This TFFTLTYTD thread post remembers two musicians from one of Britain's quirkiest bands, Ian Dury & The Blockheads. Both Ian and the Blockheads' drummer, Charlie Charles succumbed to cancer before their time. I did get to see Ian with the band a few times, at the Clapham Grand, then supporting Madness and finally at the Junction in Cambridge at what must have been one of his last live performances.
It's out there that Ian Dury wasn't an easy man, perhaps his circumstances shaped him that way. I remember having a conversation with Keith Lucas (a.k.a. Nick Cash of 999) about Ian's behaviour at the time of the demise of Kilburn & The Highroads. That not withstanding, what a poet and performer the man was. The fact too that he was surrounded from the mid-70's by some of the counties best musicians made the Blockheads a tour de force on the live circuit... as this professional recording from Amsterdam's Paradiso Club proves.
Thanks to the original Dime uploader.
This recording contains the track 'England's Glory' that also became one of the bizarrest releases on Stiff Records, a cover by comedian Max Wall.
(spoken intro.)
This one's for Julie, who we love
I love her almost as I do Alma
But we don't do Alma no more
It's called 'England's Glory'. if you wanna sing
Please sing
There are jewels in the crown of England's glory
And every jewel shines a thousand ways
Frankie Howerd, No'l Coward and garden gnomes
Frankie Vaughan, Kenneth Horne, Sherlock Holmes
Monty, Biggles and Old King Cole
In the pink or on the dole
Oliver Twist and Long John Silver
Captain Cook and Nelly Dean
Enid Blyton, Gilbert Harding
Malcolm Sargeant, Graham Greene (Graham Greene)
All the jewels in the crown of England's glory
Too numerous to mention, but a few
And every one could tell a different story
And show old England's glory something new
Nice bit of kipper and Jack the Ripper and Upton Park
Gracie, Cilla, Maxy Miller, Petula Clark
Winkles, Woodbines, Walnut Whips
Vera Lynn and Stafford Cripps
Lady Chatterley, Muffin the Mule
Winston Churchill, Robin Hood
Beatrix Potter, Baden-Powell
Beecham's powders, Yorkshire pud (Yorkshire pud)
Artwork: https://we.tl/t-JPpNDIvjXa
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