Laughter (album)
Encyclopedia
Laughter is an album by Ian Dury
& The Blockheads
; released in 1980, it was the last studio album Dury made for Stiff Records
. It was also the last studio album he made with The Blockheads
, until 1998's Mr. Love Pants
, though a live album Warts 'n' Audience was produced in 1991.
, who played keyboards and co-wrote most of that album's songs, had left in the wake of a stressful tour. Jankel's place on guitar was taken by Wilko Johnson
of Dr. Feelgood
. Johnson (real name John Wilkinson) had considered retiring from the music business until he was asked by Davey Payne
and Dury, old friends from their pub rock days, to join The Blockheads. The new-line up first appeared on the 'I Want To Be Straight' single, which was released before the album, and reached number 22 in the UK pop charts.
Although Ian Dury was becoming harder to work with, the production of Laughter had started out as a relaxed affair, without the presence of Jankel and Dury. Rehearsals commenced in early 1980 at Milner Sound in Fulham
, after keyboard player Mick Gallagher had returned from an American tour with The Clash
. The group was, at that time, on hiatus after the grueling promotional tour in support of Do It Yourself. Spurred on by recording commitments, Dury took over the rehearsals to form the basis of his new album, and brought in Wilko Johnson, all without consulting the rest of the band.
At that time Dury was an alcoholic, and also addicted to Mogadon
, a brand of sedative. Coupled with his bad reaction to celebrity, and his bouts of depression, these addictions caused him to be cantankerous, confrontational, argumentative, and controlling. Although these traits had come out during the recording of the group's previous album, they were at their peak during the record sessions for Laughter. Attempts to question Dury's judgment would cause explosions of defensiveness and aggression. He also insisted on synchronising the instruments to a robotic click-track, which aggravated a number of the musicians, especially Wilko Johnson. To make matters worse, guitarist Johnny Turnbull suffered a head injury, and was afflicted with mood swings. He eventually had a nervous breakdown.
The album was preceded by the single "Sueperman's Big Sister
" intentionally spelt wrong so to avoid any copyright issues with DC Comics
, the 7" release including an exclusive track "You'll See Glimpses" while the 12" included the album's final track "Fucking Ada", the single was Stiff Records
' 100th Single and the label had the label for their very first Nick Lowe
's Heart Of The City with those track names crossed out and the correct titles and artist (for "Sueperman's Big Sister") written in as if by biro. Laughter was released the same month (November 1980), the album was not well received by critics and its sales were mediocre, the Soft As A Babies Bottom tour to support it however, was a sell-out success regardless. Stiff and Ian Dury parted ways afterwards and he signed a short-lived deal with Polydor Records without The Blockheads.
A number of Laughters songs appear to deal with a lot of Dury's personal problems and demons at the time. Although he always denied "Delusions Of Grandeur" was about himself, most who knew him at the time felt certain it was. Others such as "Uncoolohol" (about alcoholism) "Manic Depression (Jimi)" and "Fucking Ada" (both about depression) also seem to make clear references to his troubles at the time, "Hey, Hey, Take Me Away" is confirmed to have been about the time he spent at Chailey's Special School while stricken with polio.
In an interview years later, Dury admitted of the album: "I called it Laughter to cheer myself up."
Bonus track (Demon edition):
13. "Reasons to Be Cheerful, Part 3"
Bonus tracks (Edsel 2-CD edition):
Disc 1:
13. I Want To Be Straight - 3:18
14. That’s Not All - 2:47
15. You’ll See Glimpses - 3:42
Disc 2:
" a song that had no real relation to the album and featured a different band line-up, Edsel's 2004 re-issue replaced the track with "I Want To be Straight" and "That's Not All", both sides of the first single with the Blockheads line-up that recorded the album and "Sueperman's Big Sister's" B-side "You'll See Glimpses".
Edsel's re-issue also included a bonus disc of mainly instrumentals mostly recorded by The Blockheads before Dury became involved with the project and three songs, including the final version of "Duff 'Em Up And Do 'Em Over (Boogie Woogie)" the song "Oh Mr. Peanut" began life as. Despite being considered of good quality, Dury and Stiff compare Kozmo Vinyl were worried it might become an anthem for football hooligans or the small percentage of yob culture that followed him and bands like Sham 69
and Dury scrapped the lyric.
Ian Dury
Ian Robins Dury was an English rock and roll singer, lyricist, bandleader and actor who initially rose to fame during the late 1970s, during the punk and New Wave era of rock music...
