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Billy Bragg

Billy Bragg's Genre:

College Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock, British Folk, Alternative Folk, Folk

Biography

Finding inspiration in the righteous anger of punk rock and the socially conscious folk tradition of Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan, Billy Bragg was the leading figure of the anti-folk movement of the '80s. For most of the decade, Bragg bashed out songs alone on his electric guitar, singing about politics and love. While his lyrics were bitingly intelligent and clever, they were also warm and humane, filled with detail and wit. Even though his lyrics were carefully considered, Bragg never neglected to write melodies for songs that were strong and memorable. Throughout the '80s, he managed to chart consistently in Britain, yet he only gathered a cult following in America, which could be due to the fact that he sang about distinctly British subject matter, both politically and socially.

Bragg began performing in the late '70s with the punk group Riff Raff, which lasted only a matter of months. He then joined the British Army, yet he quickly bought himself out of his sojourn with 175 pounds. After leaving the Army, he began working at a record store; while he was working, he was writing songs that were firmly in the folk and punk protest tradition. Bragg began a British tour, playing whenever he had the chance to perform. Frequently he would open for bands with only a moment's notice; soon, he had built a sizable following, as evidenced by his first EP, Life's a Riot with Spy vs. Spy (1983), hitting number 30 on the U.K. independent charts. Brewing Up with Billy Bragg (1984), his first full-length album, climbed to number 16 in the charts.

During 1984, Bragg became a minor celebrity in Britain, as he appeared 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. In 1985, Kirsty MacColl took one of his songs, "New England," to number seven on the British singles chart. Featuring some subtle instrumental additions of piano and horns, 1986's Talking with the Taxman About Poetry reached the U.K. Top Ten.

Bragg's version of the Beatles' "She's Leaving Home," taken from the Sgt. Pepper Knew My Father tribute album, became his only number one single in 1988 -- as the double A-side with Wet Wet Wet's "With a Little Help from My Friends." That year, he also released the EP Help Save the Youth of America and the full-length Workers Playtime, which was produced by Joe Boyd (Fairport Convention, Nick Drake, R.E.M.). Boyd helped expand Bragg's sound, as the singer recorded with a full band for the first time. The following year, Bragg restarted the Utility record label as a way of featuring non-commercial new artists. The Internationale, released in 1990, was a collection of left-wing anthems, including a handful of Bragg originals. On 1991's Don't Try This at Home, he again worked with a full band, recording his most pop-oriented and accessible set of songs; the album featured the hit single, "Sexuality." Bragg took several years off after Don't Try This at Home, choosing to concentrate on fatherhood. He returned in 1996 with William Bloke.

In 1998, he teamed with the American alternative country band Wilco to record Mermaid Avenue, a collection of performances based on unreleased songs originally written by Woody Guthrie. Reaching to the Converted, a collection of rarities, followed a year later, and in mid-2000 Bragg and Wilco reunited for a second Mermaid Avenue set. While touring in support of Mermaid Avenue, Vol. 2, Bragg formed the Blokes in 1999 with Small Faces keyboardist Ian McLagan. Lu Edmonds (guitar), Ben Mandelson (lap steel guitar), Martyn Barker (drums), and Simon Edwards (bass) solidified the group while Bragg moved from London to rural Dorset in early 2001. One year later, the Blokes joined Bragg for England, Half English, his first solo effort since William Bloke.

In 2004, Bragg collaborated with Less Than Jake for "The Brightest Bulb Has Burned Out," a track included on the Rock Against Bush, Vol. 1 compilation. The two-CD Must I Paint You a Picture? The Essential Billy Bragg appeared in 2003 with initial copies featuring a third bonus CD of collectibles and rarities. The Yep Roc label released the box set Volume 1 in 2006. The set included seven CDs and two DVDs of previously unavailable live footage, and the label simultaneously reissued four titles from Bragg's early back catalog in expanded editions. Billy Bragg spent the next year recording in London, Devon, and Lincolnshire, and 2008 saw the release of Mr. Love & Justice, his first solo effort in six years. Although the Blokes served as Bragg's backing band on the album, a limited-edition package also included a second disc comprised of intimate solo recordings. The barebones Woody Guthrie-inspired Tooth & Nail arrived in early 2013. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

AOL Radio Stations Billy Bragg is Featured on (19)

Play Ball!

