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Sue Lawley's castaway is punk rocker Ian Dury.

Today's castaway on Desert Island Discs confused the rock critics in the late 1970s with songs like Sweet Gene Vincent, Reasons to be Cheerful and outraged the BBC with Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll. Ian Dury and the Blockheads were part vaudeville act and part punk rock band. In his songs, he created the characters Clevor Trever and Billericay Dickie and so invented the original Essex Man. He's also a painter and an actor, but as he reveals to Sue Lawley, he's writing songs again and hopes to be back in the charts soon.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: Ramblin by Ornette Coleman
Book: Macmillan Dictionary of Art
Luxury: Mixing Desk - Solar Powered

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40 minutes

Last on

Fri 31 Mar 2000 09:00
BBC Radio 4

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Music Played

  • Bobby Charles

    Small Town Talk

    • Bear Pack No. 1 - Various Artists.
    • Bearsville.

  • Dean Martin

    That's Amore

    • Moonstruck Original Motion Picture Soundtrack.
    • Capitol Records.

  • Frank Crumit

    Abdul Abulbul Amir

    • Mountain Greenery.
    • ASV.

  • Gene Vincent

    Woman Love

    • Gene Vincent Be Bop A Lula.
    • Capitol Records.

  • Taj Mahal

    Music Keeps Me Together

    • Music Keeps Me Together.
    • CBS.

  • Alma Cogan

    The Naughty Lady Of Shady Lane

    • The A-Z Of Alma.
    • EMI.

  • Ann Peebles

    I Can't Stand The Rain

    • Get Around The 70s.
    • Radioplay.

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Ornette Coleman

      Ramblin

      • Ornette Coleman - Complete Atlantic Recordings.
      • Atlantic.

  • Book Choice

    • Macmillan Dictionary of Art

  • Luxury Choice

    • Mixing Desk - Solar Powered

Credits

Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest Ian Dury

Broadcasts

  • Sun 15 Dec 1996 12:15
    BBC Radio 4
  • Fri 20 Dec 1996 09:05
    BBC Radio 4
  • Fri 31 Mar 2000 09:00
    BBC Radio 4

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