& The Blockheads
The Blockheads
The Blockheads are an English rock and roll band. Originally fronted by vocalist Ian Dury as Ian Dury and the Blockheads, the band has continued to perform since Dury's death in 2000. Current members include Chaz Jankel , Norman Watt-Roy , Mick Gallagher , John Turnbull and Davey Payne...
; released in 1980, it was the last studio album Dury made for Stiff Records
Stiff Records
Stiff Records is a record label created in London in 1976, by entrepreneurs Dave Robinson and Andrew Jakeman , and active until 1985. It was reactivated in 2007....
. It was also the last studio album he made with The Blockheads
The Blockheads
The Blockheads are an English rock and roll band. Originally fronted by vocalist Ian Dury as Ian Dury and the Blockheads, the band has continued to perform since Dury's death in 2000. Current members include Chaz Jankel , Norman Watt-Roy , Mick Gallagher , John Turnbull and Davey Payne...
, until 1998's Mr. Love Pants
Mr. Love Pants
Mr. Love Pants is a 1998 album by Ian Dury and the Blockheads, released on East Central One under Dury's own label Ronnie Harris Records .- History :...
, though a live album Warts 'n' Audience was produced in 1991.
History
The Blockheads had undergone a significant personnel change since the previous album, Do It Yourself. Chas JankelChas Jankel
Charles Jeremy Jankel professionally known as Chaz Jankel, is a musician best known as the keyboard player and guitarist with Ian Dury and the Blockheads...
, who played keyboards and co-wrote most of that album's songs, had left in the wake of a stressful tour. Jankel's place on guitar was taken by Wilko Johnson
Wilko Johnson
Wilko Johnson is an English guitarist and songwriter, particularly associated with the UK rhythm and blues band Dr. Feelgood in the 1970s.-Career:...
of Dr. Feelgood
Dr. Feelgood (band)
Dr. Feelgood are a British pub rock band formed in 1971. The band's name derives from a slang term for heroin or for a doctor who is willing to overprescribe drugs. It is also a reference to a 1962 record by the American blues pianist and singer Willie Perryman called "Dr Feel-Good", which...
. Johnson (real name John Wilkinson) had considered retiring from the music business until he was asked by Davey Payne
Davey Payne
David 'Davey' Payne is an English saxophonist best known as a member of Ian Dury's backing band The Blockheads, and his twin saxophone solo on their 1978 UK #1 single "Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick"....
and Dury, old friends from their pub rock days, to join The Blockheads. The new-line up first appeared on the 'I Want To Be Straight' single, which was released before the album, and reached number 22 in the UK pop charts.
Although Ian Dury was becoming harder to work with, the production of Laughter had started out as a relaxed affair, without the presence of Jankel and Dury. Rehearsals commenced in early 1980 at Milner Sound in Fulham
Fulham
Fulham is an area of southwest London in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, SW6 located south west of Charing Cross. It lies on the left bank of the Thames, between Putney and Chelsea. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London...
, after keyboard player Mick Gallagher had returned from an American tour with The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
. The group was, at that time, on hiatus after the grueling promotional tour in support of Do It Yourself. Spurred on by recording commitments, Dury took over the rehearsals to form the basis of his new album, and brought in Wilko Johnson, all without consulting the rest of the band.
At that time Dury was an alcoholic, and also addicted to Mogadon
Nitrazepam
Nitrazepam is a type of benzodiazepine drug and is marketed in English-speaking countries under the following brand names: Alodorm, Arem, Insoma, Mogadon, Nitrados, Nitrazadon, Ormodon, Paxadorm, Remnos, and Somnite...
, a brand of sedative. Coupled with his bad reaction to celebrity, and his bouts of depression, these addictions caused him to be cantankerous, confrontational, argumentative, and controlling. Although these traits had come out during the recording of the group's previous album, they were at their peak during the record sessions for Laughter. Attempts to question Dury's judgment would cause explosions of defensiveness and aggression. He also insisted on synchronising the instruments to a robotic click-track, which aggravated a number of the musicians, especially Wilko Johnson. To make matters worse, guitarist Johnny Turnbull suffered a head injury, and was afflicted with mood swings. He eventually had a nervous breakdown.
The album was preceded by the single "Sueperman's Big Sister
Sueperman's Big Sister
Sueperman's Big Sister is a song and a 1979 single by Ian Dury & The Blockheads. Its title purposefully misspells 'Superman' with an extra 'e' to avoid any copyright issues with DC Comics....
