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Track Listings
| Disc: 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. New England | |||
| 2. The Man In The Iron Mask | |||
| 3. Milkman Of Human Kindness | |||
| 4. To Have And Have Not | |||
| 5. A Lover Sings | |||
| 6. St. Swithins Day | |||
| 7. The Saturday Boy | |||
| 8. Between The Wars | |||
| 9. The World Turned Upside Down | |||
| 10. Levi Stubbs Tears | |||
See all 20 tracks on this disc
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| Disc: 2 | |||
| 1. Sexuality | |||
| 2. Cindy Of 1000 Lives | |||
| 3. Moving The Goalposts | |||
| 4. Tank Park Salute | |||
| 5. You Woke Up My Neighbourhood | |||
| 6. Accident Waiting To Happen | |||
| 7. Sulk | |||
| 8. Upfield | |||
| 9. The Fourteenth Of February | |||
| 10. Brickbat | |||
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See all 20 tracks on this disc
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Must I Paint You a Picture is a generous, two-disc, 40-track survey of Bragg's career to date. The tracklisting was apparently assembled with the help of Bragg's fans, who were asked to vote for their favourites on Bragg's website, but this democratic initiative has only been taken so far: while "Little Time Bomb", for example, was a more popular choice than, say, "The Boy Done Good", the latter is included and the former isn't. It would, of course, be uncharitable to suggest that this is reflective of the authoritarian instincts that lurk inside most socialists.
At any rate, though Bragg has always been chiefly characterised as a political songwriter, his best work has always been that which deals with the politics of the personal: there are few more acute summations of the eternal failure of the male and female to make sense to each other than his "How can you lie there and think of England when you don't even know who's in the team?" Bragg's superb love songs and love-gone-wrong songs are well represented here, from the angry, naive scratchings of "The Milkman of Human Kindness" to such older, if no wiser, musings as "Moving the Goalposts" and "Sulk". Curiously, his older, politically motivated songs now feel like they've reacquired an urgency they lacked during a 1990s largely devoid of stark ideological boundaries, when they sounded rather like quaint period pieces. The so-called war on terror and the increasing discomfort about global trade both have ready made soundtracks in "Between the Wars" and "There is Power in a Union". --Andrew Mueller
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
When I saw Billy Bragg on tour recently he described himself as a 'Marmite artist', ie, you either love him or hate him. I don't know that is necessarily true. My husband somewhat reluctantly bought this for me for Christmas a few years ago after I'd requested it on the strength of the handful of Bragg songs that I knew from my teens (Sexuality, New England, Waiting for the Great Leap Forward).
Neither myself or my hubby really knew enough about BB from those few songs to understand what an amazing artist he really is. I reckon that there are a few people out there who are in that same position and this review, like the album, is for you. This is a great place to start on your Bragg conversion because it will give you a taste of the diversity of Billy's career. There can't be many artists who could compile an album containing elements of folk, pop, country, punk and even disco (When Will I See You Again!) OK, if you're not particularly political or left-leaning (like my hubby) then there might be some songs here that won't float your boat, but seriously, don't let that put you off. Some of these songs will break your heart (Tank Park Salute, Brickbat). Some will make you laugh (The Saturday Boy, A Lover Sings). Some will rouse you(The World Turned Upside Down, Between The Wars). Most will make you think and remember.
By his own admission, he ain't the greatest singer in the world, nor the greatest guitarist (although I think he's seriously underrated in that department.) Nevertheless, there is something about Billy and his songs which just makes you like and believe him. He's passionate, clever, honest, really funny and utterly without pretension.
Since buying this album we've both gone on to be massive BB converts. If you're still not sure whether you'll like BB, at this price you can surely afford the gamble. You never know, you too might end up wishing you'd done it years ago! For those who are already know you love Billy, this will become a much played favourite compilation. Before you know it, you'll be singing your heart out in a faux Cockney accent.
