Billy Bragg started this blog.
Well, not him personally but my first upload, nigh-on four years ago, was Bragg's criminally out-of-print BBC Sessions and I seem to return to Bragg's rough-hewn folk-punk n' whatnot sound every year - like some sorta concussed migratory bird. After all, once I began talking about British agit-punk of the eighties like The Redskins (more HERE) and The Neurotics (more HERE) I knew more Bragg was coming.
I'm not gonna tell you I knew who Bragg was in 1983 (though I did try to translate an article from a French magazine about him in 1985). It wasn't all the way until 1988 when the now out-of-pint compilation Back-to-Basics so devastated me. Hard-strumming, sing-along folk was the soundtrack of my childhood whereas clashing, shout-along punk rock got me though my adolescence. Now one man had had found the essence of each and spliced the two divergent strains of Anglo-American music together. Bragg's solo electric style is singular one and, while influential on a whole new generation of folk-punks, is rarely attempted by others.
This real early bootleg is raw-as-hell and contains the rare song "Voice in the Wilderness". Supposedly there is a longer version available but this seven track version is all I can offer (unless some milkman of human kindness out there has an upgrade for us!)
MRML readers: What did you make of this early Bragg stuff when you first heard it? Let us know in the COMMENTS (which is where you'll find the Live at the Key Theatre link).
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http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?bh7jsp0qftom5r5
Seen him loads of times,always a good show... And a genuinley nice guy also .
ReplyDeleteTotally agree with Simon K. A few of us used to go to Billy's folk-punk club at a place called the Captain's Cabin back in early '84. It was every Sunday night in a fairly small room above a pub in Piccadilly. Saw some great sets by the man himself (sometimes accompanied by Wiggy), including him busking the queue before trotting off down the Strand to support the Smiths at the Lyceum. Also saw (Wreckless) Eric Goulden, Justin Sullivan, Joolz, Patrik Fitzgerald and (as they say) many more... In fact if someone could put me on to any recordings by a band called the Blues Rebel Rockers, or Rebel Blues Rockers, or something like that, I'd love to hear them again. I remember them doing some great rockabilly including something called "Shakespeare Rock" where the (very) small singer stood on a box and spouted bits of the bard over a cool rockin' beat! Great nights.
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard this yet but I've loved his music for years.
ReplyDeleteNever seen him as my wife's isn't keen on him.
Thanx for this.
i'm still a new fan of the guy, but everything i hear from him (generally speaking, it's all been in reverse chronological order) i absolutely love. i can only imagine that the early stuff i'll really really love. thanks for posting this.
ReplyDeleteit would seem that the world of sometimes-darker-than-grey-area music/mp3 blogs was built for sharing out of print bootlegs records like this.
or records like this were built for blogs like this one.
it's a fine distinction, but worth making.
Have you heard of the CD 'Love, Billy, by Discount?
ReplyDeleteIt's a US band who covered some Billy Bragg stuff for a mini album.
Memners went on to be in The Kills/Dead Weather.
If you havn't got it I'll up it on mediafire for you.
I lik ehis love gone wrong songs much more than the political ones so Victimn of Geography wins out every time
ReplyDeleteMemories come flooding back asi was at that Key Theatre gig - we were in the 5th form and nobody ever came to Peterborough but I thikn he had ben on the tube and a few people had the debut lp so a load of us went along
Love Billy Bragg. Love love love him. I first heard him when Talking With the Taxman came out and I saw the video for "Levi Stubbs' Tears". Instantly liked it which was odd given that I was a little "loud and fast rules" hardcore kid. I've only gotten to see him a few times but every time he's great. Thanks for putting this up.
ReplyDeleteThanks
ReplyDeleterei remember first buying billy bragg singles at peter dunn's shop when i'd come into toronto while in high school. dunn went weird later on, but even back in the early 80s he behaved oddly. this was to the benefit of anyone who had the patience to weed through his junkpiles to snag the occasional gem - which is where i found billy bragg and a lot of other uk imports on stiff, rough trade and cherry red. dunn or the staff would price these at 99 cents, and i hauled away all i could afford.
ReplyDeleteafter that, back to basics was the first longplayer i found, and although my vinyl is long gone, i replaced it on cd and it's a brilliant way to introduce people to billy bragg. i think 'strange things happen' made it onto more mixed tapes than any song not performed by nomeansno back then.
thanks for all this, it's great reimmersing myself in his sound from the era.
thanks for this early bragg show!
ReplyDelete"Have you heard of the CD 'Love, Billy, by Discount?"
i remember billy refusing to sign it!
Simon
ReplyDeleteI`ve only seen him a few times but it`s always interesting!
SB
Wow all the artists on that list are amazing - that must`ve been a hell of a place!
barrie
I don;t suspect my Wife`s big on Billy either.
VBJ
You`re on a journey of discovery - enjoy all the early Bragg you can!
It`s
I`d heard the discount but never made the connection between her and DW - I`ll have to listen to that e.p. again!
FORW
Man what a great time to have seen the man at!
DG
I think lots of loud fast hardcore kids liked Billy - there was a connection there.
lemonflag
You`re welcome (and thanks for always dropping a word or two!)
Postbear
peter dunn's sound a little like Red River Books here - lots crap but some real gems in hiding.
Anon
`i remember billy refusing to sign it!
Thats funny!
Great stuff Jeffen!
ReplyDeleteI picked up Back to Basics on CD just before starting university. If it'd have been vinyl I would have worn it out.