AUTHENTIC BRITROCK
Pieter | Johannesburg | 06/01/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Dury made observant, witty and intelligent music that was authentic British rock and pop with a strong dance undertone. Reasons To Be Cheerful and Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick both have insistent hooks and a funky dance rhythm, delivered in half-spoken cockney accent. The amusing Razzle In My Pocket is a humorous tale about a stolen library book similarly performed in a spoken vocal style. What A Waste and Wake Up And Make Love are delicious pop songs. The old-style rock 'n roll song Sweet Gene Vincent is a magnificent tour de force with a subdued poetic introduction leading up to soaring vocals and killer hook. The bouncy Sex & Drugs & Rock `n Roll and lilting I Wanna Be Straight are sweeping and witty comments on the music scene. Common As Muck has funny literary references. The arrangements are impressive too, especially the expert use of piano and sax to give the songs that well rounded feeling of perfection. Jukebox Dury is an album of absolutely priceless music that impresses with its variety, melodic beauty and intelligence."
Sadly Missed
S J Buck | Kent, UK | 09/19/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"A decent compilation of Ian Dury and the Blockheads biggest hits as well some classic album tracks. In truth this really doesn't do justice as a complilation as it is missing some key tracks - Spasticus Autisticius, Superman's Big Sister to name but two.
However what is here is great. I'll never forget the first time I heard "What a waste!" as a teenager. That rough cockney voice backed by a great band. I was never into punk, so to hear a band that could clearly play very well indeed (in fact the Sax player Gilad Atzmon is a classy Jazz player), allied to Dury's witty lyrics with his distinctive cockney drawl was a revelation. Here was somebody doing something completely different. Listening to the tracks again now they still stand the test of time.
If you have no Ian Dury in your collection this would serve as a fine starter, but the reason I only give it 4 stars is because there are better value compliations out there.
"
Track Listings (14) - Disc #1