Neither myself or my hubby really knew enough about BB from those few songs to understand what an amazing artist he really is. I reckon that there are a few people out there who are in that same position and this review, like the album, is for you. This is a great place to start on your Bragg conversion because it will give you a taste of the diversity of Billy's career. There can't be many artists who could compile an album containing elements of folk, pop, country, punk and even disco (When Will I See You Again!) OK, if you're not particularly political or left-leaning (like my hubby) then there might be some songs here that won't float your boat, but seriously, don't let that put you off. Some of these songs will break your heart (Tank Park Salute, Brickbat). Some will make you laugh (The Saturday Boy, A Lover Sings). Some will rouse you(The World Turned Upside Down, Between The Wars). Most will make you think and remember.
By his own admission, he ain't the greatest singer in the world, nor the greatest guitarist (although I think he's seriously underrated in that department.) Nevertheless, there is something about Billy and his songs which just makes you like and believe him. He's passionate, clever, honest, really funny and utterly without pretension.
Since buying this album we've both gone on to be massive BB converts. If you're still not sure whether you'll like BB, at this price you can surely afford the gamble. You never know, you too might end up wishing you'd done it years ago! For those who are already know you love Billy, this will become a much played favourite compilation. Before you know it, you'll be singing your heart out in a faux Cockney accent.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
He has inspired me with his fresh approach to guitar, more so than punk....i am 41 this year....his lyrics inspired me to write better. A gem of an album.
Listen to tank park salute or his cover of walk away renee truly underrated. My favourites and in itself is the moving levi stubbs tears and greetings to the new brunette....what a title.....just wish i'd wrote it.
Billy really is the bloke!
Listen to tank park salute or his cover of walk away renee truly underrated. My favourites and in itself is the moving levi stubbs tears and greetings to the new brunette....what a title.....just wish i'd wrote it.
Billy really is the bloke!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Billy Bragg's politics can put people off his music,(not me - I'm with him, or at least nearby). Even if you are a Daily Mail reader you will enjoy tracks like 'Greeting To The new Brunette'. He's a poet in the Guthrie tradition. So get this anthology, please.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Finest?
Cracking double album - again I bought this just for a couple of the tracks (as opposed to downloading them), but I have been pleasantly surprised have listed to the whole albums... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Safety Stu
A must have
If you buy one Billy Bragg album! Make sure it's this one! A must in any cd collection!! Top album!
Published 7 months ago by Jason
Essential purchase.
If you don't have any Billy Bragg in your collection this is the one for you.
Published on 8 July 2009 by Demon Drummer
Condense the Bragg, Confuse the Enemy
Released in 2003 to mark Billy's twentieth year as a solo performer `Must I Paint You a Picture?' try's to be, as it sub-title says, `The Essential Billy Bragg'. Read more
Published on 22 Mar 2008 by Ian Wood, Author of 'Here's 2 Absent Fathers'
Something there for us all
As well as the politcal stuff, there are some great, grounded love songs that are so real.
Great diction, lovely accent that you have to imitate when you sing along. Read more
Great diction, lovely accent that you have to imitate when you sing along. Read more
Published on 16 Nov 2007 by A. Henderson
Inspiring
Billy Bragg has to be one of the best songwriters ever bad sadly very unheard of. This is a fantastic album and makes me want to get up and solve the world's inequalities at a... Read more
Published on 26 Dec 2006 by Ewan the third
All of Bragg's best (and too much of the rest)
Like so many politically committed acts (the Pink Fairies, Edgar Broughton, The Crass), Billy Bragg is sometimes better imagined than heard. Read more
Published on 16 Mar 2005 by Patrick Neylan
The Definitive!
Like the Blurb in the CD says, it really is the definitive Portrait of Billy Bragg. From the earlier dark days of Thatcher and Reagan, to the similarly poor days we experienced... Read more
Published on 24 Oct 2004 by "harrythehatchet"
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