Song of the Day No.51

I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass

by Nick Lowe (Jesus of Cool, 1978)

Stiff Records, home to The Feelies, Ian Dury & The Blockheads, Madness and more, was also home to Nick Lowe, not only as recording artist but also as in-house producer. Lowe is seen as very influential in the rise of new wave and punk, producing the first five Elvis Costello albums and The Damned's debut Damned, Damned, Damned amongst others. As a recording artist Lowe's output maybe hasn't seen the same commercial success with this, his fifth single, being his only UK top ten hit. He has, however, continued recording and performing right up to the present with a new album out on 13th September 2011.

A kind of poppy punk-funk sound dominates this catchy number. A bare itchy guitar cuts and chops above a rotund bouncing bass line while Lowe sings a line at a time. The spritely sporadic piano and perfect pop production provide the something extra and lighten the atmosphere. The song breaks down for the chorus but in doing so somehow provides a fuller sound that only adds to its already infectious pop appeal.

AR

Song Of The Day No.45

Wake Up And Make Love With Me

by Ian Dury (New Boots and Panties!!, 1977)

Released a few months before The Blockheads were formed and only featuring a couple of members of the group the album is credited as an Ian Dury solo album. Dury co-wrote all of the songs on the album either with Chaz Jankel, member of The Blockheads, or with an American called Steve Nugent. The album was mostly written a year before it's release with demos recorded in the spring of 1977 a week before the album would be recorded. Dury and friends recorded the album in spite of not having a record deal which meant that Dury's management company put up the money. After struggling to find a label, Stiff Records who already had Elvis Costello and The Damned negotiated a licensing deal and the album was released in September.

The opening track off the album is a prime example of Dury's brand of playful punk-funk song writing. Piano twinkles start off gently but the bass and drums kick in with the punchy, bouncy rhythm and the piano decides to follow hitting the melody. A Moog synthesiser whirs around in the background as Dury's accented, spoken singing style almost impossibly manages to describe in rather charming fashion a 'morning glory' moment.

AR