Release Date 5th December 2025
After two platinum – selling solo albums on the bounce, Ian Dury found himself at a creative crossroads with ‘Laughter’. His songwriting partner Chas Jankel had exited The Blockheads afer a gruelling promotional tour and was replaced with Dr. Feelgood legend Wilko Johnson on guitar duties. Meanwhile Blockheads keyboard player Mick Gallagher returned to the band following a US tour with The Clash.
The ironically titled ‘Laughter’ (“I called it ‘Laughter’ to cheer myself up”) saw Dury genius for lyrics turn towards his personal and historical demons on an angry and harrowing set of songs, such as ‘Delusions Of Grandeur’, ‘Manic Depression (Jimi)’ and ‘Fucking Ada’, while ‘Hey, Hey, Take Me Away’ recalled the time he’d attended a special school stricken with polio. ‘Laughter’ also carried one of the all-time classic singles ‘Sueperman’s Big Sister’