- Audio CD (6 Oct 2003)
- Number of Discs: 3
- Format: Box set, Limited Edition
- Label: Cooking Vinyl
- ASIN: B0000BVM02
- Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 109,347 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
Jubilee Offer: Patriot Classics for £2.50 |
Product details |
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 | |||
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 | |||
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See all 20 tracks on this disc
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| Disc: 3 | |||
| 1. A13, Trunk Road To The Sea | |||
| 2. Fear Is A Man's Best Friend | |||
| 3. Cold And Bitter Tears | |||
| 4. Seven And Seven Is | |||
| 5. When Will I See You Again? | |||
| 6. Rule Nor Reason | |||
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See all 10 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 (this limited edition has a third disc of 10 rarities). 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
27 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I will endeavour to be brief. When I slapped this on the CD player last night I was transported immediately back to the bedroom of my teenage years. Billy will not be pleased to learn that I wallowed in nostalgia. Now, I own all these songs already, but I confess I had not listened to some of the earliest albums - LIFES A RIOT... for instance - for some time. Hearing again the bittersweet beauty, the tangled tenderness, the raw romance...ah...I don't mind telling you it brought me to my knees with all the power of the day I first listened.
There is something very, very wonderful and very, very important about Billy Bragg. It is not his political commitment, although that is undeniable. It is something rather more recondite, something that you may wish to call humanity. Whatever it is it vibrates through every track on this wonderful retrospective. From the spine-tingling early love songs, through the Great Leap Forward, through Woody Guthrie, this is the record of one of the great singer-songwriters. Listen to the words and you'll wonder how you ever lived without a bit of Billy. And, while I may disagree with some of the things he says, I am mighty glad that he is there saying them anyway. So should you be. Very few people have the courage.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
It must be hard work compiling a compilation album - finding that balance between the "hits" and the "best of" tracks that were never released as singles. By calling this set "The Essential Billy Bragg", we really do get the best of both worlds - the well known tracks: "A New England", "Between the Wars", "Sexuality", "Take Down the Union Jack", together with an inspired choice of fan favourites from the albums. Being a fan of Billy since the early days, I could list lots of songs I'd have liked to see included, but accept that the selection is must be limited. There are two strange ommissions though: nothing from the "Internationale" mini album (the title track or "The Marching Song of the Covert Battalions" would have sat there quite nicely), and we're missing Billy's No. 1 single (the double A-side of Wet Wet Wet's version of "A Little Help from my Friends" was Billy's version of "She's Leaving Home"). Still, great collection, nice new remastered sound, and an interesting collection of rare tracks on the bonus CD (shame we didn't get the extended version of "Must I Paint you a Picture" though). Recommended for the beginners - and then get the albums I recommend ALL of the them!!
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Although having enjoyed Billy's work over the years and admired his commitment to social justice I never really considered myself a "fan". This retrospective was bought as I thought it was time to have some of his work in my cd collection - and frankly it was a bargain. Why did I not buy his albums earlier! It was suprising how much I remembered. It's great to get a cd thinking your a beginner and finding out you're actually a fan. Even if you're only remotely interested buy it now.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
The UKs answer to Woody Guthrie
Probably the most recognised voice on the planet more than Paul McCartney,Bob Dylan or Elvis Presley. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Richard
Agree with big stevie
20 years ago I can remember going to The Stirling Miners Welfare to watch Billy Bragg , with Mr Dalrymple and still listen to his stuff all the time. Read more
Published on 8 Feb 2007 by D. C. O'HARA JNR
My Father Knew Sergeant Pepper Knew My Father
It says a lot for Billy Bragg's individual approach to pop music that I sat down to listen to this three disc CD of his "Best Of" not only NOT to hear his only number one single,... Read more
Published on 15 Feb 2005 by Rotgut
A game of three halves!
50 tracks for nine quid - hard to argue with the sheer value of this set, and when the quality and scope are taken into account it's pretty much unmissable. Read more
Published on 11 May 2004 by Peter Fenelon
The Boy Done Good
Truly, 'The Boy Done Good', in the words of this apparently controversial choice for the album, which I actually quite like. Read more
Published on 15 April 2004 by "thomas_arsenal"
Essential
Great value and great tunes. My only negative would be that it doesn't contain some of my favourite songs - Island of no return being one that I can remember the name of.
Published on 18 Feb 2004 by Al
Best of Bragg? - No way Jose!!
This purports to be the Essential - presumably meaning the best of Billy Bragg. It's a great record - I have all his albums and I love his work - but I don't think it collects his... Read more
Published on 14 Feb 2004 by Geoff Batchelor
A must have for any serious music fan
I am 25 and I had never listened to Billy before buying this album. His lyrics are truly moving and a real breathe of fresh air to my collection. Read more
Published on 6 Feb 2004 by E M Neild
great overview of a unique artist
After a luke warm review of his last album I thought it only fair to redress the balance with a five star review of this excellent retrospective. Read more
Published on 22 Oct 2003
This is ssential Billy Bragg stuff!!!
If you don't own a Billy Bragg CD ==> go and buy this one. You get all the great songs on a double CD. GREAT STUFF!
Published on 11 Oct 2003 by variety
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