Very Best of Ian Dury & the Blockheads- Reasons to be Cheerful

The Blockheads' sound drew from its members' diverse musical influences, which included jazz, rock and roll, funk, and reggae, and Dury's love of music hall. The band was formed after Dury began writing songs with pianist and guitarist Chaz Jankel (the brother of noted music video, TV, commercial and film director Annabel Jankel). Jankel took Dury's lyrics, fashioned a number of songs, and they began recording with members of Radio Caroline's Loving Awareness Band—drummer Charley Charles, bassist Norman Watt-Roy, keyboard player Mick Gallagher, guitarist John Turnbull -- and former Kilburns saxophonist Davey Payne. An album was completed, but major record labels passed on the band. However, next door to Dury's manager's office was the newly formed Stiff Records, a perfect home for Dury's maverick style. Their classic single, "Sex & Drugs & Rock and Roll", marked Dury's Stiff debut and although it was banned by the BBC it was named Single of the Week by NME on its release.[10] It was soon followed by the album New Boots and Panties!!, which was eventually to achieve platinum status.

1. Reasons To Be Cheerful
2. Wake Up And Make Love With Me
3. Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick
4. Clevor Trevor
5. What A Waste
6. Sex And Drugs And Rock And Roll
7. This Is What We Find
8. Itinerant Child
9. Sweet Gene Vincent
10. I Want To Be Straight
11. Blockheads
12. Mash It Up Harry
13. There Ain't Half Been Some Clever Bastards
14. Billericay Dickie
15. Inbetweenies
16. Spasticus (Autisticus)
17. My Old Man
18. Lullaby For Francis