Customer Reviews

Do It Yourself

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This release best captures the spirit of the times with its quirky sound of fused punk, new wave and disco.
Most people know the song "Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll," another Dury song that captured the era, but the songs on Do It Yourself blended the mental state of the club kids I best knew at the time.
Alienited(sp) and counter-culture but not wanting to do much more than spend the evening on the dance floor.
I regard this album along with Remain In Light by Talking Heads, and the first B-52's album as the best reflection of the care-free times of my college days. ***Also: give Ian's son Baxter Dury a listen. His debut CD is fantastic.***

I bought this album in the early 80's to check out Ian Dury's take on "new wave." What I heard wasn't what I expected. This album sounds like very jazzy disco powered by a slick, tight band. At the time, I didn't think much of it, but now it just seems so unique and fun. The band is great, and Ian is a terrific vocalist, although not a terrific TRADITIONAL vocalist. The original album had only the first ten tracks listed above, so I'm not sure where the other tracks are from.

Ian's death certainly left a void in the music world. Ianintroduced a break-water ripple to the new wave scene. That is, Ianis the master of good fun "pub punk." What Benny Hill is to British comedy; Ian Dury is to music -- cleverly provacative and entertaining. Ian Dury employed a mixture of lyrics and music to generate songs that either increased awareness on a social issue (such as "Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll") or were simple pub tunes to cheer you up -- such as "Reasons to be Cheerful" and "Hit Me With Your Rhythum Stick" that are featured on this CD, and are the strongest songs on this recording. You will love the way Ian effectively uses his deep voice to create the English "pub singer" atmosphere. True, Ian's voice is "limited." But, he uses it to absolute perfection. I definitely recommend this CD. After one listen, you will be hooked on Ian Dury and the Block Heads.

I was introduced to Ian Dury's music while stationed in the UK back in the early 80's. This CD brings back many fond/fun memories!

I bought this on cassette when I was a 10th grader in 1979 at a little music shop in Center City Philly. What was I doing walking around Philly at that age? Don't ask. If it wasn't for this cassette and a few others, I would have committed suicide. I have the album and still play it. As soon as I got a record player I bought the album which is one of the best in album art ever. It will always cheer me up. The CD is crisp and the extras a lot of fun

Melt the guns
Dismantle the bombs
Love your neighbour
Wherever they're from

Nobody writes lyrics like that anymore.

This album is my fave Ian Dury & the Blockheads. This is the one album I can count on to get ME out of the doldrums. I knew of Ian & Co from New Boots and Panties but this is THE one to own IMHO. It's so slick and wonderful and I'm not really a fan of slickness. But the competancy of the musicians and the insanity of the lyrics makes me smile from ear to ear (or ear to arse).
Playing it almost 30 years later (!) reminds me of how many different bands and people were releasing incredible and interesting music back in the day. They don't seem to do that anymore. Which is probably the reason I'm listening to music that is almost 30 years old...