Ian Dury & the Blockheads were hoping for a No.1 with Sueperman’s Big Sister – but it wasn’t to be…

The title of an Ian Dury & the Blockheads single released in 1980 to promote the upcoming LP Laughter. Look again at the title. No, I haven’t spelt it wrong – and the spellchecker is going nuts. It was spelt with an extra ‘e’ in order to avoid litigation with DC Comics!

I was an indie buyer at Our Price Records in London at the time, and recently found (in the attic, where else?) the handbill below to promote the single. It was a bit of a flop, only reaching No.51 in the UK charts. The song is actually co-written by Wilko Johnson, the great Dr.Feelgood man who replaced Chaz Jankel as Ian’s co-writer.

The song and album marked the start of Ian’s move away from disco, although a dance beat is still evident. I don’t mind the song but it is not one of my favourites. I’ve never been a fan of orchestration and I don’t think it works on this single – at all.

The ‘b’ side (of the 7″ single) was You’ll See Glimpses and was unusual, having a jazz lounge feel, and I quite like it. It did not appear on the Laughter album though and, so far as I know, was not available other than as a ‘b’ side until after Ian died – on the 1986 collection Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll.

I can be sure that the chorus on the ‘b’ side of the 12″ single – Fucking Ada – will have you laughing like an idiot! (It might make a great ring-tone…)