Ian Dury & The Blockheads: Ian Dury (vocals); John Turbull (guitar); Davey Payne (saxophone); Chaz Jankel, Mickey Gallagher (keyboards); Norman Watt-Roy (bass); Charley Charles (drums).

Producers: Peter Jenner, Nobody, Prince Charming, Pals, Chips Off The Old Block.

Great American Music's 2007 disc The Best of Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll is not the first Ian Dury collection, nor is it likely to be the last, but just because there have been many CDs of Dury's "best" released over the years doesn't mean that this is any less welcome. Over the course of 20 tracks, this disc runs through Dury & the Blockheads' bests, hitting all the expected standards -- the title track, "Wake Up & Make Love with Me," "Sweet Gene Vincent," "Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick," "Reasons to Be Cheerful, Pt. 3," "I'm Partial to Your Abracadabra," "Blockheads," "Inbetweenies," "There Ain't Half Been Some Clever Bastards" -- and emphasizing the latter-day Blockheads' records just a little bit more than the earliest. This means that a couple great cuts aren't here -- notably "Razzle in My Pocket" and "Common as Muck" -- but overall this has much of his best and is a ripping good listen as well as a solid introduction to this beloved yet perennially underrated rocker. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Ian Dury could make wonderful albums (and sometimes did, most notably the inarguable classic New Boots and Panties!!), but he saved many of his finest moments for his singles, which justifiably made him a legend in his native England between 1977 and 1980. With the most notable exception of Ray Davies and Paul Weller, few U.K. rockers embraced their Britishness with greater fervor than Dury, and he mined his for a wit, gleeful eccentricity, and street-smart intelligence no one could touch. And his band, the Blockheads, were as musos stronger than anyone to emerge during the British new wave explosion (their years of slogging it out on the pub circuit certainly paid off), but their curiously refreshing light funk also boasted an oddball good humor and cleverness that was the equal of their leader (no small feat). Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll: The Best of Ian Dury and the Blockheads collects 18 superb sides from the band's glory days, and while the bigger hits like "Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick," "Reasons to Be Cheerful, Part 3," and the title cut are just as good as you remember, there are plenty of pearly lesser-knowns on board, such as the childhood tale of daring "Razzle in My Pocket," the charming "Common As Muck," the hilariously anthemic "I Want to Be Straight," and the odd but captivating prognostication of "You'll See Glimpses." While Dury made plenty of other records worth investigating, if you're only going to own one Ian Dury album, this is certainly the one to get, and it truly does capture the man's singular magic at its best. ~ Mark Deming

The late Ian Dury was probably the most lovable figure to emerge from the late '70s UK punk movement. Rooted in pub rock and jazz, his songs were less confrontational than those of his cronies (though not without their share of controversy, as with the plainspoken title track). Dury's lyrics, endlessly clever without seeming show-offy, were brilliant, ranging from tender ballads like "Sweet Gene Vincent" to hilarious rants like "Reasons To Be Cheerful (Part 3)" and "There Ain't Half Been Some Clever Bastards." The Blockheads, led by the excellent jazz-rooted pianist Chaz Jankel and the strapping drummer Mickey Gallagher, were one of the finest bands of their era, as conversant with funky dance tracks like "Wake Up And Make Love With Me" as cocktail-lounge ballads like "Common As Muck." This is simply essential for anyone with an interest in the original UK punk scene.

Q (3/95, p.109) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...Those frightened by punk's snarling primitivism warmed to the music's obvious accomplishment and the jocund, fruity raconteur....[Ian Dury & The Blockheads] had something all their own and so far away from the formulaic as to gladden the heart."

Stereo Review (3/93, p.86) - "...[Dury's] literate, funny brand of Cockney funk resulted in some of the most appealing singles of the late Seventies..."

Q (Magazine) (p.109) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "Steeped in music-hall ribaldry, with The Blockheads doing their funky, jazzy, reggae support, what fun it was..."