Blockheads (3:31)
Don't Ask Me Ian Dury, Blockheads (3:17)
Sink My Boats Ian Dury, Blockheads (4:12)
Waiting for Your Taxi Ian Dury, Blockheads (2:52)
This Is What We Find Ian Dury, Blockheads (4:10)
Uneasy Sunny Day Hotsy Totsy Ian Dury, Blockheads (2:10)
Mischief Ian Dury, Blockheads (3:33)
Dance of the Screamers Ian Dury, Blockheads (6:39)
Lullaby for Francies Ian Dury, Blockheads (5:02)
What a Waste [*] Ian Dury, Blockheads (3:25)
Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick [*] Ian Dury, Blockheads (3:43)
There Ain't Half Been Some Clever Bastards [*] Ian Dury, Blockheads (3:03)
Reasons to Be Cheerful, Pt. 3 [*] Ian Dury, Blockheads (4:43)
Common as Muck [*] Ian Dury, Blockheads (3:57)
Reasons to Be Cheerful, Pt. 3 [12" Version][*] Ian Dury, Blockheads (6:41)


CD 2

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
This Is What We Find [Demo Version] Ian Dury, Blockheads (4:48)
Boogie Woogie (Duff 'Em Up) [Demo Version] Ian Dury, Blockheads (4:01)
Quiet [Demo Version] Ian Dury, Blockheads (3:19)
Inbetweenies [Backing Track][Demo Version] Ian Dury, Blockheads (5:16)
Babies Kept Quiet ... [Early Version of Uneasy Sunny Day Hotsy Totsy][ Ian Dury, Blockheads (2:56)
Blow [Instrumental][Demo Version] Ian Dury, Blockheads (5:25)
Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll [Live] Ian Dury, Blockheads (4:51)
I'm Partial to Your Abracadabra [Live] Ian Dury, Blockheads (3:04)
Wake Up and Make Love with Me [Live] Ian Dury, Blockheads (5:05)
Clevor Trever [Live] Ian Dury, Blockheads (5:06)
Sweet Gene Vincent [Live] Ian Dury, Blockheads (3:55)
Billericay Dickie [Live] Ian Dury, Blockheads (3:50)
My Old Man [Live] Ian Dury, Blockheads (4:15)
If I Was With a Woman [Live] Ian Dury, Blockheads (3:29)
Blockheads [Live] Ian Dury, Blockheads (3:59)
Plaistow Patricia [Live] Ian Dury, Blockheads (4:49)
Blackmail Man [Live] Ian Dury, Blockheads (3:14)

Credits

Ian Dury (Vocals), Will Birch (Liner Notes), Mick Gallagher (Keyboards), Chas Jankel (Guitar), Chas Jankel (Keyboards), Chas Jankel (Music Direction), Laurie Latham (Engineer), Davey Payne (Saxophone), John Turnbull (Guitar), Norman Watt-Roy (Bass), Edwin Cross (Tape Operator), Val Jennings (Project Coordinator), Val Jennings (Cover Design), Val Jennings (Tape Research), Val Jennings (Label Design), Johnny Chandler (Cover Design), Johnny Chandler (Label Design), Charley Charles (Drums), Paul Phear (Paper Cut Design), Joe Maryon (Cover Design), Joe Maryon (Label Design)
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Copyrights:

Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more

 

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