New Boots and Panties

Thirty years after its release Ian Dury's first album released under his own name remains an undisputed and timeless classic. Dury portrayed the Essex man before Essex man was conceived, and brilliantly satirized it in 'Billericay Dickie' and 'Clevor Trever'. It is hard to imagine dury the romantic, but there is a romantic in 'Wake up and Make Love to Me' and 'I'm Partial to your Abracadabra'; there is also sadness and regret in the beautiful 'My Old Man'. He should be remembered for his dynamite band the Blockheads and this necessary album - not just his gold radio station albatross 'Hit me with your Rhythm Stick'.