Ian Dury And The Blockheads – Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick

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Genre:	Rock
Style:	New Wave
Year:	1978

Tracklist

		A Wing
		Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick	3:36
		B Wing
		There Ain't Half Been Some Clever Bastards	2:58

Versions

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56 versions

Image	,	–			In Your Collection, Wantlist, or Inventory	Version Details	Data Quality
	Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick 7", 45 RPM, Single	Stiff Records – BUY 38	UK	1978	UK — 1978
	Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick 12", 45 RPM	Stiff Records – 12 BUY 38	UK	1978	UK — 1978	Recently Edited
	Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo	Stiff Records – 640.157	Belgium	1978	Belgium — 1978	Recently Edited
	Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick 7", Single, 45 RPM	Stiff Records – BUY 38	Netherlands	1978	Netherlands — 1978	Recently Edited
	Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick 7", Single, 45 RPM	Stiff Records – BUY 38	Australia	1978	Australia — 1978	Recently Edited
	Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick 7", 45 RPM, Single, Styrene, Santa Maria Pressing	Stiff-Epic – AE7 1179	US	1978	US — 1978	Recently Edited
	Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick / There Ain't Half Been Some Clever Bastards 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo, Red labels	Stiff Records – BUY 38	Scandinavia	1978	Scandinavia — 1978	Recently Edited
	Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo	Stiff-Epic – AE7 1179	Netherlands	1978	Netherlands — 1978	New Submission
	Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick 7", 45 RPM, Single	Stiff Records – BUY 38	New Zealand	1978	New Zealand — 1978	New Submission
	Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo	Stiff-Epic – AS 619	US	1978	US — 1978	Recently Edited
	Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick 7", 45 RPM, Single	Stiff Records – STIFF-SP-15.000	Greece	1978	Greece — 1978	New Submission
	Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick 7", 45 RPM, Promo	Stiff-Epic – AE7 1179	Canada	1978	Canada — 1978	New Submission
	Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick 7", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint	Stiff Records – 640 157		1978	— 1978	New Submission
	Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick 7", Single, Promo, Stereo, Mono, 45 RPM	Epic – 8-50726	US	1978	US — 1978	New Submission
	Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick 7", 45 RPM, Single	Stiff Records – STIFF-1002	Japan	1978	Japan — 1978	New Submission
	Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick 12", Promo	Stiff-Epic – AE7 1179	Canada	1978	Canada — 1978	Recently Edited
	Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick / There Ain't Half Been Some Clever Bastards 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo	Stiff Records – BUY 38		1978	— 1978	Recently Edited
	Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick 7", 45 RPM, Single	Stiff Records – BUY 38	UK	1978	UK — 1978	Recently Edited
	Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick 7", 45 RPM, Single	Stiff-Epic – 8-50726	US	1978	US — 1978	Recently Edited
	Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick 7", 45 RPM, Promo, Stereo	Stiff Records – STIF 103	Italy	1978	Italy — 1978
	Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick 7", 45 RPM, Single	Stiff Records – BUY 38/NP	Portugal	1978	Portugal — 1978	New Submission
	Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single	Stiff Records – 6.20 009		1978	— 1978	Recently Edited
	Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick 12", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo	Stiff Records – 12 BUY 38	UK	1978	UK — 1978	Recently Edited
	Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick 7", 45 RPM, Test Pressing	Stiff Records – STIFF-SP-15.000	Greece	1978	Greece — 1978	New Submission
	Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick 7", 45 RPM, Single	Stiff Records – BUY 38	UK	1978	UK — 1978	New Submission
	Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick 7", 45 RPM, Single, Company Sleeve	Stiff Records – BUY 38	UK	1978	UK — 1978	New Submission
	Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick 7", 45 RPM, Promo, Solid Centre	Stiff-Epic – AE7 1179	Canada	1978	Canada — 1978
	Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick / There Ain't Half Been Some Clever Bastards 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo, Black/white labels	Stiff Records – BUY 38	Scandinavia	1978	Scandinavia — 1978
	Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue	Stiff Records – BUY 38	New Zealand	1978	New Zealand — 1978	New Submission
	Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick 12", 45 RPM	Stiff Records – 12 BUY 38	Israel	1978	Israel — 1978	New Submission
	Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick / There Ain't Half Been Some Clever Bastards 7", Single, 45 RPM	Stiff Records – BUY 38		1978	— 1978
	Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick 7", 45 RPM, Single	Stiff Records – 6.12 410		1978	— 1978	New Submission
	Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick 7", 45 RPM, Single	Stiff Records – 640-157	Belgium	1978	Belgium — 1978	New Submission
	Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick 7", 45 RPM, Single, Styrene, Terre Haute Pressing	Stiff-Epic – AE7 1179	US	1978	US — 1978	New Submission
	Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick / There Ain't Half Been Some Clever Bastards 7", 45 RPM, Single, Mispress, Stereo, Black/white labels	Stiff Records – BUY 38	Scandinavia	1978	Scandinavia — 1978	New Submission
	Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo	Stiff Records – STIFF-1002	Japan	1978	Japan — 1978	New Submission
	Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick 7", 45 RPM, Promo	Stiff-Epic – AE7 1179	Canada	1978	Canada — 1978	New Submission
	Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick 7", 45 RPM, Single, Solid Centre	Stiff Records – BUY 38	UK	1978	UK — 1978	New Submission
	Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo	Stiff Records – BUY 38	Netherlands	1978	Netherlands — 1978	New Submission
	Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo	Stiff Records – BUY 38	Netherlands	1978	Netherlands — 1978	New Submission

