LEFT OFF THE DIAL - Billy Bragg

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BILLY BRAGG

Billy Bragg, the critically acclaimed and socially conscious British singer-songwriter, has managed to firmly establish himself in the international music scene after coming to prominence in Britain in 1983. Bragg was a teenager when punk first emerged in Britain, with the likes of the Clash and the Sex Pistols. Bragg decided to contribute to the punk scene with the formation of the short-lived punk outfit called Riff Raff. Following Riff Raffs split, Bragg joined the British Army for a short period of time. After leaving the army, he got a job in a record store. While he was working, he was writing songs, which reflected the punk protest tradition and his new-found love of politically-inspired folk music. Shortly thereafter, he launched a solo career singing about politics and love, but unlike every other singer-songwriter around, Bragg chose to play electric guitar, not acoustic, giving his music an edgy, instantly recognizable sound. His songs were full of wit, anger, and social and political insight, and he soon became known as a versatile songwriter.
Bragg began playing whenever the chance arose; opening for bands with only a moments notice. He was slowly building a sizable following, and his first Album Life's A Riot With Spy Vs Spy reached number 30 in the UK charts in 1983. The second album Brewing Up With Billy Bragg was an even greater success, and that along with the Between The Wars EP and his much publicized left-wing stance, gained him much-deserved recognition. 1984 saw a huge amount of political activity in Britain amidst an atmosphere of industrial unrest. It was during this time that Bragg became a minor celebrity in Britain, as he became a fixture at leftist political rallies, strikes, and benefits across the country; he also helped form the 'Red Wedge,' a socialist musicians collective that also featured Paul Weller. Braggs 1986 album release, Talking to the Taxman about Poetry, hit the UK top ten. In 1988 Bragg worked with cult producer Joe Boyd who encouraged him to bring in a full band for the first time on the album Workers Playtime. The Internationale, his most political work to date, released in 1990 was a collection of left-wing anthems.

By the end of the 80s Bragg was one of Britain best know musicians, but only managed to gather a cult following in America, which could be explained by the fact that he sang about distinctly British subject matters. In an attempt to break the American charts, Bragg released Dont Try This at Home in 1991. It was a success; the single Sexuality became Braggs biggest hit of the decade. Bragg spent much of the next few years away from music, choosing instead to be with his family.
Bragg returned in 1996 with William Bloke, a wit-laden album, which Bragg described as "dealing with the compromise people face as their youthful idealism fades". What followed next was a truly amazing project. Woody Guthrie was the dean of American folk artists. At the time of his death in 1967, Guthrie had left behind more than 2000 unfinished songs and lyrics. Guthries daughter decided that Bragg was the perfect candidate to set new music to the unrecorded lyrics. Bragg collaborated with Wilco on the project. The result was the extraordinary, critically acclaimed Mermaid Avenue.
Reaching to the Converted (a collection of rarities) was released in 1999 and this was followed in 2000 by a renewed collaboration with Wilco on Mermaid Avenue Volume II, another album of unheard Woody Guthrie material. Since then, Bragg has been working on his latest album England, Half English with his band, The Blokes. This has just been released (March 2002) and Billy Bragg and The Blokes have just embarked on a UK and US tour (see dates below).

DISCOGRAPHY:

Life's a Riot With Spy Vs Spy	1983	Utility/Charisma
Brewing Up With Billy Bragg *	1984	Go! Discs
Between The Wars (EP)	1985	Go! Discs
Talking With The Taxman About Poetry *	1986	Go! Discs
Back To Basics (Compilation) *	1987	Go! Discs
The Peel Sessions	1987	Strange Fruit
Workers Playtime *	1988	Go! Discs
The Internationale	1990	Utility
Don't Try This At Home *	1991	Go! Discs
The Peel Sessions Album	1991	Strange Fruit
Victim of Geography (Compilation)	1993	Cooking Vinyl
No Pop, No Style, Strictly Roots	1995	(Mail order only)
William Bloke	1996	Cooking Vinyl
Life's A Riot Between The Wars (Compilation)	1996	Cooking Vinyl
Mermaid Avenue (w/ Wilco)	1998	Elektra
Mermaid Avenue Tour	1999	(Mail order only)
Reaching To The Converted	1999	Cooking Vinyl
Mermaid Avenue Volume II (w/ Wilco)	2000	Elektra
England, Half English	2002	Cooking Vinyl (UK) Elektra (US)