Sometimes when I'm browsing through the bits of vinyl in the second-hand or charity stores, I'll come across something that I'll want to but just for the sake of it. This is what happened in the case of the Between The Wars EP released by Billy Bragg back in 1985.I've no reason to but this bit of plastic. I've long been the owner of all four songs on CD and indeed I picked up additional copies when I bought Billy's boxsets a few years back.
But this is a record sleeve and piece of vinyl that takes me back to a time when I was firmly establishing what has become a lifelong interest in politics - an interest that was to lead to some of the best and most happiest years of my working life.
Now I've never been a politician as such in as much as I've never sought any sort of public office. But I've worked alongside loads of them over many years - and I've admired much of what they have achieved, particularly in bringing about change for the good in my home city. I know that with the courage of their convictions they probably could have changed a lot more, but to do so would in all likelihood made many of them unelectable. I much prefer my politicians to be pragmatic than ideological.
One week from today, the electorate of the UK will go to the polls and choose a government for the next four or five years. And for the first time in over a decade, I'm fearful that the choice they collectively take will be the wrong one.
I bought this single as a reminder to myself that the 80s and much of the 90s was a truly horrible time for many people in working-class communities across the UK. And to give me an excuse to ask all of you with any sort of social conscience to cast your vote wisely next Thursday. And by that, I mean do all you can to keep the Tory toff away from Downing Street. He's only interested in his own lot. His talk of change for all is just fucking bollocks.
mp3 : Billy Bragg - Between The Wars
mp3 : Billy Bragg - Which Side Are You On
mp3 : Billy Bragg - World Turned Upside Down
mp3 : Billy Bragg - It Says Here (Different Version)
Thank You for listening.
6 comments:
yeah, you could decide based on what happened in the 80s and vote for the party that have cocked up the UK economy, moved it towards bankruptcy, increased stealth taxes, destroyed pension schemes etc.
Between the Wars had a similar impact on me. He performed it on Top of the Pops and that short moment woke me up to so many things... Songs that say something, live performance, songs with real passion and heart, a performer standing alone just with a guitar, politics One of my most memorable TV moments and genuinely changed the way I thought about music AND politics
On another related note... Every week is charity shop vinyl week on Discardarama... Have a listen to our broadcast on podomatic (I dearly hope this brazen self promotion hasn't diluted my 1st point!!)
It was a fucking grim time. All that rejoice, rejoice and similar such bollocks.
I think that Derek has selective memory, all the money that had to be spent on the crumbling schools and hospitals left to rot by Thatcher, yeah I'll take that over a party that counts people like Pinochet as a friend and declares there is no such thing as society.
But what a time for music, Billy Bragg's version of World Turned Upside Down only bettered by Dick Gaughan
Yup - similar experience here - saw him on TOTP and he blew the mind of this particular teenager. I still have my 7" copy too.
Derek - really mate, do you honestly think we'd be sat here in any different state now if we'd had a Tory government all this time? Trust me they will make New Labour seem like a wet dream
Thanks much for the chance to hear some of these tracks again. They stand up amazingly well...
all the best,
d
Billy is offering 4 free tracks on his website at the moment if you sign up. They are all new songs from the pressure drop play he has recently performed in and worth a listen.
Free Billy Bragg Tracks
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