Ian Dury And The Blockheads - Do It Yourself - Cassette

Ian Dury's music always bordered on the functional, since it was used as a backdrop for his wry vignettes and stories, but on his second album, Do It Yourself, that aspect came to the fore. Largely abandoning the punk inflections that were scattered throughout New Boots and Panties!!, Do It Yourself is a record of mid-tempo pub rock disco -- competently played, but rarely engaging. Dury's stories are all wonderful, filled with humor and penetrating detail, but only a handful of tracks, such as the terrific "Inbetweenies," are married to actual hooks, and by the end of the record, the steady disco throb has become a little numbing. Even with these faults, Do It Yourself remains one of Dury's very best records, since his lyrical facility throughout the album is simply amazing.

Song List
1. Inbetweenies
2. Quiet
3. Don't Ask Me
4. Sink My Boats
5. Waiting For Your Taxi
6. This Is What We Find
7. Uneasy Sunny Day Hotsy Totsy
8. Mischief
9. Dance Of The Screamers
10. Lullaby For Frances
11. Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick
12. There Ain't Half Been Some Clever Bastards
13. Reasons To Be Cheerful, Part 3
14. Common As A Muck
15. I Want To Be Straight
16. That's Not All
17. Reasons To Be Cheerful, Part3, Extended Version