Jankel was responsible for much of the funk influence in the Blockheads’ music; his fondness for it is also evident in his solo career. First hooking up with Dury as part of the pub group Kilburn and the High-Roads in the early part of the 1970s, Jankel was asked by Dury to join his new outfit, and appeared on such Blockheads releases as 1977’s New Boots and Panties!! and 1979’s Do It Yourself, before leaving the group. But in 1981, Jankel teamed up once more with Dury (sans the Blockheads), for the release Lord Upminster, which spawned the U.S. Top 40 dance hit “Spasticus Autisticus.” But by this time, Jankel had become more interested in pursuing a solo career and he issued several releases for A&M such as 1980’s self-titled debut, 1981’s Chasanova and Questionnaire (the latter of which contained the U.S. dance hit “Glad to Know You,” a collaboration with Dury, plus the MTV video hit of the title track). Quincy Jones had a UK chart hit with his version of Ai No Corrida which reached #14 in April 1981. Jankel hit #1 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in 1982 with the triple A-side “Glad To Know You”/”3,000,000 Synths”/”Ai No Corrida”. In 1984, “Number One” went to #1 in the clubs in France. 1983’s Chazablanca and 1985’s Looking at You are other releases for A&M. Jankel returned to the Blockheads after his solo career in America, and worked with Dury on his final two albums (Mr. Love Pants, Ten More Turnips From The Tip). Jankel continues to perform and write with the Blockheads today, after Dury’s death in 2000. Jankel has several composer credits for films, including D.O.A.(1988) and K2. He is best known to many people as the performer of the 1984’s song “Number One” from the soundtrack of the film Real Genius. He also composed much of the music for the film Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll, the biopic about Ian Dury. He received a Bafta nomination for the film’s music. Discography * Chaz Jankel - A&M - 1980| * Chasanova - A&M - 1981| * Questionnaire - A&M - 1981| * Chazablanca - A&M - 1983| * Looking At You - A&M - 1985| * Out of the Blue - 2001| * Zoom - 2003| * Experience - 2005| * My Occupation - The Music Of Chaz Jankel - 2007| * A Bit On the Side - 2008| * The Submarine Has Surfaced - 2010 |
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