"The Winker's Song (Misprint)", also known as "The Wanker's Song" and "I'm a Wanker",[1][2][3] is a 1978 comedy song written and performed by British musician Doc Cox under the pseudonym of "Ivor Biggun and the Red Nosed Burglars".[4] The song was released as a single by Beggars Banquet Records on 2 September 1978, reaching number 22 on the UK Singles Chart despite not being aired on the radio due to its references to masturbation.[5]
| "The Winker's Song (Misprint)" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Song by Ivor Biggun and the Red Nosed Burglars | |
| from the album The Winker's Album (Misprint) | |
| Published | 1978 |
| Released | 2 September 1978 |
| Genre | |
| Label | Beggars Banquet Records |
| Songwriter(s) | Doc Cox |
History
editDoc Cox signed with the British independent record label Beggars Banquet in 1978.[6] "The Winker's Song" was released as a single later that year; the song's original title was "The Wanker's Song", but this was altered to "The Winker's Song (Misprint)" because of fears that shops would not stock it.[4] The song did not receive airplay on national radio stations, and was banned by the BBC for its subject matter.[7][8][9] However, it received popular attention after Johnny Rotten endorsed it as a "definite buy" in an issue of New Musical Express that he guest edited.[10]
The song entered the UK Singles Chart at number 68, remaining in the charts for twelve weeks.[5] It peaked at number 22 on 1 October 1978,[11] becoming Beggars Banquet's first UK Top 40 hit.[12] It was later released on the album The Winker's Album (Misprint).[13]
Musically, "The Winker's Song" has been compared to the style of George Formby.[14]
The song has continued to be played into modern times; it has been used to clear the dance floor at nightclubs in Ibiza and Brighton.[15][16][17] In the summer of 2017, Mansfield 103.2 FM in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, was subjected to repeated broadcast signal intrusions playing the song.[18]
References
edit- ^ Long, Tony (2016). Lethal Force. Random House. p. 52. ISBN 978-1785034749.
- ^ Raven, Daniel (2010). Made In Brighton: From the grand to the gutter: Modern Britain as seen from beside the sea. Random House. p. 20. ISBN 978-0753535851.
- ^ "The 15 Best Songs That Are Totally About Masturbation". Cracked.com. 2007-05-07. Retrieved 2017-02-03.
- ^ a b Edge Music (2015-05-07). "Alphabetical Archive – Ivor Biggun: 'The Winker's Song' (1978)". Edge.ca. Retrieved 2017-02-03.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b "The Winker's Song (misprint)- full Official Chart History". Officialcharts.com. Archived from the original on 2017-02-04. Retrieved 2017-02-03.
- ^ Thompson, Dave (2002). The Music Lover's Guide to Record Collecting. Backbeat Books. ISBN 1617132020.
- ^ The encyclopedia of popular music: Indexes, Volume 10. Colin Larkin. Oxford University Press, 2006
- ^ ".Banned Recordings". Rocklistmusic.co.uk. 1997-09-13. Retrieved 2017-02-03.
- ^ "The Winker's Song (Misprint) by Ivor Biggun". Songfacts.com. 1978-09-02. Retrieved 2017-02-03.
- ^ "Press Archives". New Musical Express. 1978-07-22. Retrieved 2017-02-03 – via Fodderstompf.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 75". Official Charts Company. 1978-10-01. Retrieved 2017-02-03.
- ^ Hoffman, Frank (2004). Encyclopedia of Recorded Sound. Routledge. p. 177. ISBN 1135949506.
- ^ "Vinyl Album – Ivor Biggun – The Winker's Album (Misprint) – Beggars Banquet – UK". 45worlds.com. Retrieved 2017-02-03.
- ^ Johnson, Howard (2002). X-Rated: The 200 Rudest Records Ever!. Carlton Books Ltd. p. 28. ISBN 1842227491.
- ^ "Fruity Lyrics". Stiff Weapon, Purveyors of the Finest Phonographic Filth from Ivor Biggun. Stiff Weapon. 2011-06-03. Retrieved 2017-04-01.
- ^ "Blackpool Rebellion 5-8 August 2010". TV Smith. Archived from the original on 2017-04-01. Retrieved 2017-04-01.
- ^ Raven, Daniel (2010). Made In Brighton: From the grand to the gutter: Modern Britain as seen from beside the sea. Random House. p. 20. ISBN 978-0753535851.
- ^ Weaver, Matthew (11 July 2017). "Local radio station keeps getting hijacked by song about masturbation". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-05-23.