OUTSIDE Music 9-Disc Box OUT9024: Billy Bragg - Volume II

Description: ****Welcome to our listing, thanks very much for looking! ****Shipping cost is only an estimate - it depends on the actual weight and size of the package as well as the service required. We do not profit from shipping costs, so if we overcharge, we will refund the difference back to you. It's always best to wait for our invoice before paying for your item. We will combine shipping for multiple items purchased. Background -The first four years of Billy Bragg's recording career (1982 to 1986) were a blur of record releases that established the froggy-voiced "Bard from Barking" as perhaps the most powerful and engaging political song writer to emerge since the "folk scare" of the 1960s. From 1988 on, however, Bragg had the difficult task of living up to his own legacy, and that proved to be no small task; as he stylistically outgrew the rough electric guitar and vocal textures of Brewing Up with Billy Bragg and Life's a Riot with Spy vs. Spy, Bragg didn't display the same immediate skill at "proper" record-making and took his time growing comfortable with the craft of the studio, and while he never ran out of things to write and sing about, as the 1980s faded into the 1990s his songs lost a certain amount of the sharp wit and keen focus that was second nature on his early records. (It also became clear the material was coming a lot more slowly, to boot.) This period of Bragg's career is documented on Volume 2, the second box set compiled from Bragg's back catalog, featuring expanded versions of four albums: 1988's Workers Playtime, 1991's Don't Try This at Home, 1996's William Bloke, and 2002's England, Half English. While none of these albums can be called bad, very little of what's featured on this set matches the consistent quality of the records compiled on the similar Volume 1 box, and even the best of the records featured here (Don't Try This at Home) falls slightly short of the wit and fire of Bragg's salad days. That said, while one has to pick and choose to find the pearls on Volume 2, they are certainly there, and Bragg has been generous with the bonus material on this set. Each album is accompanied by a bonus disc of demos, outtakes, single sides, and the like, and each is full of pleasant surprises for the completist (though they never quite equal the quality of the original albums) and offer an interesting look at how these albums came together. Volume 2 also comes with a book featuring song lyrics, credits, and an essay from Bragg's longtime manager, Peter Jenner, as well as a DVD that includes a show by Bragg and his band the Red Stars taped for the BBC at London's Town and Country Club in late 1991, as well as highlights from a spring 2006 gig in Bragg's hometown of Barking, Essex, with Bragg joined by former Faces keyboard man Ian McLagan. Each of the expanded albums included in Volume 2 has also been released individually, and some fans may prefer to pick and choose rather than buy the entire set, but as a whole, Volume 2 documents Billy Bragg as he struggles to balance musical and emotional maturity with the passion of his political ideals; the results may not be as engaging as Volume 1, but there's still a fascinating story to be found in this collection. - Mark Deming 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 gained 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. 