Sweet Gene Vincent

Album: New Boots and Panties (1977)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Sweet Gene Vincent" is a straight tribute song; Ian Dury was a massive fan of the American rock n' roller with whom he shared a disability. Dury was crippled by childhood polio; Vincent smashed his left leg in a 1955 motor accident.
  • According to Dury's biographer Richard Balls, the single was release November 25, 1977 backed by "You're More Than Fair", but though the music press liked it, the public didn't, and it failed to chart. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England, for above 2
  • Dury's original draft was much longer. Chaz Jankel, the band's keyboardist and guitarist, explained in Daniel Rachel's book The Art of Noise: Conversations with Great Songwriters: "He was prolific. It was really tough. You know how a single should be three minutes something? - we'd just about have got up to the middle eight if I kept all his verses. With song structure, you can't get away with more than three choruses and more than six or seven verses, unless you're Bob Dylan."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Francesca Battistelli

Francesca BattistelliSongwriter Interviews

The 2011 Artist of the Year at the Dove Awards isn't your typical gospel diva, and she thinks that's a good thing.

David Clayton-Thomas of Blood, Sweat & Tears

David Clayton-Thomas of Blood, Sweat & TearsSongwriter Interviews

The longtime BS&T frontman tells the "Spinning Wheel" story, including the line he got from Joni Mitchell.

David Bowie Lyrics Quiz

David Bowie Lyrics QuizMusic Quiz

How well do you know your David Bowie lyrics? Take this quiz to find out.

Lita Ford

Lita FordSongwriter Interviews

Lita talks about how they wrote songs in The Runaways, and how she feels about her biggest hit being written by somebody else.

Bass Player Scott Edwards

Bass Player Scott EdwardsSong Writing

Scott was Stevie Wonder's bass player before becoming a top session player. Hits he played on include "I Will Survive," "Being With You" and "Sara Smile."

Director Wes Edwards ("Drunk on a Plane")

Director Wes Edwards ("Drunk on a Plane")Song Writing

Wes Edwards takes us behind the scenes of videos he shot for Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley and Chase Bryant. The train was real - the airplane was not.