" intentionally spelt wrong so to avoid any copyright issues with DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
, the 7" release including an exclusive track "You'll See Glimpses" while the 12" included the album's final track "Fucking Ada", the single was Stiff Records
Stiff Records
Stiff Records is a record label created in London in 1976, by entrepreneurs Dave Robinson and Andrew Jakeman , and active until 1985. It was reactivated in 2007....
' 100th Single and the label had the label for their very first Nick Lowe
Nick Lowe
Nicholas Drain "Nick" Lowe , is an English singer-songwriter, musician and producer.A pivotal figure in UK pub rock, punk rock and new wave, Lowe has recorded a string of well-reviewed solo albums. Along with vocals, Lowe plays guitar, bass guitar, piano and harmonica...
's Heart Of The City with those track names crossed out and the correct titles and artist (for "Sueperman's Big Sister") written in as if by biro. Laughter was released the same month (November 1980), the album was not well received by critics and its sales were mediocre, the Soft As A Babies Bottom tour to support it however, was a sell-out success regardless. Stiff and Ian Dury parted ways afterwards and he signed a short-lived deal with Polydor Records without The Blockheads.
A number of Laughters songs appear to deal with a lot of Dury's personal problems and demons at the time. Although he always denied "Delusions Of Grandeur" was about himself, most who knew him at the time felt certain it was. Others such as "Uncoolohol" (about alcoholism) "Manic Depression (Jimi)" and "Fucking Ada" (both about depression) also seem to make clear references to his troubles at the time, "Hey, Hey, Take Me Away" is confirmed to have been about the time he spent at Chailey's Special School while stricken with polio.
In an interview years later, Dury admitted of the album: "I called it Laughter to cheer myself up."
Track listing
- "Superman's Big Sister" (Dury, Johnson) - 2:49
- "Pardon" (Dury, Watt-Roy) - 2:39
- "Delusions Of Grandeur" (Dury, Gallagher) - 2:51
- "Yes And No (Paula)" (Dury, Payne) - 3:06
- "Dance Of The Crackpots" (Dury, Turnbull) - 2:35
- "Over The Points" (Dury, Turnbull) - 4.08
- "(Take Your Elbow Out Of The Soup) You're Sitting On The Chicken (Dury, Gallagher) - 2:34
- "Uncoolohol" (Dury, Charles) - 3:01
- "Hey, Hey, Take Me Away" (Dury, Gallagher) - 2:27
- "Manic Depression (Jimi)" (Dury, Gallagher) - 3.48
- "Oh Mr. Peanut" (Dury, Johnson) - 3:49
- "Fucking Ada" (Dury, Turnbull) 5:59
Bonus track (Demon edition):
13. "Reasons to Be Cheerful, Part 3"
Reasons to be Cheerful, Part 3
"Reasons to be Cheerful, Part 3" is a song and single by Ian Dury and the Blockheads, initially released as the single BUY 50 "Reasons to be Cheerful, Part 3 / Common as Muck" issued on 20 July 1979 and reached number 3 in the UK singles Chart the following month...
Bonus tracks (Edsel 2-CD edition):
Disc 1:
13. I Want To Be Straight - 3:18
14. That’s Not All - 2:47
15. You’ll See Glimpses - 3:42
Disc 2:
- Duff ‘Em Up And Do ‘Em Over (Boogie Woogie) (Album Outtake)
- You Are Here (Album Outtake)
- Come In No. 9 (Album Outtake)
- Chicken (Take Your Elbow Out Of The Soup) (Demo instrumentals by The Blockheads)
- CC’s Rock (Demo instrumentals by The Blockheads)
- I Know Your Name (Demo instrumentals by The Blockheads)
- Public Party (Dance Of The Crackpots) (Demo instrumentals by The Blockheads)
- Black And White (Yes And No (Paula)) (Demo instrumentals by The Blockheads)
- Manic Depression (Demo instrumentals by The Blockheads)
- More Turns For Everyone (Demo instrumentals by The Blockheads)
- Blue Light (That’s Not All) (Demo instrumentals by The Blockheads)
- Back To Y-Front (Demo instrumentals by The Blockheads)
- Fatback (Demo instrumentals by The Blockheads)
- On The Spot (Do The Block) (Demo instrumentals by The Blockheads)
- Duff ‘Em Up And Do ‘Em Over (Boogie Woogie) (Oh Mr Peanut) (Demo instrumentals by The Blockheads)
- Peter Gunn (Demo instrumentals by The Blockheads)
Personnel
- Ian DuryIan DuryIan Robins Dury was an English rock and roll singer, lyricist, bandleader and actor who initially rose to fame during the late 1970s, during the punk and New Wave era of rock music...