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 bare-bones Woody Guthrie-inspired Tooth & Nail arrived in early 2013 and the following year brought the DVD & CD set, Live at the Union Chapel, which included an encore performance of Life's a Riot with Spy vs. Spy in its entirety as a bonus feature. In the spring of 2016, Bragg teamed up with American singer, songwriter, and producer Joe Henry to make an album of folk songs inspired by the legacy of the American railroad system. Recorded with a portable recording rig while Bragg and Henry rode an Amtrak line from Chicago to Los Angeles, Shine a Light: Field Recordings from the Great American Railroad was released in September 2016, and followed by a joint concert tour. In November 2017, in the wake of the political upheavals brought on by Brexit in the U.K. and the election of Donald Trump in the United States, Bragg released a six-song EP of topical material, Bridges Not Walls. In 2019, Bragg paid homage to his earlier work with The Best of Billy Bragg at the BBC 1983-2019, a compilation of BBC radio sessions with with DJs from John Peel to David Jensen. To date the earliest known recordings of Bragg's best-known songs, the remastered BBC sessions captured what Bragg described as "the thrill of putting something out there for the very first time.” - Stephen Thomas Erlewine This listing is for a very rare, out of print Boxed Set comprised of 8-CDs, 1-DVD and a Booklet - a FACTORY SEALED box set, PRESSED and ISSUED by OUTSIDE Music of a highly collectible title from their catalog featuring performances by - Billy Bragg 9-Disc Boxed Set Title - Billy Bragg - Volume 2Track Listing -Workers Playtime: Capitalism Is Killing Music 1-01 She's Got A New Spell 1-02 Must I Paint You A Picture 1-03 Tender Comrade 1-04 The Price I Pay 1-05 Little Time Bomb 1-06 Rotting On Remand 1-07 Valentine's Day Is Over 1-08 Life With The Lions 1-09 The Only One 1-10 The Short Answer 1-11 Waiting For The Great Leap Forwards Bonus CD: Extra Tracks 2-01 The Only One (Demo) 2-02 The Price I Pay (Demo) 2-03 Love Has No Pride 2-04 That's Entertainment - Written-By – Paul Weller 2-05 She's Got A New Spell (Demo) 2-06 The Short Answer (Demo) 2-07 Little Time Bomb (Demo) 2-08 Bad Penny (Demo) 2-09 Reason To Believe (Live) 2-10 Must I Paint You A Picture (Extended Version) 2-11 Raglan Road (Live) Don't Try This At Home: Nighty Night 3-01 Accident Waiting To Happen 3-02 Moving The Goalposts 3-03 Everywhere 3-04 Cindy Of A Thousand Lives 3-05 You Woke Up My Neighbourhood 3-06 Trust 3-07 God's Footballer 3-08 The Few 3-09 Sexuality - Written-By – Johnny Marr 3-10 Mother Of The Bride 3-11 Tank Park Salute 3-12 Dolphins 3-13 North Sea Bubble 3-14 Rumours Of War 3-15 Wish You Were Her 3-16 Body Of Water Bonus CD: Extra Tracks 4-01 Party Of God - Written-By – Natalie Merchant 4-02 North Sea Bubble (Demo) 4-03 Sexuality (Demo) 4-04 Just One Victory (Alternative Mix) - Written-By – Todd Rundgren 4-05 Everywhere (Alternative Version) 4-06 Trust (Demo) 4-07 Bread & Circuses - Written-By – Natalie Merchant4-08 Cindy Of A Thousand Lives (Demo) 4-09 The Few (Demo) 4-10 Revolution - Written-By – Lennon / McCartney 4-11 Tighten Up Your Wig 4-12 MBH 4-13 This Gulf Between Us 4-14 Piccadilly Rambler William Bloke 5-01 From Red To Blue 5-02 Upfield 5-03 Everybody Loves You Babe 5-04 Sugardaddy 5-05 A Pict Song 5-06 Brickbat 5-07 The Space Race Is Over 5-08 Northern Industrial Town 5-09 The Fourteenth Of February 5-10 King James Version 5-11 Goalhanger Bonus CD: Extra Tracks 6-01 As Long As You Hold Me (Demo) 6-02 Who's Gonna Shoe Your Pretty Little Feet (Demo) - Written-By – Woody Guthrie 6-03 Sugar Daddy (Demo) 6-04 The Space Race Is Over (Demo) 6-05 