He's been called a modern day electric Woody Guthrie, a wonderful compliment. Bragg was the leader of a five piece band called Riff Raff that issued some singles and e.p.'s They even opened for the Stranglers in 1982. That year Bragg decided to go it alone entering contests with just his guitar and pitting himself against full bands. He must have impressed a few record executives because he got a contract and released Life's a Riot with Spy vs Spy in 1983 and his career took off. I remember Paul Weller rocking out some Jam songs on just his electric guitar and Bragg does the same here. He is a champion of the working class and also writes tender love lyrics, and his songs reflecting these sentiments are beautifully rendered. Sometimes it's reassuring to know there are certain people in this world. Like Ian MacKaye. Like Billy Bragg.
Hello, mate! You're always more than welcome. Best regards and greetings from Sweden. I'm fine, thanks. Getting old, but I don't mind. 54 now... How are you then?
Thank you so much John Peel for bringing Billy to his wider audience. Really enjoying hearing this again. Love the simplicity and clarity of it. Memories of receiving a Christmas card from Billy in 1984. So cool :) thank you :)
I was working for Huxter Acoustics back then and we did the sound for Billy at the SU bar in Ruskin College in Oxford, it was around this time may be slightly earlier in the year, he was really really good, just billy and he bare wood Les Paul Junior no amp straight into the mixer, I really loved it and raved about it for ages and was really impressed when "Life's a Riot" was released
I remember buying the Spy Vs spy EP when it came out. I was 13 and amongst the pop of the time it seemed like a breath of fresh air to say the least. Not really followed him musically, but always got time for the guy, anyone who can write such songs has to be worth listening to.
No song ever sounds the the same - Blessed to have to seen him in Dublin, 2012 or 13 -- can't remember. He did the Whole first album as Encore.... wonderful, meaningful, fast and furious. Forever a Genius.
On a Billy Bragg interview I just heard on WNYC radio here in NYC, there is a new compilation of all his BBC sessions, 1983--2019. And he has also written a new book. Billy just told a interesting story. He was listening to John Peel in 1983 and heard him say on the radio "I would give anything for a mushroom biryani now." Billy ran down to an Indian restaurant and got a biryani and took it to the station. The receptionist called up to John and John came down. Billy said here's your biryani and mentioned that he had dropped off his debut LP for John to hear. John said he was going to play it even if Billy had not brought the biryani . On the radio show Billy also mentioned that his main man is Smokey Robinson. "It's not all Clash," he added. BTW he sang two terrific live songs on the WNYC show as well as the recording A New England from this Peel session.
I was in the Royal Navy when these came when Life's A Riot With Spy V Spy came out and I had a tape of it which I played constantly when my ship (HMS Andromeda) was on patrol in the Gulf. John Peel also did a show for BFBS as well which was played on the ships sound system.
The final guitar note at the end of "Love gets dangerous" is pure Billy Bragg, love it. Without a doubt he has shaped my musical tastes. Thanks for the quality Peel uploads Vibracobra23
Alarmingly it is now so many more, still really brilliant and there are not enough positive platitudes to describe the Big Nosed Bloke of Barking, know that I absolutely love him, love him enough to paraphrase his own words in my admiration ❤❤😂❤❤
lol. i remember buying that. Don't know what happened to it. Didn't it have some cartoons in as well, or am I getting mixed up? - I remember going to a red wedge gig maybe 84, or 85? and Porky was there, he was good; alongside Bragg, Housemartins, Weller, Sid Presley experience. And maybe another one or two. Great night.
ram29jackson If you'd listen to the Highway 61 Revisited and Blonde On Blonde albums..plus the recently released Royal Albert Hall 1966, you would retract your Dylan comment!
no, i wont lol.. i'm 52, I hate most anything 60s, woodstock esque, i appreciate its part in history but the over all stuff i could care less about.. theres more edge to Billy then 60s stuff
@@bennyhillschineseblokechar3689 his peak years, those albums and the live tour are a turning point for rock and roll music. It took me years to find appreciation for what he was doing and how ballsy it was.
I love this guy , not in a gay way ,and have done since New England !! He does get some muck thrown his way for being a rich socialist etc !! But Saturday boy and Love gets dangerous eliminate this . Get your kicks on the A13. ACE.
The right wing leaders and their followers have spread to too many other countries. Appalling and unsettling. The motto of the medical profession is "First, do no harm." I wish that applied to governments, businesses, and individuals.
He's been called a modern day electric Woody Guthrie, a wonderful compliment. Bragg was the leader of a five piece band called Riff Raff that issued some singles and e.p.'s They even opened for the Stranglers in 1982. That year Bragg decided to go it alone entering contests with just his guitar and pitting himself against full bands. He must have impressed a few record executives because he got a contract and released Life's a Riot with Spy vs Spy in 1983 and his career took off. I remember Paul Weller rocking out some Jam songs on just his electric guitar and Bragg does the same here. He is a champion of the working class and also writes tender love lyrics, and his songs reflecting these sentiments are beautifully rendered. Sometimes it's reassuring to know there are certain people in this world. Like Ian MacKaye. Like Billy Bragg.
Great stuff!
The bard of Essex.
+willieluncheonette Riff Raff were great! I bought the EP in the 80's. "I Wanna Be a Cosmonaut". Great songs all of them. "Romford Girls", etc.
Larz Gustafsson thanks for your comment. Larz. Long time no speak. How's it going with you these days?