Welcome to Slacker's salute to America's Pastime. The biggest baseball fanatics from Slacker's team of music curators conspired to make a station that features the best songs about the tradition and lore of baseball. Smell the popcorn and fresh-cut grass--this is Play Ball!

Alt. Country

Alt. Country on Slacker Radio walks the crossroads where country and rock meet. Country fans looking for great music off the mainstream path and rock fans who can handle some twang and the cry of a steel guitar should feel at home. You'll hear everything from the original outlaws like Hank Williams and Johnny Cash through the 70's revival of the Flying Burrito Brothers and John Prine, right up to the current torchbearers including Lucero and the Drive-By Truckers."

Matt Costa Showcase

This is the Matt Costa Artist Showcase station on Slacker Radio. Tune in to hear music hand-picked by Matt as well as commentary about the songs that influenced his music and his life.

St. Patricks Day

Hosted by members of the legendary celtic rock band Flogging Molly, this station is Slacker’s perfect soundtrack for your St. Paddy’s Day celebrations. Hundreds of hand-selected tracks are accompanied by exclusive commentary from the band. You’ll hear tracks from artists like Sharon Shannon, Christy Moore, The Dubliners and Dropkick Murphys.

Forecastle 2012

In a sea of change, the Forecastle Festival is a port-of-call where the world gathers to experience the best in Music, Art, and Activism. A celebration of sights, sounds, and sustainability, Forecastle connects travelers North, South, East, and West. Forecastle 2012 on Slacker Radio plays music from the artists playing this year’s 10th Anniversary Festival including today’s biggest stars and the hottest up-and-coming Indie and Electronic acts taking the stage in Louisville, KY from July 13-15, 2012.

The Silent Comedy Showcase

This is The Silent Comedy Artist Showcase station on Slacker. Tune in to hear a station built entirely by the band including music hand-picked by Joshua, Jeremiah, Justin and Chad as well as commentary by each about the songs that influenced their music and life.

Americana

It’s time to hit the country back roads with Americana on Slacker Radio. Travel through the prairies, swamps, dance halls and pubs to discover rock that twangs, country, folk, and bluegrass. Americana features all of the greats of the genre including Gram Parsons and The Byrds, Lyle Lovett, Ryan Adams, Lucinda Williams and more.

The White Buffalo Showcase

This is The White Buffalo Showcase station on Slacker Radio. Tune in to hear a station built entirely by The White Buffalo including music that he hand-picked as well as commentary about the songs that influenced his music and his life.

Jimmy Eat World Showcase

This is the Jimmy Eat World Artist Showcase station. Tune in to hear a station built entirely by the band members of Jimmy Eat World including music hand-picked by Jim, Zach, Rick and Tom as well as commentary by each about the songs that influenced their music and their lives. Jimmy Eat World’s sixth studio album "Invented" is available in stores and digitally now. The album marks the reunion of the band and producer Mark Trombino who served as producer on the band’s two biggest selling albums "Clarity" and "Bleed American."

Hot Water Music Showcase

This is the Hot Water Music Artist Showcase station on Slacker Radio. Tune in to hear a station built entirely by the band including music hand-picked by Chuck, Chris, Jason and George as well as commentary about the songs that influenced their music and their lives.

The Parlotones Showcase

This is The Parlotones Showcase station on Slacker Radio. Tune in to hear a station built entirely by the members of The Parlotones including music hand-picked by the Kahn, Neil, Glenn and Paul as well as commentary by each about the songs that influenced their music and their lives.

