29 August 2024

But I never made the first team, I just made the first team laugh

Thursday music corner: The Barking-born English folk-punk singer Billy Bragg came to public attention in 1983 with the release of his debut album Life's a Riot with Spy vs Spy, not long after buying himself out of his contract to serve in the British Army's Royal Armoured Corps. 

He has released 13 studio albums to date, including Mermaid Avenue (1998) and Mermaid Avenue Vol.II (2000) in collaboration with American band Wilco, creating songs using Woody Guthrie lyrics. He has scored seven UK top 40 singles, including the 1988 chart-topping cover of She's Leaving Home recorded with Cara Tivey; three of his early singles also hit the New Zealand top 40.

Brewing Up With Billy Bragg (1984) was his second album, and the first of his to be released on the Go! Disc label. The album reached number 16 in the UK album charts, and number 23 in New Zealand. The wistful album track The Saturday Boy appears as track five, with a trumpet solo by Dave Woodhead.

Billy Bragg - The Saturday Boy (1984)


See also:
Music: Billy Bragg - Levi Stubbs' Tears (1986)
Music: Billy Bragg - Waiting For The Great Leap Forwards (1988)
Music: Billy Bragg & Wilco - Way Over Yonder In A Minor Key (1998)

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