New Boots and Panties

Ian Dury's sound was a syncretic but singular beast, drawing from a broad array of influences and creating an unprecedented musical blend. Though he was hailed as a hero of the punk and new wave era, Dury was nearly a generation older than most early punks; his sonic world was, for the most part, situated in a different solar system. His first solo outing after leaving U.K. pub-rockers Kilburn & The High Roads—1977's New Boots & Panties—must have been something of a shock when it appeared amid the onset of punk in England. Reggae, R&B, jazz, rock, and the British music hall tradition come together in Dury's mongrel mix of styles, all in support of a lyrical vision that’s undeniably English in its idiosyncrasy. With a well-weathered baritone and a thick Cockney accent, Dury delivers quirky character studies like "Billericay Dickey," "Clever Trevor," and of course the irresistibly impish anthem to hedonism "Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll." The album made an unlikely star out of Dury and remains among the most sui generis recordings under the "new wave" rubric.