Today’s cassette is Do It Yourself (1979) by Ian Dury & The Blockheads.
That title is the band in a nutshell. One of the most punk bands that didn’t sound punk at all. Instead of buzzsaw guitars, you get jazz, funk, R&B—but it’s all delivered with the sneer and swagger of the snottiest teenager. That’s why punks loved them.
The Blockheads weren’t amateurs thrashing in a garage either. These guys were tight. Slippery grooves, eccentric rhythms, horns blowing through the mix. They could turn on a dime from slinky to stomping and back again.
Found this copy at a flea market today. Tape runs smooth. Plays beautifully.
