Ian Dury - The Stiff Singles, The Promo Videos, The Peel Session

Lord Upminster in a neat little box

Though he only released seven singles on the Stiff label, those tracks represented the finest work Dury ever did, casting a mighty shadow over all his subsequent records, which he found difficult to escape.

Reproduced here in their original sleeves, largely the work of the late great artist Barney Bubbles, they’re a delightful reminder of the singer’s energy and individuality – even for fans who already have the material on Edsel’s previous CD reissue campaigns.

The later, less celebrated singles, such as I Want To Be Straight, with The Blockheads joined by Wilko Johnson, benefit from being presented in isolation. The format turns the spotlight on songs which, by no means as triumphant as Sweet Gene Vincent, still show how witty and inventive Dury and his fellow musicians could be. Dury only ever recorded one BBC session, fairly faithful versions of tracks from the New Boots & Panties!! album for John Peel, but the disc of promo videos offers up a few thrills – visual evidence of just how extraordinary and unlikely a pop star Ian was.

4 stars 4 stars 4 stars 4 stars

Edsel | EDSB 4003 (8-CD+DVD)

Reviewed by Terry Staunton
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