Hangout Music Fest 2012

The Hangout Music Festival is the first and only festival of its kind. Located directly on white sandy beaches of Gulf Shores, Alabama and surrounded by palm trees, the Festival treats guests to a unique festival experience and consistently features a diverse selection of top touring artists. Hangout Music Fest Radio on Slacker features all of the artists performing at the festival from mega-acts like Dave Matthews Band, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Jack White to diverse indie favorites including Flogging Molly, M. Ward, Young The Giant and Delta Spirit.

The Current

The Current brings you the best authentic new music alongside the music that inspired it, from unique to universal, indie to influential, new to nostalgic. Broadcasting from the musical hotbed that is Minnesota, listen to The Current and you’ll see why we say, “Great Music Lives Here.” Find playlist, interviews and more at thecurrent.org.

Adult Alternative

Adult Alternative on Slacker has all the good stuff without the angst-ridden teens and their complicated haircuts. You’ll hear cutting-edge artists like Gotye, The Lumineers, and The Head & The Heart as well as established artists like Dave Matthews, Arcade Fire, U2, R.E.M., the Black Keys, and Talking Heads. If you’ve graduated from keg stands to craft beer, this is the soundtrack to your next party.

Folk

Slacker Radio's Folk station harkens back to the glory days of the folk revival with artists like Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell. In this mix, you'll also find elements of contemporary songwriters, roots music, old standards, folk-rock and Celtic. Folk Radio on Slacker features the best in traditional and contemporary acoustic music with a roots sensibility.

'80s Alternative

If you remember skinny ties, shrink-to-fit jeans and Molly Ringwald then '80s Alternative on Slacker Radio is for you. The '80s saw the birth of "Modern-Rock" and bands like Duran Duran, The Cure and R.E.M. were producing their best work. You’ll hear your favorite hits, deep cuts and one-hit wonders only on ‘80s Alternative.

Eclectic Rock

Eclectic Rock on Slacker Radio showcases music from across the spectrum of smart and sophisticated songwriting. Whether you seek to be inspired by the classics or discover promising new artists, Eclectic Rock offers the best of both worlds.

'90s Alternative

90's Alternative on Slacker Radio highlights one of the most profound decades of Alternative Music. You'll hear the powerhouse artists of the Seattle grunge movement including Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains, Soundgarden and the Screaming Trees. You'll also get a heaping helping of non-Northwest classics like Stone Temple Pilots, The Smashing Pumpkins and Sublime as well as recalling the Punk resurgence with classics like Green Day's "Dookie" or the Offspring's "Smash" and the offbeat sounds of The Flaming Lips, Beck and Cake.

Billy Bragg

This station plays the best music from and music from related artists like Elvis Costello, The Pogues, The Smiths, The Replacements, The Waterboys, R.E.M., XTC, Wilco, The Clash, Morrissey and more.

All Stations

Billy Bragg's Selected Discography (35)

Mr. Love & Justice [Deluxe Edition]

2008 Billy Bragg, Under Exclusive License To Anti, Inc.200824 Songs

Mermaid Avenue, Vol. 2

William Bloke

2006 Rhino Entertainment Co.199611 Songs

Workers Playtime

2006 Rhino Entertainment Co.198811 Songs

You Woke up My Neighbourhood [Import]

2006 Rhino Entertainment Co.19915 Songs

Mermaid Avenue, Vol. 3

2012 Nonesuch RecordsDIGITAL201217 Songs

Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key

2006 Rhino Entertainment Co.SINGLE19983 Songs

Mermaid Avenue: The Complete Sessions

2012 Nonesuch RecordsCOMPILATION201249 Songs

Must I Paint You a Picture?: The Essential Billy Bragg

2006 Rhino Entertainment Co.COMPILATION200350 Songs

Reaching to the Converted

2006 Rhino Entertainment Co.COMPILATION199917 Songs

Back to Basics

2006 Rhino Entertainment Co.COMPILATION198721 Songs

The Internationale

2006 Rhino Entertainment Co.EP7 Songs

Help Save the Youth of America EP: Live and Dubious

2006 Rhino Entertainment Co.EP19886 Songs

Don't Try This at Home [Bonus Disc]

