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Later with Jules Holland - Giants Ian Dury and The Blockheads : Song by Song 'Ten More Turnips From The
Tip'
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Ten More Turnips From The Tip - the detail Click here for an independant review Ronnie Harris Records and eastcentralone are proud to announce the release of 'Ten More Turnips From The Tip', the final studio album by Ian Dury and the Blockheads on 18th March 2002 The title is, of course, Ian's. It was found written on Ian's last layout pad (where he would write his lyrics and ideas), together with a proposed tracklisting, shortly after his death from cancer in March 2000. After discovering the blueprint for 'Ten More Turnips from the Tip', and having listened to the tracks, Ian's family were convinced that he would want The Blockheads to continue and that the songs should not remain unheard. They therefore gave its release their blessing. Ian's wife, Sophy, and her brother Jake, are responsible for the artwork. As the follow-up to 1999's 'Mr Lovepants', 'Ten More Turnips from the Tip' is the album that Ian was in the midst of recording when he died. Sessions began at RAK Studios, where three of the tracks were recorded - 'Dance Little Rude Boy', 'It Ain't Cool' and 'Books And Water'. In addition, two unreleased titles from the Lovepants sessions - 'Happy Hippy' and the 'Ballad Of The Sulphate Strangler'. During the final years of his life, Ian kept himself busy touring and recording with The Blockheads. His latter shows were extremely emotional affairs for band and fans alike, as all of the hits were belted out: 'Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick', 'Reasons To Be Cheerful', 'What A Waste', 'Sex & Drugs & Rock'n'Roll' and the classic songs from 'New Boots And Panties'. Ian played his final show - 'New Boots And Panto'- at the London Palladium on 6th February 2000. Pianist Mick Gallagher says, 'As soon as Ian was diagnosed he couldn't stop working. We had a load of gigs booked in for the year 2000 but Ian was getting increasingly more ill. When I asked him if we should cancel the dates, he would say, 'it's too early to tell' and carried on relentlessly. As ever, his rhyming couplets were razor sharp. You'll search in vain for an expletive on 'Ten More Turnips from the Tip', but many of the songs contain the Dury wit and venom of old. The most graphic example is the 'Ballad Of The Sulphate Strangler', in which Ian's genius wordplay and vocal delivery recount the life of his former roadie and bodyguard, the late Pete Rush: "When
we got to New York City, we had to let him go 'You're
The Why', by contrast, is quite mellow. It was the last lyric Ian
wrote and the recording was completed after his death, with Robbie
Williams singing lead vocal. Robbie, who had accompanied Ian on
a number of overseas trips for UNICEF, first heard the song at Ian's
funeral, sung by the Blockheads. To complete 'Ten More Turnips from the Tip', The Blockheads delved into the archive and discovered some great, unreleased material originating from recording sessions in 1991. 'We found three real crackers,' says Mick Gallagher. 'I Believe', 'Cowboys' and 'One Love'. Ian was so prolific.' With some additional overdubs by the Blockheads and a sympathetic mix from the group's loyal recording engineer, Laurie Latham, the older songs dovetail seamlessly with the newer material, resulting in a consistently brilliant album. 'At first I was reluctant to get involved,' says Latham, 'but when I heard 'Cowboys', it was one of Ian's great vocals! Ian loved the whole ritual of recording - he was a real studio animal.' 'Ten
More Turnips from the Tip' includes a moving poem, written and recited
by Ian's old mate, Jock Scot, especially written for the album:
Track Listing (click on links for mp3 samples)
Click here if you need some help with the mp3 sound samples Ian
Dury
Vocals (except Trks 6 and 10) Produced by Blockheads and Laurie Latham Tracks 1/3/9 recorded March/April1999 @ RAK studios St. Johns' Wood, London [engineered by Laurie Latham] mixed @ AIR studios by Laurie Latham - May 1999 Tracks 5/8 recorded October1996 @ AIR studios Hampstead, London [engineered by Robert Coulson & John Bailey] Over-dubbed November 1996 @ Mute studios, London [engineered by Kevin Paul, Huw & Eon.] mixed @ Helicon studios Greenwich, London by Laurie Latham - October 2001 Tracks 2/4/7 vocals recorded originally October 1991 @ Sonnet Studios Acton , London and overdubbed January 2001@ Helicon studios Greenwich, London [engineered by Laurie Latham] mixed @ Helicon studios Greenwich , London by Laurie Latham - November 2001 9a Jock Scots' poem recorded August 2001 @ Unit 8 Studios, off the Holloway Road, London Track 6, 10 recorded January 2001(6) and June 2000 (10) @ Helicon studios Greenwich, London [engineered & mixed by Laurie Latham] Preliminary work and rehearsals took place at Unit 8 Studios. 'Ten More Turnips ..' really does close the chapter on one of the most colourful, musically adept and entertaining rock'n'roll acts of all time - Ian Dury and the Blockheads and opens another for his wonderful band The Blockheads. The Blockheads will be appearing live to coincide with the release of the new album. see blockheads dates 'TEN MORE TURNIPS FROM THE TIP' IS RELEASED ON 18 MARCH 2002 (Cat. no: DUR2) |
