For the Dury devoteee this 'final studio album' could have been embarrassing. In lesser hands this collection of songs from an unfinished new album, unused session material from 1999's 'Mr Lovepants' and unreleased tracks from 1991, could have proved a sad, sorry, barrel-scraping epitaph.
We needn't have worried though, for 'Ten More Turnips From The Tip' - Ian's title, found along with a proposed tracklisting on his ideas notepad shortly after his death from cancer in March 2000- is a fitting testament to one of this country's most charismatic voices and greatest wordsmiths.
Compiled by Ian's friends and family and performed with obvious love by the hugely talented Blockheads, 'Ten More Turnips...' is blessed with a bunch of great tunes. All are laced with Dury's trademark rhyming Cockney couplets, all at once revealing that honest and upright, warm and open, amused and amusing, life-loving and life-affirming talent.
The upbeat reggae opener 'Dance Little Rude Boy' - "your tricky spiels and your Cuban heels and the face of a carpetbagger" - the slick funky licks of and that touching spontaneous chuckle during 'I Believe' -"I believe in bob-a-job and life in outer space, I believe an open gob does nothing for your face" and 'The Ballad Of The Sulphate Strangler' the muscular yet loving tribute to late former roadie Pete Rush, are all prime Dury and The Blockheads - supreme musicianship topped with that cheeky husky delivery.
The closing two tracks though are perhaps the album's most moving - old mate Jock Scott's poem and Robbie Williams -who met Ian through his work with UNICEF- popping in to sing the light and laid-back 'You're The Why' - the last lyric Dury completed- are the things lumps in the throat are made of.
As Scott recites: "Such a swift departure, you left me clutching at a half pint of lager, I looked up and you were gone." Ian, you leave us all as suddenly sad and empty as closing time after a great night out with your mates. Cheers geezer!