2006 Elektra Entertaiment Group200630 Songs

William Bloke [Bonus Disc]

2006 Elektra Entertainment Group200622 Songs

Workers Playtime [Bonus CD]

2006 Elektra Entertainmen200622 Songs

Brewing Up with Billy Bragg [Bonus Disc]

2006 Elektra200622 Songs

Talking with the Taxman About Poetry

2006 Rhino Entertainment Co.198612 Songs

Talking with the Taxman About Poetry [Bonus Disc]

2006 Elektra200622 Songs

Don't Try This at Home

2006 Rhino Entertainment Co.199116 Songs

2006 Reissue Sampler Vol. 2

16 Songs

The Internationale/Live and Dubious

2006 Elektra200636 Songs

I Keep Faith

2008 Billy Bragg, Under Exclusive License To Anti, Inc.DIGITAL20123 Songs

Life's a Riot with Spy vs Spy

2006 Outside MusicEP19837 Songs

Life's a Riot with Spy vs Spy [Bonus Disc]

2006 Billy Bragg/Yep Roc Records200618 Songs

Tooth & Nail

201312 Songs

Talking with the Taxman About Poetry [Japan Bonus Tracks]

200722 Songs

Internationale

200619 Songs

Brewing Up with Billy Bragg

199611 Songs

Goes to Moscow & Norton Virginia

199121 Songs

Life's a Riot

DIGITAL200611 Songs

No One Knows Nothing Anymore

DIGITAL20132 Songs

Bloke on Bloke

EP19977 Songs

You Woke Up My Neighbourhood

EP19915 Songs

Between the Wars

EP198511 Songs

All Albums

Artists Related to Billy Bragg (50)

