
His best song of the period, “I Want To Be Straight” wasn't on the album, a recurring trait in the Ian Dury story, which I always think seems a shame from the retrospective analysis point of view. Still, mustn't grumble, there's much to enjoy, and this despite him having fallen out with his main Blockhead, Chaz Jankel. His group were now: Wilko Johnson (guitars, backing vocals), Johnny Turnbull (guitars, backing vocals), Mick Gallagher (keyboards), Norman Watt-Roy (bass), Charley Charles (drums) and Davey Payne (saxophones, harmonica, flute). By all accounts, this wasn't a happy time for Ian, alcohol (referenced in “Uncoolohol”) and depression (referenced in “Manic Depression (Jimi)” and “Fucking Ada”) being two of the underlying obstacles to deal with. “I called it Laughter to cheer myself up” said Ian. Poor sales for this one wouldn't have helped his mood, the LP stalling at #48, surely a blow after the #2 success of the preceding “Do It Yourself”. You've got laugh, there's nothing else for it.
The Jukebox Rebel
14-Nov-2016
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B1 | [02:34] ![]() |
B2 | [03:01] ![]() |
B3 | [02:27] ![]() |
B4 | [03:48] ![]() |
B5 | [03:49] ![]() |
B6 | [05:59] ![]() |

