The Bus Driver's Prayer & Other Stories (2026 Reissue)
Demon Records as part of a wider and ongoing Ian Dury catalogue initiative are pleased to be making his fourth solo album âThe Bus Driver's Prayer & Other Storiesâ available again once more on vinyl, having been out of print for over a decade. The album was originally released in 1992 by Demon Records and was recorded following the successful live reunion of Ian Dury & The Blockheads (inspired by the illness of their drummer, Charley Charles).
Writing for the album was undertaken by Ian Dury and Mick Gallagher (with their writing partnership having been cemented following their work together in 1989 on the âApplesâ album and musical which had run at Londonâs Royal Court Theatre for 10 weeks) along with guitarist and former Music Students member Merlin Rhys-Jones. Whilst not titled as a Blockheads record, all of Chaz Jankel, Mick Gallagher, John Turnbull and Davey Payne appear on the album.
The album has its origins in a 1991 Irish film âAfter Midnightâ for which Ian Dury was asked to produce some music for the film soundtrack. Dury recruited Blockhead Mick Gallagher and Merlin Rhys-Jones and the songs "O'Donegal" and "Quick Quick Slow", along with another, "Bye Bye Dublin", were written and recorded around this time along with incidental music for the film.
Considered a 'return to form' for Dury as a lyricist, stand-out tracks are âPoor Joeyâ and âPoo-Poo In The Prawnâ with AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine calling the album "an engaging collection of character sketches and stories" with Duryâs âwry observations just as subtle and humorous as ever."
The closing track, âBus Driverâs Prayerâ, is a humorous monologue of uncertain origin that Ian would often recite back in his Kilburns days - âForgive us our Westminsters, as we forgive those who Westminster against usâ - set to musical backing and genuine studio laughter.
Tracklist
Side 1.
1. That's Enough Of That
2. Bill Haley's Last Words
3. Poor Joey
4. Quick Quick Slow
5. Fly In The Ointment
6. O' Donegal
7. Poo-Poo In The Prawn
Side 2.
1. Have A Word
2. London Talking
3. D'Orine The Cow
4. Your Horoscope
5. No Such Thing As Love
6. Two Old Dogs Without A Name
7. The Bus Driver's Prayer
Demon Records as part of a wider and ongoing Ian Dury catalogue initiative are pleased to be making his fourth solo album âThe Bus Driver's Prayer & Other Storiesâ available again once more on vinyl, having been out of print for over a decade. The album was originally released in 1992 by Demon Records and was recorded following the successful live reunion of Ian Dury & The Blockheads (inspired by the illness of their drummer, Charley Charles).
Writing for the album was undertaken by Ian Dury and Mick Gallagher (with their writing partnership having been cemented following their work together in 1989 on the âApplesâ album and musical which had run at Londonâs Royal Court Theatre for 10 weeks) along with guitarist and former Music Students member Merlin Rhys-Jones. Whilst not titled as a Blockheads record, all of Chaz Jankel, Mick Gallagher, John Turnbull and Davey Payne appear on the album.
The album has its origins in a 1991 Irish film âAfter Midnightâ for which Ian Dury was asked to produce some music for the film soundtrack. Dury recruited Blockhead Mick Gallagher and Merlin Rhys-Jones and the songs "O'Donegal" and "Quick Quick Slow", along with another, "Bye Bye Dublin", were written and recorded around this time along with incidental music for the film.
Considered a 'return to form' for Dury as a lyricist, stand-out tracks are âPoor Joeyâ and âPoo-Poo In The Prawnâ with AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine calling the album "an engaging collection of character sketches and stories" with Duryâs âwry observations just as subtle and humorous as ever."
The closing track, âBus Driverâs Prayerâ, is a humorous monologue of uncertain origin that Ian would often recite back in his Kilburns days - âForgive us our Westminsters, as we forgive those who Westminster against usâ - set to musical backing and genuine studio laughter.
Tracklist
Side 1.
1. That's Enough Of That
2. Bill Haley's Last Words
3. Poor Joey
4. Quick Quick Slow
5. Fly In The Ointment
6. O' Donegal
7. Poo-Poo In The Prawn
Side 2.
1. Have A Word
2. London Talking
3. D'Orine The Cow
4. Your Horoscope
5. No Such Thing As Love
6. Two Old Dogs Without A Name
7. The Bus Driver's Prayer
Description
Demon Records as part of a wider and ongoing Ian Dury catalogue initiative are pleased to be making his fourth solo album âThe Bus Driver's Prayer & Other Storiesâ available again once more on vinyl, having been out of print for over a decade. The album was originally released in 1992 by Demon Records and was recorded following the successful live reunion of Ian Dury & The Blockheads (inspired by the illness of their drummer, Charley Charles).
Writing for the album was undertaken by Ian Dury and Mick Gallagher (with their writing partnership having been cemented following their work together in 1989 on the âApplesâ album and musical which had run at Londonâs Royal Court Theatre for 10 weeks) along with guitarist and former Music Students member Merlin Rhys-Jones. Whilst not titled as a Blockheads record, all of Chaz Jankel, Mick Gallagher, John Turnbull and Davey Payne appear on the album.
The album has its origins in a 1991 Irish film âAfter Midnightâ for which Ian Dury was asked to produce some music for the film soundtrack. Dury recruited Blockhead Mick Gallagher and Merlin Rhys-Jones and the songs "O'Donegal" and "Quick Quick Slow", along with another, "Bye Bye Dublin", were written and recorded around this time along with incidental music for the film.
Considered a 'return to form' for Dury as a lyricist, stand-out tracks are âPoor Joeyâ and âPoo-Poo In The Prawnâ with AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine calling the album "an engaging collection of character sketches and stories" with Duryâs âwry observations just as subtle and humorous as ever."
The closing track, âBus Driverâs Prayerâ, is a humorous monologue of uncertain origin that Ian would often recite back in his Kilburns days - âForgive us our Westminsters, as we forgive those who Westminster against usâ - set to musical backing and genuine studio laughter.
Tracklist
Side 1.
1. That's Enough Of That
2. Bill Haley's Last Words
3. Poor Joey
4. Quick Quick Slow
5. Fly In The Ointment
6. O' Donegal
7. Poo-Poo In The Prawn
Side 2.
1. Have A Word
2. London Talking
3. D'Orine The Cow
4. Your Horoscope
5. No Such Thing As Love
6. Two Old Dogs Without A Name
7. The Bus Driver's Prayer
