Ian Dury “Lord Upminster”
Ian Dury “Lord Upminster” 1981. Ian Dury’s second solo album, Lord Upminster is a mix of funk, disco, reggae and pub rock, though goes heavier on the funk/reggae end, influenced by both its recording in Nassau, Bahamas and Dury’s collaboration with Sly and Robbie. Compared to his first solo LP New Boots and Panties!! in 1977, Lord Upminster did poorly on the UK charts (#53) and its only single, “Spasticus (Autisticus)” failed to chart at all (it’s not a great song – weirdly new wave disco with Dury shouting “Spasticus!”). Funk tracks like “The (Body Song)” are a bit simplistic, super-repetitive and childish – I feel like this one could have been on Sesame Street back in the day. “Lonely (Town)”drags on forever and the piano reminds me a bit of 80′s era Jo Jackson (in my opinion: not a good thing). The disco groove on “Trust (Is a Must)” is alright, a good amount of funky bass but again, super-repetitive. Honestly, I couldn’t really make through much more – this record has been on the “should it stay or should it go” pile and my vote is that it goes.
Daily (maybe) pulls from the vault: 33-1/3, 45, 78, old, older, classic, new, good, bad. Subjective. Autobiographical. Occasionally putting a record up for sale.