The Blockheads (Ian Dury Related)

The Blockheads - Where's The Party? - 2003 - Blockheads LTD

A great, and much sought after album from a great bunch of geezers! The late Ian Dury's backing band, the incredible Blockheads produce their unique blend of pop jazz funk here. Great hooks, and astounding musicianship from Chas Jankel and the boys. No slagging off this album, me ol' china! "There ain't have been some clever bastards" on this album which is VHR by A.O.O.F.C. Try and listen to the band's "Staring Down the Barrel" album which is as good as this album. Check this blog for other Ian Dury/Blockheads releases. N.B: If you are buying this album, make sure you don't buy the three track edited version of "Where's The Party?"

TRACKS / COMPOSERS

1.Funny Farm (Turnbull)
2.My Own Rules (Jankel/Hussey)
3.Mona (J Turnbull/S Turnbull)
4.Feel The Funk (Turnbull/Jankel)
5.Bad Blood (Jankel/Turnbull)
6.Shut Up And Dance (Turnbull/Watt-Roy)
7.Sometimes (Turnbull)
8.Where's The Party? (Gallagher/Watt-Roy)
9.Spread It (Hussey/Jankel)
10.Work To The Bone (Gallagher/Turnbull)
11.I Wish It Was The Days (Turnbull/Watt-Roy/Jankel/Dury)
12.Moving On (Jankel/Turnbull/Watt-Roy)
13.Just Another Story (Turnbull)

MUSICIANS

Derek 'The Draw' Hussey - Vocals
Chas Jankel - Guitar, Keyboards and Vocals
John Turnbull - Guitar and Vocals
Norman Watt Roy - Bass
Mickey Gallagher - Hammond Organ, Piano and Synths
John Junkin - Drums
Gilad Atzmon - Saxophone / Clarinet [Guest]

REVIEWS

Four years after Ian Dury's passing, The Blockheads finally step up with their first solo studio album. Like Tower Of Power meeting Steely Dan at Bow Working Men's Club, The Blockheads musical pedigree has long been unassailable. It is therefore sad that many will forever judge them only as an adjunct to their magisterial leader. It was mooted that they may even change their name, but although in some instances that may Alarmingly work, it would be blockheaded to give up on such an amazing brand. It's taken The Stranglers 15 years finally to be respected in their post-Hugh Cornwall line-up and that happened only when they returned to their original label, EMI. However, the Blocks are on their own label and the album, unless some benevolent sponsor steps in, is most likely destined for obscurity. Which is a great shame as there is so much to enjoy here. They could easily make money rolling up with their coterie of special guests - usually Phill Jupitus -to do party versions of Dury's hits, but with Where's The Party?, they try not to rest on their laurels but to move forward. In a way, it is the most successful combination of the compendium of talents that comprise the Blocks; the music-hall jazz funk is there, of course, but also nods back to the time when various members played in long-lamented groups such as Skip Bifferty, Frampton's Camel and Loving Awareness. Striking that balance between old and new will always be difficult, but after a few numbers here, memories of their old bandmaster begin to fade. Minder and occasional frontperson Derek 'The Draw' Hussey affectionately emulates Dury on ''Spread It'', while Norman Watt Roy, still the English Bernard Edwards, looking more and more like a Pirates Of The Caribbean John Junkin, underpins the groove. Mickey Gallagher and John Turnbull layer the sound throughout as densely as you like. Turnbull's voice has a frail charm and Chas Jankel still demonstrates enough of that blue-eyed soul that made him so popular in America in the early 80s on his three lead vocals. With watertight horns, led by Israeli jazz prodigy Gilad Atzmon and the famous Blockhead gang vocals, it's the nuances, the hooks, the subtleties, that make Where's The Party? one of the best you'll hear all year. Just make sure you do. Daryl Easlea 2004-03-11 http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/8jp2

In keeping with their position as an ensemble who knew life before Dury's rhythm stick tickled a nation, the jazzy R&B inflexions of the Blockheads are as chewy as before, even if the guv'nor isn't around any more. "Where's The Party?", "Moving On", Derek Hussey's ornate "Spread it" and John Turnbull's "Shut Up And Dance" are chips off an old block. And just to show this isn't some cheap and cheerful knees-up, Chas Jankel and co have enlisted producer John Leckie to make sure the glass sparkles. © IPC MEDIA 1996-2010, All rights reserved http://www.uncut.co.uk/music/the_blockheads/reviews/8226

BLOCKHEADS BIO

The backing band of the legendary Ian Dury, the Blockheads were formed in 1977 to back up and promote Dury on tour for his New Boots and Panties!! album. Made up of Chaz Jankel, Norman Watt-Roy, Charlie Charles, John Turnbull, and Mick Gallagher, the Blockheads soon found themselves recording with Dury — albeit without Jankel — and landing themselves a hit as Ian Dury & the Blockheads with the 1978 single "What a Waste." Their newfound success led to a U.S. tour in support of Lou Reed, and they went on to further home success in the following two years with the single "Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick" — composed by Dury and a returned-to-the-fold Jankel — and the Do It Yourself album. The early '80s were spent (again) without Jankel, who was off to the States for a solo career, but the band and Dury soldiered on together, releasing the album Laughter and touring Europe and the U.K. in 1981. The Blockheads and Dury dissolved their working relationship in 1982, but staged a reunion, Asian-style, in 1987. The death of Charlie Charles brought them back together in 1990 to raise funds for the departed member's family. A live album, Warts 'n' Audience, was recorded from the subsequent shows. The band — minus Jankel, of course — toured Spain in 1991, but went on hiatus until 1994 (to play the Madstock Festival) following the dates. When leader and frontman Dury was diagnosed with cancer, he was determined to release another album, and got back together with the Blockheads for the sessions. The resulting work, Mr. Love Pants, was released in 1998. A tour followed, but the Blockheads called it a — semi-permanent — day when Ian Dury passed away in early 2000. The band returned to store shelves with the album Where's the Party? in 2004, and in 2008 the Blockheads were slated to play a sizable number of gigs in the United Kingdom, culminating in the release of Staring Down the Barrel the following year. © Chris True © 2010 Rovi Corporation. All Rights Reserved http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:fcfoxqtaldke~T1