Sex & Drugs & Rock 'n' Roll: The Best of Ian Dury and the Blockheads

• Artist: Ian Dury & the Blockheads
• Rating:
• Release Date: April 28, 1992
• Type: Compilation (best of)
• Genre: Rock

Review

Ian Dury could make wonderful albums (and sometimes did, most notably the inarguable classic New Boots and Panties!!), but he saved many of his finest moments for his singles, which justifiably made him a legend in his native England between 1977 and 1980. With the most notable exception of Ray Davies and Paul Weller, few U.K. rockers embraced their Britishness with greater fervor than Dury, and he mined his for a wit, gleeful eccentricity, and street-smart intelligence no one could touch. And his band, the Blockheads, were as musos stronger than anyone to emerge during the British new wave explosion (their years of slogging it out on the pub circuit certainly paid off), but their curiously refreshing light funk also boasted an oddball good humor and cleverness that was the equal of their leader (no small feat). Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll: The Best of Ian Dury and the Blockheads collects 18 superb sides from the band's glory days, and while the bigger hits like "Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick," "Reasons to Be Cheerful, Part 3," and the title cut are just as good as you remember, there are plenty of pearly lesser-knowns on board, such as the childhood tale of daring "Razzle in My Pocket," the charming "Common As Muck," the hilariously anthemic "I Want to Be Straight," and the odd but captivating prognostication of "You'll See Glimpses." While Dury made plenty of other records worth investigating, if you're only going to own one Ian Dury album, this is certainly the one to get, and it truly does capture the man's singular magic at its best. ~ Mark Deming, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll	Ian Dury, Chas Jankel	Ian Dury & the Blockheads	(3:05)
Razzle in My Pocket	Ian Dury, Chas Jankel	Ian Dury & the Blockheads	(3:01)
Wake Up and Make Love With Me	Ian Dury, Chas Jankel	Ian Dury & the Blockheads	(4:25)
Sweet Gene Vincent	Ian Dury, Chas Jankel	Ian Dury & the Blockheads	(3:36)
Billericay Dickie	Ian Dury, Stephen Nugent	Ian Dury & the Blockheads	(4:19)
Clevor Trever	Ian Dury, Chas Jankel	Ian Dury & the Blockheads	(4:55)
Blockheads	Ian Dury, Chas Jankel	Ian Dury & the Blockheads	(3:33)
You're More Than Fair	Ian Dury, Russell Hardy	Ian Dury & the Blockheads	(3:01)
What a Waste!	Ian Dury, Chas Jankel, Rod Melvin	Ian Dury & the Blockheads	(3:31)
Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick	Ian Dury, Chas Jankel	Ian Dury & the Blockheads	(3:44)
There Ain't Half Been Some Clever Bastards	Ian Dury, Russell Hardy	Ian Dury & the Blockheads	(3:05)
Inbetweenies	Ian Dury, Chas Jankel	Ian Dury & the Blockheads	(5:20)
Reasons to Be Cheerful, Pt. 3	Ian Dury, Chas Jankel, Davey Payne	Ian Dury & the Blockheads	(5:00)
Common as Muck	Ian Dury, Chickenshorts	Ian Dury & the Blockheads	(4:00)
I Want to Be Straight	Ian Dury, Mick Gallagher	Ian Dury & the Blockheads	(3:20)
That's Not All	Ian Dury, Davey Payne	Ian Dury & the Blockheads	(2:46)
Superman's Big Sister	Ian Dury, Wilko Johnson	Ian Dury & the Blockheads	(2:51)
You'll See Glimpses	Ian Dury, Norman Watt-Roy	Ian Dury & the Blockheads	(3:40)

Credits

Ian Dury (Vocals), Ian Dury (Main Performer), Ken Perry (Remastering), Charlie Charles (Drums), Mick Gallagher (Keyboards), Bill Inglot (Producer), Bill Inglot (?), Bill Inglot (Remastering), Chas Jankel (Keyboards), Davey Payne (Saxophone), Andrew Sandoval (Compilation), John Turnbull (Guitar), Norman Watt-Roy (Bass), Jim Green (Liner Notes), Brigid Pearson (Design)