	Elvis Costello	When Elvis Costello's first record was released in 1977, his bristling cynicism and anger linked him with the punk and new wave explosion.
	The Pogues	By demonstrating that the spirit of punk could live in traditional Irish folk music, the Pogues were one of the most radical bands of the mid-'80s.
	The Smiths	The Smiths were the definitive British indie rock band of the '80s, marking the end of synth-driven new wave and the beginning of the guitar rock that dominated English rock into the '90s.
	The Replacements	The Replacements initially formed in 1979, when Paul Westerberg joined a garage punk band formed by brothers Bob (guitar) and Tommy Stinson (bass) and drummer Chris Mars.
	The Waterboys	Led by the literate singer/songwriter Mike Scott, the group's sole constant member, the mercurial Waterboys formed in London in 1981.
	R.E.M.	R.E.M. marked the point when post-punk turned into alternative rock. When their first single, "Radio Free Europe," was released in 1981, it sparked a back-to-the-garage movement in the American underground.
	XTC	XTC was one of the smartest -- and catchiest -- British pop bands to emerge from the punk and new wave explosion of the late '70s.
	Wilco	Wilco rose from the ashes of the seminal roots rock band Uncle Tupelo, which disbanded in 1994. While Jay Farrar, one of the group's two singer/songwriters, went on to form Son Volt, his ex-partner Jeff Tweedy established Wilco along with the remaining members of Tupelo's final incarnation, which included drummer Ken Coomer as well as part-time bandmates John Stirratt (bass) and Max Johnston (mandolin, banjo, fiddle, and lap steel).
	The Clash	The Sex Pistols may have been the first British punk rock band, but the Clash were the definitive British punk rockers.
	Morrissey	As the lead singer of the Smiths, arguably the most important indie band in Britain during the '80s, Morrissey's theatrical crooning and literate, poetic lyrics -- filled with romantic angst, social alienation, and cutting wit -- connected powerfully with a legion of similarly sensitive, disaffected youth.
	Son Volt	After touring in support of their 1993 masterpiece, Anodyne, the seminal alternative country band Uncle Tupelo split up over long-simmering creative differences between co-leaders Jay Farrar and Jeff Tweedy.
	Uncle Tupelo	With the release of their 1990 debut LP, No Depression, the Belleville, IL, trio Uncle Tupelo launched more than simply their own career -- by fusing the simplicity and honesty of country music with the bracing fury of punk, they kick-started a revolution which reverberated throughout the American underground.
	Robyn Hitchcock	Robyn Hitchcock is one of England's most enduring contemporary singer/songwriters and live performers.
	Pixies	Combining jagged, roaring guitars and stop-start dynamics with melodic pop hooks, intertwining male-female harmonies and evocative, cryptic lyrics, the Pixies were one of the most influential American alternative rock bands of the late '80s.
	Lucinda Williams	The object of cultish adoration for years, singer/songwriter Lucinda Williams was universally hailed as a major talent by both critics and fellow musicians, but it took quite some time for her to parlay that respect into a measure of attention from the general public.
	Echo & The Bunnymen	Echo & the Bunnymen's dark, swirling fusion of gloomy post-punk and Doors-inspired psychedelia brought the group a handful of British hits in the early '80s, while attracting a cult following in the United States.
	The Jam	The Jam were the most popular band to emerge from the initial wave of British punk rock in 1977; along with the Sex Pistols, the Clash, and the Buzzcocks, the Jam had the most impact on pop music.
	Camper Van Beethoven	Back in the day, before alternative rock was invented and indie rock was still shy of roots music and other folk elements, Camper Van Beethoven's merging of punk, folk, ska, and world music was truly a revelation.
	The Cure	Out of all the bands that emerged in the immediate aftermath of punk rock in the late '70s, few were as enduring and popular as the Cure.
	The Jayhawks	Led by the gifted songwriting, impeccable playing, and honeyed harmonies of vocalists/guitarists Mark Olson and Gary Louris, the Jayhawks' shimmering blend of country, folk, and bar band rock made them one of the most widely acclaimed artists to emerge from the alternative country scene.
	Bob Mould	Guitarist/singer/songwriter Bob Mould was initially a member of Hüsker Dü, one of the most influential American bands of the '80s.
	Ryan Adams	Mixing the heartfelt angst of a singer/songwriter with the cocky brashness of a garage rocker, Ryan Adams is at once one of the few artists to emerge from the alt-country scene to achieve mainstream commercial success and the one who most strongly refused to be defined by the genre, leaping from one spot to another stylistically while following his increasingly prolific muse.
	Lloyd Cole	Through both his lauded work fronting the Commotions and his more eclectic solo efforts, Lloyd Cole established himself as one of the most articulate and acute songwriters of the post-punk era.
	Violent Femmes	The textbook American cult band of the 1980s, the Violent Femmes captured the essence of teen angst with remarkable precision; raw and jittery, the trio's music found little commercial success but nonetheless emerged as the soundtrack for the lives of troubled adolescents the world over.
	Talking Heads	At the start of their career, Talking Heads were all nervous energy, detached emotion, and subdued minimalism.
	Aztec Camera	For most intents and purposes, Aztec Camera is Roddy Frame, a Scottish guitarist/vocalist/songwriter.
