THE CLASS OF '79 (Part 26)

I reckon some of the tracks I've featured in this series looking back to an era that was decades ago haven't aged all that well. But that isn't something that can be levelled at today's bit of magic:-

mp3 : Ian Dury & The Blockheads - Reasons To Be Cheerful (Part 3)

This actually charted 30 years ago this week, entering the Top 40 at #6. Any song which came in that high usually took the top spot the following week, but it only reached #3 with the Boomtown Rats 'epic' I Don't Like Mondays staying on top (I have a fondness for many of the early singles released by the Dublin band, but that song was simply shite).

But back to Ian Dury & The Blockheads.

I didn't know until googling the song that it was seemingly inspired by a near-fatal accident involving a roadie and the cancellation of a live show in Rome. That is why it is one of the reasons that 'no electric shocks' is a reason to be cheerful.....although this bit of stuff on the internet suggests it's for something altogether different.

I've long lost this single, but I do clearly remember that it had a wonderful b-side called Common As Muck. Anyone able to fire over a copy? ***

Reasons to be sad? Ian Dury died a lingering death, battling cancer for around five years, finally succumbing in March 2000 aged just 57. And I don't think he ever really got enough critical acclaim for his lyrics, which are among the best I've heard during my 46 years on this planet.

*** thanks to Jason from Lyon, France for the mp3 of the b-side.

mp3 : Ian Dury & The Blockheads - Common As Muck

Wonderful.