I want to be straight - Ian Dury and the Blockheads

Ian Dury and the Blockheads released their last album for Stiff Records in 1980, entitled 'Laughter'. At the time, Dury was an alcoholic, and also addicted to Mogadon, a brand of sedative. Coupled with his bad reaction to celebrity, and his bouts of depression, these addictions caused him to be confrontational, argumentative, and controlling. This caused the recording sessions for that album to be quite difficult.

Ahead of the album, however, the single 'I want to be straight' was released. This was the first recording by Ian Dury with the new line-up of the Blockheads, as Chas Jankel had left the band after a particularly stressful tour. This single reached number 22 in the UK singles chart in the summer of 1980.

My collection: 7" single no. 4489
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'I want to be straight' / 'That's not all'