	The Housemartins	One of Britain's more popular indie guitar pop groups of the late '80s, the Housemartins' post-Smiths guitar jangle and subtle updating of catchy, melodic British beat groups earned the Hull-based quartet a substantial critical and popular following within the U.
	Michelle Shocked	Michelle Shocked was born Michelle Johnston in Dallas, TX, in 1962, where she spent her early childhood traveling around army bases.
	Matthew Sweet	After spending the '80s as an unappreciated jangle pop guitarist with Oh-OK and Lloyd Cole, as well as a solo artist, Matthew Sweet emerged in 1991 as the leading figure of the American power pop revival.
	The Stone Roses	Meshing '60s-styled guitar pop with an understated '80s dance beat, the Stone Roses defined the British guitar pop scene of the late '80s and early '90s.
	Sinéad O'Connor	Sinéad O'Connor ranked among the most distinctive and controversial pop music stars of the 1990s, the first and in many ways the most influential of the numerous female performers whose music dominated airwaves throughout the decade.
	Hüsker Dü	Hüsker Dü and R.E.M. were the two American post-punk bands of the '80s that changed the direction of rock & roll.
	10,000 Maniacs	10,000 Maniacs (named after the low-budget horror movie 2,000 Maniacs) was formed in Jamestown, New York, in 1981 by singer Natalie Merchant and guitarist John Lombardo.
	U2	Through a combination of zealous righteousness and post-punk experimentalism, U2 became one of the most popular rock & roll bands of the '80s.
	The Jesus and Mary Chain	Like the Velvet Underground, their most obvious influence, the chart success of the Jesus and Mary Chain was virtually nonexistent, but their artistic impact was incalculable; quite simply, the British group made the world safe for white noise, orchestrating a sound dense in squalling feedback which served as an inspiration to everyone from My Bloody Valentine to Dinosaur Jr.
	James	As one of the first groups to be dubbed "the next Smiths," James became an institution on the British alternative music scene during the '80s and '90s with their pleasant folk-pop.
	Squeeze	As one of the most traditional pop bands of the new wave, Squeeze provided one of the links between classic British guitar pop and post-punk.
	The Church	One of the most successful and enduring Australian bands of the post-punk era, the Church began their career with music that paid explicit homage to psychedelia and 1960s folk rock, and with the passage of time they refined their own unique sound, fusing pop, art rock, progressive rock, and other flavors.
	The Sundays	Building on the jangly guitar pop of the Smiths and the trance-like dream pop of bands like the Cocteau Twins, the Sundays cultivated a dedicated following in indie rock circles, both in their native England and in America, in the early '90s.
	The The	The The was the guise of Matt Johnson, a mercurial singer/songwriter whose music ran the gamut from dance-pop to country.
	The English Beat	One of the earliest and most important ska revivalist groups, Birmingham's the Beat formed in 1978 (the band had to change its name to the English Beat in the U.
	They Might Be Giants	Combining a knack for infectious melodies with a quirky, bizarre sense of humor and a vaguely avant-garde aesthetic borrowed from the New York post-punk underground, They Might Be Giants became one of the most unlikely alternative success stories of the late '80s and early '90s.
	The Psychedelic Furs	The Psychedelic Furs, whose name was inspired by the 1966 Velvet Underground song "Venus in Furs," were formed in England in 1977 by brothers Richard Butler (vocals) and Tim Butler (bass), along with saxophone player Duncan Kilburn and guitarist Roger Morris.
	New Order	Rising from the ashes of the legendary British post-punk unit Joy Division, the enigmatic New Order triumphed over tragedy to emerge as one of the most influential and acclaimed bands of the 1980s; embracing the electronic textures and disco rhythms of the underground club culture many years in advance of its contemporaries, the group's pioneering fusion of new wave aesthetics and dance music successfully bridged the gap between the two worlds, creating a distinctively thoughtful and oblique brand of synth pop appealing equally to the mind, body, and soul.
	Whiskeytown	A band with as turbulent an existence as Whiskeytown was bound to implode sooner or later, but by the time they did, they had one of the largest cult followings of any alt-country band.
	Old 97's	Although they became one of the most enduring bands in the alternative country-rock catalog, Old 97's drew inspiration from a broad range of genres, including the twangy stomp of cowpunk and the melodies of power pop.
	Tom Waits	In the 1970s, Tom Waits combined a lyrical focus on desperate, low-life characters with a persona that seemed to embody the same lifestyle, which he sang about in a raspy, gravelly voice.
	Joe Jackson	In his 1999 memoir, A Cure for Gravity: A Musical Pilgrimage, Joe Jackson writes approvingly of George Gershwin as a musician who kept one foot in the popular and one in the classical realms of music.
	Bob Dylan	Bob Dylan's influence on popular music is incalculable. As a songwriter, he pioneered several different schools of pop songwriting, from confessional singer/songwriter to winding, hallucinatory, stream-of-consciousness narratives.
	Lyle Lovett	Lyle Lovett was one of the most distinctive and original singer/songwriters to emerge during the '80s.

All Related Artists

Top Songs by Billy Bragg (50)

California Stars

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