Hello, mate! You're always more than welcome.
Best regards and greetings from Sweden.
I'm fine, thanks. Getting old, but I don't mind. 54 now...
How are you then?
"A New England" is absolutely brilliant.
Thank you so much John Peel for bringing Billy to his wider audience. Really enjoying hearing this again. Love the simplicity and clarity of it. Memories of receiving a Christmas card from Billy in 1984. So cool :) thank you :)
Merci pour la découverte
🎉🎉
I was working for Huxter Acoustics back then and we did the sound for Billy at the SU bar in Ruskin College in Oxford, it was around this time may be slightly earlier in the year, he was really really good, just billy and he bare wood Les Paul Junior no amp straight into the mixer, I really loved it and raved about it for ages and was really impressed when "Life's a Riot" was released
I remember buying the Spy Vs spy EP when it came out. I was 13 and amongst the pop of the time it seemed like a breath of fresh air to say the least. Not really followed him musically, but always got time for the guy, anyone who can write such songs has to be worth listening to.
No song ever sounds the the same - Blessed to have to seen him in Dublin, 2012 or 13 -- can't remember. He did the Whole first album as Encore.... wonderful, meaningful, fast and furious. Forever a Genius.
So much great and fine pearl of ( early ) eighties, thank you so much for sharing it!
On a Billy Bragg interview I just heard on WNYC radio here in NYC, there is a new compilation of all his BBC sessions, 1983--2019. And he has also written a new book. Billy just told a interesting story. He was listening to John Peel in 1983 and heard him say on the radio "I would give anything for a mushroom biryani now." Billy ran down to an Indian restaurant and got a biryani and took it to the station. The receptionist called up to John and John came down. Billy said here's your biryani and mentioned that he had dropped off his debut LP for John to hear. John said he was going to play it even if Billy had not brought the biryani
. On the radio show Billy also mentioned that his main man is Smokey Robinson. "It's not all Clash," he added. BTW he sang two terrific live songs on the WNYC show as well as the recording A New England from this Peel session.
what a cool bit of history, I love this!
I was in the Royal Navy when these came when Life's A Riot With Spy V Spy came out and I had a tape of it which I played constantly when my ship (HMS Andromeda) was on patrol in the Gulf. John Peel also did a show for BFBS as well which was played on the ships sound system.
The final guitar note at the end of "Love gets dangerous" is pure Billy Bragg, love it. Without a doubt he has shaped my musical tastes. Thanks for the quality Peel uploads Vibracobra23
Love gets dangerous. Classic session. Classic songs.
Er ist immer noch aktuell, nach 30 Jahren. Still love the Texts and the voice
A snapshot of genius!
37 years ago? Really? Still sounds fresh.
Alarmingly it is now so many more, still really brilliant and there are not enough positive platitudes to describe the Big Nosed Bloke of Barking, know that I absolutely love him, love him enough to paraphrase his own words in my admiration ❤❤😂❤❤
Superb. Thankyou for posting .
frantastic
Still got my Billy Bragg songbook with the flexidisk an cartoons by Phil 'Porky the Poet' Jupitus.
lol. i remember buying that. Don't know what happened to it. Didn't it have some cartoons in as well, or am I getting mixed up? - I remember going to a red wedge gig maybe 84, or 85? and Porky was there, he was good; alongside Bragg, Housemartins, Weller, Sid Presley experience. And maybe another one or two. Great night.
God knows i love this Englishman voice !!! :)
Have always loved everything he sings.
I'd forgotten the A13 brilliance... One stop short of Barking.
a classic.nuff said.
strange things happens aways reminds me of my first girlfriend and my first love. Teenage emotions. wonderful.
A New England. Indeed.
Gotta love that John Cale cover
I know his old Riff Raff drummer, we were once in a band together, been a long time since I spoke with Rob actually....
My compass.
Billy EXACTAMUNDO Bragg 🎸🙌
thats not that Peel session out there thank ...
No wishing on space hardware :) Awesome lyrics :) (01:17)
isn't it just.
🤷🏻♀️
❤️
1. A New England (0:07)
I'm going to put it out there: Billy's love songs are better than his political songs.
I hate Bob Dylan... but I like this...
ram29jackson
If you'd listen to the Highway 61 Revisited and Blonde On Blonde albums..plus the recently released Royal Albert Hall 1966, you would retract your Dylan comment!
no, i wont lol.. i'm 52, I hate most anything 60s, woodstock esque, i appreciate its part in history but the over all stuff i could care less about.. theres more edge to Billy then 60s stuff
@@bennyhillschineseblokechar3689 his peak years, those albums and the live tour are a turning point for rock and roll music. It took me years to find appreciation for what he was doing and how ballsy it was.
A-13? LOL
No if it isnt i wanna no wat is ..im 52 aussie
One of best albums ever
Braggy is Jesus.
I love this guy , not in a gay way ,and have done since New England !! He does get some muck thrown his way for being a rich socialist etc !! But Saturday boy and Love gets dangerous eliminate this . Get your kicks on the A13. ACE.
have you heard the tube version
Go motoring. On the A...13
prescient as we approach Brexit and the rise of right wing hate speak
We here in America got that in spades
The right wing leaders and their followers have spread to too many other countries. Appalling and unsettling. The motto of the medical profession is "First, do no harm." I wish that applied to governments, businesses, and individuals.
How’s that Brexit thing going, eh?