Goalhanger (Demo) 6-06 Upfield (Demo) 6-07 The Fourteenth Of February (Demo) 6-08 Qualifications 6-09 Never Had No One Ever - Written-By – Marr, Morrissey 6-10 Thatcherites 6-11 All Fall Down England, Half English 7-01 St. Monday 7-02 Jane Allen 7-03 Distant Shore 7-04 England, Half English 7-05 NPWA 7-06 Some Days I See The Point 7-07 Baby Faroukh 7-08 Take Down The Union Jack 7-09 Another Kind Of Judy 7-10 He'll Go Down 7-11 Dreadbelly 7-12 Tears Of My Tracks Bonus CD: Extra Tracks 8-01 Billericay Dickie - Written-By – Ian Dury & The Blockheads 8-02 Mansion On The Hill - Written-By – Bruce Springsteen 8-03 Glad And Sorry - Written-By – Ronnie Lane 8-04 He'll Go Down (Demo) 8-05 Yarra Song 8-06 You Pulled The Carpet Out 8-07 Mystery Shoes 8-08 Tears Of My Tracks (Demo) 8-09 Take Down The Union Jack (Band Version) 8-10 England, Half English (7" Remix) 8-11 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 - Written-By – Woody Guthrie 8-12 Dry Bed (Band Version) - Written-By – Woody Guthrie 8-13 Danny Rose 8-14 She Smiled Sweetly - Written-By – Jagger / Richards If You've Got A Guestlist... At The Town & Country Club November 1991 DVD-01 You Woke Up My Neighbourhood DVD-02 The Saturday Boy DVD-03 The Marching Song Of The Covert Battalions DVD-04 The World Turned Upside Down DVD-05 Dolphins DVD-06 Valentine's Day Is Over DVD-07 North Sea Bubble DVD-08 Body Of Water DVD-09 Levi Stubbs' Tears DVD-10 A Lover Sings DVD-11 She's Got A New Spell DVD-12 Cindy Of A Thousand Lives DVD-13 Accident Waiting To Happen DVD-14 Waiting For The Great Leap Forwards DVD-15 Tender Comrade DVD-16 Tank Park Salute DVD-17 The Warmest Room DVD-18 Sexuality - Written-By – Johnny Marr At The Broadway, Barking May 2006 DVD-19 A Lover Sings DVD-20 The Price I Pay DVD-21 Debris - Written-By – Ronnie Lane DVD-22 Tank Park Salute DVD-23 All You Fascists - Lyrics By – Woody Guthrie Music By – Billy Bragg DVD-24 Waiting For The Great Leap Forwards DVD-25 A13, Trunk Road To The SeaOther Information: • Mastered By – Bob Ludwig (tracks: 7-01 to 7-12) • Remastered By – Duncan Cowell (tracks: 2-01 to 2-11, 4-01 to 4-14, 6-01 to 6-11, 8-01 to 8-14), Tim Young (tracks: 1-01 to 1-11, 3-01 to 3-16, 5-01 to 5-11) • Written-By – Billy Bragg (tracks: 1-01 to 1-11, 2-01, 2-02, 2-05 to 2-08, 2-10, 3-01, 3-02, 3-04 to 3-16, 4-01 to 4-03, 4-06 to 4-09, 4-10 to 4-14, 5-01 to 5-04, 5-06 to 5-11, 6-01, 6-03 to 6-8, 7-01, 7-08 to 7-10, 7-12, 8-04 to 8-10, DVD-01 to DVD-03, DVD-06 to DVD-20, DVD-22, DVD-24) Track 2.9 Recorded Live at the Club Soda, Montreal, 1st November 1988. Track 2:11 Recorded Live at the WOMAD Festival, Toronto in August 1989. Tracks 4-12 to 4-14 From the soundtrack of the 1993 BBC TV Play "Safe" directed by Antonia Bird. • Barcode: 623339902427The Boxed Set is from the rare OUTSIDE Music catalog. Catalog # OUT 9024Set issued in 2006 Set made in CanadaLong out of PrintThe OUTER BOX and INSERTS are all assumed to be in MINT condition as this item is FACTORY SEALED! The pictures with this listing are of the actual item, please inspect them closely. The box has NO cut out marks, NO discoloration, NO crushing or splits - just about perfect except for a couple of small tears on the outer plastic wrap. This set is comprised of audiophile quality pressings (any collector of fine MFSL, half speeds, direct to discs, Japanese/UK pressings etc., can attest to the difference a quality pressing can make to an audio system).Do not let this rarity slip by!

Price: 129.99 CAD

Location: Woodbridge, Ontario

End Time: 2025-01-16T22:55:46.000Z

Shipping Cost: N/A CAD