- Vocals - Wilko JohnsonWilko JohnsonWilko Johnson is an English guitarist and songwriter, particularly associated with the UK rhythm and blues band Dr. Feelgood in the 1970s.-Career:...
- Guitars, backing vocals - Johnny Turnbull - Guitars, backing vocals
- Mick Gallagher - Keyboards, synthesisers
- Norman Watt-RoyNorman Watt-RoyNorman Watt-Roy is the bassist for The Blockheads, previously known as Ian Dury & the Blockheads.In November 1954 the Watt-Roy family, including Norman, his older brother Garth and his sister, moved to England...
- Bass - Charley Charles - Drums
- Davey PayneDavey PayneDavid 'Davey' Payne is an English saxophonist best known as a member of Ian Dury's backing band The Blockheads, and his twin saxophone solo on their 1978 UK #1 single "Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick"....
- Saxophones, harmonica, flute
Additional Personnel
- Don CherryDon Cherry (jazz)Donald Eugene Cherry was an innovative African-American jazz cornetist whose career began with a long association with saxophonist Ornette Coleman. He went on to live in many parts of the world and work with a wide variety of musicians.-Biography:Cherry was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and...
- Pocket Trumpet - Will Gaines - tap dance on "Dance Of The Crackpots"
- Ray CooperRay CooperRay Cooper is an English musician. He is a session and road-tour percussionist, and occasional actor, who has worked with several musically diverse bands and artists including George Harrison, Billy Joel, Eric Clapton, and Elton John. Cooper is commonly regarded by music fans, critics and fellow...
- Percussion - Ivor RaymondeIvor RaymondeIvor Raymonde was a British musician, songwriter, arranger and actor, best known for his distinctive rock-orchestral arrangements for Dusty Springfield and others in the 1960s.-Life and career:...
- Strings
- Ian Horne - Sound Engineer, mixing
- Rick Wernham - Assistant Engineer
- Chris KillipChris KillipChristopher David Killip was born in Douglas, Isle of Man and in 1964 moved to London where he worked as an assistant to the advertising photographer Adrian Flowers. He soon went freelance, but in 1969 stopped his commercial work to concentrate on the photography that he wanted to do. In 1969 he...
- Photography - Ray Gregory, Brain Love - Album Design
Re-releases
The album was re-released by Edsel Records in 2004 as part of a series of 2-CD Ian Dury re-issues. Previously the album had been re-issues to CD by Demon Records, initially with no bonus tracks then with the addition of "Reasons to be Cheerful, Part 3Reasons to be Cheerful, Part 3
"Reasons to be Cheerful, Part 3" is a song and single by Ian Dury and the Blockheads, initially released as the single BUY 50 "Reasons to be Cheerful, Part 3 / Common as Muck" issued on 20 July 1979 and reached number 3 in the UK singles Chart the following month...
" a song that had no real relation to the album and featured a different band line-up, Edsel's 2004 re-issue replaced the track with "I Want To be Straight" and "That's Not All", both sides of the first single with the Blockheads line-up that recorded the album and "Sueperman's Big Sister's" B-side "You'll See Glimpses".
Edsel's re-issue also included a bonus disc of mainly instrumentals mostly recorded by The Blockheads before Dury became involved with the project and three songs, including the final version of "Duff 'Em Up And Do 'Em Over (Boogie Woogie)" the song "Oh Mr. Peanut" began life as. Despite being considered of good quality, Dury and Stiff compare Kozmo Vinyl were worried it might become an anthem for football hooligans or the small percentage of yob culture that followed him and bands like Sham 69
Sham 69
Sham 69 is an English punk band that formed in Hersham in 1976.Although not as commercially successful as many of their contemporaries, albeit with a greater number of chart entries, Sham 69 has been a huge musical and lyrical influence on the Oi! and streetpunk genres. The band allegedly derived...
and Dury scrapped the lyric.
Sources
- Sex And Drugs And Rock And Roll: The Life Of Ian Dury by Richard Balls, first published 2000, Omnibus Press
- Ian Dury & The Blockheads: Song By Song by Jim Drury, first published 2003, Sanctuary Publishing.