Brand New Boots And Panties: A Tribute To Ian Dury

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Track list

Disc 1

3.

I'm Partial To Your Abracadabra

Written by Ian Dury, Chaz Jankel

3:31 • Studio version • A

Paul McCartney :

Vocals

Steve Sidwell :

Trumpet

Jools Holland :

Piano

Performed by :

The Blockheads

Laurie Latham :

Producer

About

“Brand New Boots And Panties” was a re-recording of the Ian Dury album “New Boots And Panties!!” with guest vocalists, backed by The Blockheads, Ian Dury’s backing band. Paul McCartney contributed vocals on the track “I’m Partial To Your Abracadabra.“

About “New Boots and Panties!!” from Wikipedia:

New Boots and Panties!! is the debut album by Ian Dury, released in the UK on Stiff Records on 30 September 1977. Usually thought of as the first album by Ian Dury and the Blockheads (his backing band from 1977 to 1982), the album is credited solely to Dury as the Blockheads were not officially formed until Stiff’s ‘Live Stiffs’ package tour the month after the album’s release, and two members of the Blockheads do not play on the album. Although the album is often cited as one of the first classic UK punk albums, the record covers a diverse range of musical styles reflecting Dury’s influences and background in pub rock, taking in funk, disco, British music hall and early rock and roll, courtesy of Dury’s musical hero Gene Vincent. Dury’s lyrics also eschew the anti-establishment stance associated with punk music, preferring cheeky love songs or character stories based on the working-class people of the East End and Essex Estuary areas where he grew up. The songs are frequently ribald and profane, but also contain humour and affection for his characters.

About “Brand New Boots And Panties” from Billboard:

Physically handicapped since contracting polio at age seven, England’s Ian Dury—who died of cancer last year at 57—was one of the odder-looking chaps to emerge from the British New Wave when Stiff Records released his classic debut album, New Boots and Panties!, in 1977. But this cut-for-cut rerecording—featuring Sinéad O’Connor, Robbie Williams, Paul McCartney, Madness, Billy Bragg & the Blokes, Wreckless Eric, Catatonia’s Cerys Matthews, Feeder’s Grant Nicholas, Shane MacGowan, and Keith Allen, along with backing from Dury’s group the Blockheads—effectively recounts why he was also one of the era’s true originals. McCartney’s spirited version of “I’m Partial to Your Abracadabra” is a special surprise, and Bragg’s cover of the colorful cockney music-hall character sketch “Billericay Dickie” is another high point. Meriting mention, too, are Williams’ copy of Dury’s tribute to his rock’n’roll hero in “Sweet Gene Vincent” and O’Connor’s seductive tone on “Wake Up and Make Love With Me.” Proceeds from the album benefit the charity Cancer Bacup, which aided Dury at the end.—JB

About “Brand New Boots And Panties” from AllMusic.com:

If you love Ian Dury, you might not be able to explain why — his charms were that particular and idiosyncratic. Not inaccessible, though, since he had a big heart, a quick clever wit, and his own sense of style, all the more remarkable when you realize he was an old art school student-cum-teacher, stricken with polio at an early age, but never letting that keep him down. Anybody who witnessed the original Blockheads, either live or on illicit videos, will offer stunned, rapturous testimonials to the group’s unrestrained power, but on record, that faded into the background and Dury’s deft wordplay came to the front; not necessarily a bad thing, but the white disco that dominates his recordings might dissuade listeners who really come from the same vantage point as Dury. And that’s why this tribute may offer a greater good than the average tribute, since it captures the spirit of Dury’s distinctly British, wildly individual post-punk working-class poetry. This is still a very British record — hell, he was a star in the U.K. while a barely noticed novelty in the U.S., so why shouldn’t this not just be heavy on British celebrities, but have a British feel — yet they wind up capturing the wonderful weirdness of Dury’s body of work, particularly since most realize the joyous collequialisms and fun within his work. And there’s a great deal of variety here, whether it’s Billy Bragg capturing the off-kilter charm of Dury’s rhyme on “Billericay Dickie” or Paul McCartney’s pile-driving version of “I’m Partial to Your Abracadabra,” recorded, like many of these songs, with the Blockheads. This is a tribute in the very best sense, because it captures the feel of Dury’s records, but gives a personal spin from each artist — a personal touch that has a real love for the artist. Dury still remains an acquired taste, but this will help the doubters understand why people love this man.

The cover of “Brand New Boots And Panties” was designed by Peter Blake, who co-created the sleeve design for the Beatles’ 1967 album “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.”

As an art student Ian Dury was taught by Peter Blake and they became firm friends. Ian went on to pursue a career in music, with his band Kilburn and the Highroads (debut album ‘New Boots and Panties’) and then the hugely successful Ian Dury and The Blockheads. Peter Blake and Ian maintained their friendship until Ian’s death in 2000. In memory of Ian, Peter created a portrait that was used on the cover of the 2001 tribute album ‘Brand New Boots and Panties’ which featured Paul McCartney and Robbie Williams amongst others. The photograph by Chris Gabrin used as the front cover for the debut album was featured as the back cover of the tribute album, and the two images were combined to produce this very special limited edition print.

From New Boots And Panties (Limited Edition) by Peter Blake Editioned artwork | Art Collectorz:

Last updated on January 31, 2024