Ian Dury with the Blockheads – What A Waste

There are some artists you don’t discover until years later, and then you wonder how they managed to stay off your radar for so long. That was Ian Dury for me. While he was a major figure in Britain during the late 1970s, his music never received much attention here in the States. Once I started listening, though, I realized I’d been missing out on one of the most original voices of the era. This is one of those songs that hooked me right away, especially because of that irresistible groove.

It was released in 1978 as Ian Dury’s second solo single, and it featured The Blockheads, one of the tightest backing bands of the time. The song was written by Dury and Chaz Jankel, whose guitar and keyboard work helped shape the band’s sound. It was produced by Laurie Latham and appeared on the American version of the album New Boots and Panties!!, although it had originally been released as a stand-alone single in the UK. By this point, Dury had already built a reputation for mixing pub rock, funk, new wave, and rhythm and blues into something entirely his own.

It is built around one of the best bass lines you’ll ever hear. Norman Watt-Roy’s bass drives the entire song, locking in with the drums to create a groove that’s impossible to ignore. Over the top, Ian Dury delivers a half-sung, half-spoken vocal, rattling off humorous observations about all the things he could have become. His lyrics are clever and self-deprecating. It doesn’t fit neatly into rock, punk, or new wave, and that’s exactly what makes it so much fun.

The song peaked at #9 in the UK in 1978, but it wasn’t a huge hit outside the UK; it has become one of Ian Dury’s signature songs and a favorite among fans. Looking back, it’s easy to hear why so many musicians admired The Blockheads. They were an incredibly talented band capable of blending funk, rock, jazz, and soul into a sound that was unlike anyone else at the time.

I love songs that have a great groove, and this one has it from the first note. Norman Watt-Roy’s bass line is perfect, and it’s the first thing I notice every time I hear it. The whole band is outstanding, but that rhythm section keeps everything moving while Ian Dury does what Ian Dury did better than anyone else. His songs never sounded like anyone else’s. They’re funny, quirky, and full of personality. I wish I’d discovered him years earlier, but better late than never. If you’ve never gone beyond Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick, give What A Waste a listen. I have a feeling you’ll end up exploring a lot more of Ian Dury and The Blockheads, just like I did.

What A Waste

I could be the driver in articulated lorry
I could be a poet, I wouldn’t need to worry
I could be the teacher in a classroom full of scholars
I could be the sergeant in a squadron full of wallahs

What a waste!
What a waste!
What a waste!
What a waste!

Because I chose to play the fool in a six-piece band
First-night nerves every one-night stand
I should be glad to be so inclined
What a waste! What a waste!
Rock’n’roll don’t mind

I could be a lawyer with stratagems and ruses
I could be a doctor with poultices and bruises
I could be a writer with a growing reputation
I could be the ticket-man at Fulham Broadway station

What a waste!
What a waste!
What a waste!
What a waste!

Because I chose to play the fool in a six-piece band
First-night nerves every one-night stand
I should be glad to be so inclined
What a waste! What a waste!
Rock’n’roll don’t mind

I could be the catalyst that sparks the revolution
I could be an inmate in a long-term institution
I could lead to wild extremes, I could do or die
I could yawn and be withdrawn and watch them gallop by

What a waste!
What a waste!
What a waste!
What a waste!

Because I chose to play the fool in a six-piece band
First-night nerves every one-night stand
I should be glad to be so inclined
What a waste! What a waste!
Rock’n’roll don’t mind

Chose to play the fool in a six-piece band
First-night nerves every one-night stand
I should be glad to be so inclined
What a waste! What a waste!
Rock’n’roll don’t mind
What a waste! What a waste!
Rock’n’roll don’t mind