sentences:  Johnson (real name John Wilkinson) had considered retiring from the music business until he was asked by Davey Payne and Dury, old friends from their pub rock days, to join The Blockheads.The new-line up first appeared on the 'I Want To Be Straight' single, which was released before the album, and reached number 22 in the UK pop charts.Although Ian Dury was becoming harder to work with, the production of "Laughter" had started out as a relaxed affair, without the presence of Jankel and Dury.