Product Description

"Essential" collection from staunch left-wing punk-folk stalwart well known for his support of trade unions and anti-racist groups. Whilst none of these songs can really be calleda "hit" - except 'A New England' which was a top ten singlefor Kirsty MacColl - this presents a selection of his best tracks including 'Sexuality', 'The Saturday Boy', 'Moving The Goalposts', 'Help Save The Youth Of America', 'The World Turned Upside Down' and the vitriolic 'Take Down The Union Jack'.

Track Listing

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
11. Walk Away Renee
12. Greetings To The New Brunette
13. There Is Power In A Union
14. Help Save The Youth Of America
15. The Warmest Room
16. Must I Paint You A Picture
17. She's Got A New Spell
18. The Price I Pay
19. Valentines Day Is Over
20. Waiting For The Great Leap Forwards

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
11. The Space Race Is Over
12. The Boy Done Good
13. Ingrid Bergman
14. Way Over Yonder In The Minor Key
15. My Flying Saucer
16. All You Fascists Bound To Lose
17. NPWA
18. St. Monday
19. Somedays I See The Point
20. Take Down The Union Jack

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5900 in Music
• Released on: 2003-10-06
• Number of discs: 2

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

Customer Reviews

For those who aren't sure if they'll like this....
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.

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'. Generally compilations are least successful when arranged chronologically however this suits Billy's career progression as it shows his progression from Urban Folk Troubadour through the introduction of subtle arrangements to backing bands leading up to full on collaborations. Billy's concerts often take on a chronological feel with as he starts as a solo performer being joined by additional musicians until the full band is assembled on stage.

With a career spanning collection what is generally more pertinent is what is missed, and their are some glaring omissions here, nothing from `The Internationale' album, no single `Days Like These' and although The Beatles cover `She's Leaving Home' possibly only made number one due to being released c/w Wet Wet Wet's `A Little Help' it should perhaps still have been included.

However, what is included is priceless from four of the greatest songs from `Spy vs. Spy', three from `Brewing Up' and the priceless b-side of Levi Stubb's Tears', `Walk Away Renee'. The songs from `Workers Playtime' bring the first disc to a suitable conclusion. The second disc takes us through `Don't Try This at Home' and includes the Red Stars single `Accident Waiting to Happen' b/w `Sulk'. The songs from `William Bloke' could possibly have been represented better without `The Boy Done Good' and the original solo `Take Down The Union Jack' is better than the included band version. The choices from `Mermaid Avenue' again are not entirely representative however as a compilation it although possibly not `The Essential Billy Bragg' but certainly `The Perfect Introduction to Billy Bragg'.

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. Dont view it as a best of, but a great range of BB's work

I may be a bit of a hippy, but where have all the protest singers gone, or is everything ok?

Alistair