One of the Greatest Living Englishmen is sadly living no more: George Melly died last week. Jazz singer, author, critic, art expert and, above all, larger than life character of the sort they just don’t make any more. I only saw him live the once at one of his traditional Ronnie Scott’s Xmas shows and he was wonderful.

“Old Codger” is a bawdy number he recorded with The Stranglers that came on a free EP included with their 1978 “Black and White” album. It may seem an odd pairing but George was a punk long before there was such a thing as “punk” — and he was a smutty old bugger too.

Download: Old Codger – George Melly & The Stranglers (mp3)
Read: “Owning Up” (book)
Read (if you can find a copy): “Revolt Into Style” (book)