The first solo album proper of Ian Dury’s following 1975’s Handsome, recorded under the name of Kilburn and the High Roads, and 1977’s Wotabunch!, Ian Dury & The Kilburns, saw the loud and proud Essex Man turn away from pub-rock to embrace his first love: music hall. And it’s got his mucky paw prints all over it too. For example, lyrics don’t get filthier than on ‘Billericay Dickie”.

They include the following top-shelf excerpt: “In the back of my Cortina, A seasoned-up hyena could not have been more obscener. She took me to the cleaners and other misdemeanours, But I got right up between her Rum and her Ribena.” Elsewhere, Dury appears to merge the theme tunes of Minder and Only Fools and Horses on ‘Sweet Gene Vincent’.

Thirty years ago, New Boots and Panties!! was a great album. Thirty years on, it remains a timeless classic. And this anniversary edition comes with a bonus DVD featuring footage of Ian and the Blockheads playing a storming set, comprising many of the album’s highlights, at Queen Mary’s College in Mile End for the BBC’s Sight and Sound In Concert series.
(5/5)