- on his BBC documentary Dury dismissed all of the albums between Do It Yourself and Mr. Love Pants as inferior.

The album took around four years to complete and the writing commenced at Acre Farm, Twyford, near Reading, Berkshire, in 1993.

It is generally considered that Ian Dury's first bout with cancer is what prompted him to reform the Blockheads and work with them solely, which he would do for the rest of his life.

The album was recorded at Air Studios, which was also being used by Michael Jackson and was surprisingly trouble free compared to the troublesome recording sessions usually caused by Dury, again his personality changes are attributed to his first bout with cancer - the only major incident being Dury randomly deciding to replace new drummer Steve Monti with Bernard Purdie but after constant opposition from his band Dury relented.

"Itinerant Child" was to be released as Ian Dury & the Blockhead's first single in 17 years (since 1980's "Sueperman's Big Sister") and a video was recorded but East Central One nixed the idea.