May 2015 - Billy Bragg - Workers Party (1988)

This month's Album Choice is courtesy of DQ (danielquinn):

It was 1990. Oldham had been in the final of the Littlewoods cup and semi-final of the FA cup, England were in the semi-final of the World Cup and this self described Maverick Marxist was having the time of his life with a beautiful brittle Irish girl, I remember fondly every time I listen to the “Fishermans Blues” by the Waterboys. Twas a very memorable year, as it also included, shortly before, being the only person ever in my family to obtain a University degree.

It is fitting then that I first was introduced to Billy Bragg via his 1988 album Workers Playtime in the summer of 1990. I listened to it endlessly on a Sony WM-W800, which to my mind is still the most attractive piece of hi-fi ever.

This was my first introduction to BB, but it was his fourth studio album. Called Workers Playtime as a nod to his politics and after the eponymous moral boosting radio programme broadcast to workers during the war. The cover was emblazoned with “capitalism is killing music” and often carried a sticker saying “pay no more than £5 for this album”.

Those expecting one man and an angry guitar preaching politics would seem to have their fears confirmed by the cover but the cover also contains a quote from Antionio Gramsci [Italian Marxist imprisoned by Mussolini]:

"How many times have I wondered if it is really possible to forge links with a mass of people when one has never had strong feelings for anyone, not even one's own parents: if it is possible to have a collectivity when one has not been deeply loved oneself by individual human creatures. Hasn't this had some effect on my life as a militant - has it not tended to make me sterile and reduce my quality as a revolutionary by making everything a matter of pure intellect, of pure mathematical calculation?"

A quote which alludes to the more emotional and relationship based themes of the songs on Workers Playtime . BB had previously proven he could writer love songs better than most of the rest, St Swithians day is a genius of a song: "the polarids that show us together will surely fade away like the love that we spoke of forever on St Swithians day".

Workers playtime shows BB maturing [he was 31] both in terms of themes and in his arrangements. Moving away from the one man and a guitar to using a full band and some beautiful arrangements and wonderful use of the cello.

I won’t dissect the individual songs, songs are personal and that is for the listener, needless to say it contains 11 songs of life, lost loves and the starker realities of relationships all peppered with a political perspective and BB’s genius rhyming couplets.

"That the economy and brutality are related I now understand"

"Mixing pop and politics they ask me what the use is, I offer them embarrassment and my usual excuses"

"I remember you said to me, that no amount of poetry can mend this broken heart, but you can put the hoover round if you want to make a start"

Workers Playtime has been a constant feature in my life since the summer of 1990 and will remain till I have no more summers. Funny how many events in my life have conspired to chime with many of the songs' lyrics, either Billy knew a thing or two at 31 that I did not appreciate at the time or I have subconsciously conspired to make my life mirror the lyrics.

One thing is for sure. both BB and I are still waiting for the great leap forward.