Ian Dury & The Blockheads

Anyone who listens to Modern music should feel indebted to Ian Dury and his Blockheads. Quite apart from the Great music that they released in their time they virtually invented the genre that later became 'Brit-pop' and took the music business away from the simplistic 3 chords of British punk (as opposed to NY Punk) and made it OK to enjoy music with humour, Soul and Intelligence - and they rocked as well!

The Singles here are all crackers with No 1 singles and more that should have been - 'Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll' might be the best number never to be top of the charts and 'Sweet Gene Vincent' is one of the best Rock & Roll numbers ever - as well as 'Supermans Big Sister' which was cruelly ignored at the time. 'What A Waste' and 'Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick' are classics, 'Reasons To Be Cheerful' is a perennial favorite but the best is in the 'B' sides - 'Englands Glory', 'Wake Up And Make Love With Me', 'There Ain't Half Been Some Clever Bastards' - genuinely great rock.

On top of all that is a DVD of the promo videos - although in truth it is really for completists as the technology of the time was crap - and a session from the John Peel show featuring 'Sex & Drugs', 'Clevor Trevor', 'Sweet Gene Vincent' and a brilliant version of 'Blockheads'.

A package of 8 CDs and a DVD is excessive but fun nonetheless and well worth it as a gift for a true Blockheads fan.