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Reviews

Arresthead Feb 13, 2025
Edited 3 months ago

referencing Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick (7", 45 RPM, Single) BUY 38

Judging by the A-side matrix written as "A-1", whereas the more well known version(s) listed in the release comments are "A-3" and higher increments, I think it’s safe to say this is the first commercially available mix thus pressing of the Hit Me single. The presumed later one has significant differences which sound like overdubs done at another date.

See video titled <Ian Dury and The Blockheads - Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick, 1978, Stiff Records BUY 38, Vinyl, 7"> in the Video section for more information!
dgmdgm Jul 30, 2023
referencing Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick / There Ain't Half Been Some Clever Bastards (12", 45 RPM, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Stereo, Green Vinyl) BMGCAT499LP

Has anybody worked out why the artwork has been defaced with an "Explicit Content" warning. Is it the word "bastards"? Did someone mishear "ich liebe dich"? Something else?
johnnysimmo Apr 4, 2023
referencing Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick (7", 45 RPM, Single) BUY 38

A great tune complimented by one of the best B Sides ever. RIP Mr Dury!!!!
christophe_27 Mar 2, 2023
referencing Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick (7", 45 RPM, Single) BUY 38

Sleeve artwork by Barney Bubbles, one of the most creative designer in post-punk era.
christophe_27 Sep 5, 2022
referencing Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick (7", 45 RPM, Single, Styrene, Santa Maria Pressing) AE 7-1179

For an answer to the precedent message, the uncredited artist artist is Barney Bubbles.
kwhitehead Dec 31, 2021
referencing Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick (7", 45 RPM, Single, Styrene, Santa Maria Pressing) AE 7-1179

B-Side is unlistenable. Most notable for its eye-catching artwork. Artist uncredited.
JamboLinnman Jun 16, 2021
Edited 3 years ago

referencing Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick / There Ain't Half Been Some Clever Bastards (12", 45 RPM, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Stereo, Green Vinyl) BMGCAT499LP

Excellent pressing… sounds just as good as my 1978 12” (https://discogs.librosgratis.biz/Ian-The-Blockheads-Hit-Me-With-Your-Rhythm-Stick/release/221232). Always was a great recording and this version is 5 min 23 sec.
FieldDE Jun 13, 2021
referencing Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick / There Ain't Half Been Some Clever Bastards (12", 45 RPM, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Stereo, Green Vinyl) BMGCAT499LP

I was a bit apprehensive about this, as the length of HMWYRS was not listed anywhere. Previous 12” mixes have been the same as the 7”, bar the US/Canada ‘Disco Version’ which comes in at around 5m 30s, so I didn’t want to spend £20 and feel short changed. However, happy to report this clocks in at 5m 20s. My copy is perfect physically and the sound quality is excellent.
ottomanmusick Nov 25, 2020
referencing Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick (7", 45 RPM, Single) BUY 38

My copy is even groovier on 33 rpm +8.

I present now for you, the great lyrics:

In the deserts of Sudan
And the gardens of Japan
From Milan to Yucatan
Every woman, every man
Hit me with your rhythm stick.
Hit me! Hit me!
Je t'adore, ich liebe dich,
Hit me! hit me! hit me!
Hit me with your rhythm stick.
Hit me slowly, hit me quick.
Hit me! Hit me! Hit me!
In the wilds of Borneo
And the vineyards of Bordeaux
Eskimo, Arapaho
Move their body to and fro.
Hit me with your rhythm stick.
Hit me! Hit me!
Das ist gut! C'est fantastique!
Hit me! hit me! hit me!
Hit me with your rhythm stick.
It's nice to be a lunatic.
Hit me! Hit me! Hit me!
Hit me! Hit me! Hit me!
In the dock of Tiger Bay
On the road to Mandalay
From Bombay to Santa Fe
Over hills and far away
Hit me with your rhythm stick.
Hit me! Hit me!
C'est si bon, mm? Ist es nicht?
Hit me! hit me! hit me!
Hit me with your rhythm stick.
Two fat persons, click, click, click.
Hit me! Hit me! Hit me!
Hit me! Hit me! Hit me!
Hit me!
Hit me!
Hit me! Ow!
Hit me!
Hit me!
Hit me! hit me!
JamboLinnman Sep 12, 2020
referencing Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick (12", 45 RPM) 12 BUY 38

There were some really great sounding 12” singles produced in the 80s and this is a prime example... superb sound quality.

Two tremendous tracks. Ian Dury’s music was much more sophisticated and musical that the majority of what came out of the punk / new wave era. Oh and I often physically laugh out loud at some of his lyrics... the B side is one of those songs... :-)