Classic 45's Week - Captain Sensible

In 1982 Captain Sensible took a break from The Damned and launched a solo career. He hooked up with producer Tony Mansfield (New Muzik) and crafted a pop single that swept the charts, the Wot!. It tells a simple story - man with jackhammer makes a lot of noise, Captain complains, droll female backup vocalists sing along. It's got a great bass line, funky guitars, the words are funny, and the backups always make me smile. You have to remember that rap was in it's infancy, and was a uniquely American thing, and suddenly you've got this punk rock dude from England having a go at it - all of this juxtaposition makes it pretty unique! The B side is six minute, six part mini psych pop epic, Strawberry Dross. There's more goofiness in the lyrics - magic roundabouts, hippies in caftans and advertising are all covered, and there are a couple of instrumental bits with some nice guitar and piano. Parts of it make me think that if he'd actually put a bit more effort into it some of it could have been very good. Again, all very silly yet still enjoyable.