Life's a Riot with Spy Vs Spy
Encyclopedia
Life's a Riot with Spy Vs Spy is Billy Bragg
's first studio album
, released in 1983.
The original album played at 45 rpm rather than the more usual 33.3 rpm, contained only seven songs and lasted for only 15 minutes and 57 seconds. However, rather than being classified as an EP
, it qualified for the UK albums chart
and reached number 30 in January 1984.
The album contains both politically charged songs, such as the attack on the school system and unemployment, "To Have and To Have Not," and love songs such as "The Milkman of Human Kindness" and "A New England
" (which was later a hit for singer Kirsty MacColl
.)
in May 1983. The cassette version of the album was recorded on only one side of the tape; the second side of the tape was blank, inscribed with a message that fans should use it to bootleg his concerts. The album was then reissue
d in November 1983 on Go! Discs
. In 1986 the tracks from the album along with the tracks from Brewing Up with Billy Bragg
(1984) and the tracks from the Between the Wars
EP (1985) were issued on an compilation album
called Back to Basics
by Go! Discs. This compilation was reissued by Cooking Vinyl
in 1996. Cooking Vinyl released another compilation album in 1996 combining the tracks from the album with the four tracks from the Between the Wars EP and titled Life's a Riot Between the Wars.http://www.billybragg.co.uk/releases/albums/index.html
In 2006 as part of a series of reissues of albums from his back catalogue, the album was reissued as Life's a Riot with Spy Vs Spy, with the original tracks on one disc along with a bonus CD of alternate versions and previously unreleased material. The tracks on the bonus CD were produced and compiled by Grant Showbiz
.
Musician
Billy Bragg
Stephen William Bragg , better known as Billy Bragg, is an English alternative rock musician and left-wing activist. His music blends elements of folk music, punk rock and protest songs, and his lyrics mostly deal with political or romantic themes...
's first studio album
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
, released in 1983.
The original album played at 45 rpm rather than the more usual 33.3 rpm, contained only seven songs and lasted for only 15 minutes and 57 seconds. However, rather than being classified as an EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, it qualified for the UK albums chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
and reached number 30 in January 1984.
The album contains both politically charged songs, such as the attack on the school system and unemployment, "To Have and To Have Not," and love songs such as "The Milkman of Human Kindness" and "A New England
A New England
Kirsty MacColl recorded the song the year after its release by Bragg, produced by her then-husband Steve Lillywhite.. It was her biggest solo hit - reaching #7 in the UK Singles Chart and #8 in the Irish Singles Chart....
" (which was later a hit for singer Kirsty MacColl
Kirsty MacColl
Kirsty Anna MacColl was an English singer-songwriter.MacColl scored several pop hits from the early 1980s to the early 1990s...
.)
Versions
The album was originally released by Charisma RecordsCharisma Records
Charisma was a record label founded by former journalist Tony Stratton-Smith in 1969. Manager for The Nice, the Bonzo Dog Band and Van der Graaf Generator at the time, Stratton-Smith was unable to find a record company willing to release an album by one of his favourite groups so he founded his own...
in May 1983. The cassette version of the album was recorded on only one side of the tape; the second side of the tape was blank, inscribed with a message that fans should use it to bootleg his concerts. The album was then reissue
Reissue
A reissue is the repeated issue of a published work. In common usage, it refers to an album which has been released at least once before and is released again, sometimes with alterations or additions....
d in November 1983 on Go! Discs
Go! Discs Records
Go! Discs was a Hammersmith, London based record label, launched in 1983 by Andy MacDonald and Lesley Symons. With artists like Billy Bragg, The Housemartins and later The Beautiful South, it became a prominent label. Go! Beat Records was launched as a subsidiary for dance artists like Beats...
. In 1986 the tracks from the album along with the tracks from Brewing Up with Billy Bragg
Brewing Up with Billy Bragg
Brewing Up with Billy Bragg is the second album by Billy Bragg, released in 1984.While his debut album Life's a Riot with Spy Vs Spy was performed by Bragg accompanied only by his guitar, Brewing Up with Billy Bragg began to use subtle overdubs, such as backing vocals on "Love Gets Dangerous",...
(1984) and the tracks from the Between the Wars
Between the Wars EP
Between the Wars was an extended play released by Billy Bragg in 1985. It reached #15 on the UK Singles Chart.The title track was inspired by the UK miners' strike...
EP (1985) were issued on an compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
called Back to Basics
Back to Basics (Billy Bragg album)
Back to Basics is a 1987 collection of Billy Bragg's first three releases: The albums Life's A Riot With Spy Vs. Spy and Brewing Up with Billy Bragg and the EP Between The Wars. This collection did not contain any new material, but did document Billy Bragg's early "one man and his guitar" approach...
by Go! Discs. This compilation was reissued by Cooking Vinyl
Cooking Vinyl
Cooking Vinyl is a UK-based independent record company, founded in 1986. Its original orientation was toward contemporary folk music—notably Billy Bragg, and Michelle Shocked's Texas Campfire Tapes, recorded on a Sony Walkman, one of its first releases...
in 1996. Cooking Vinyl released another compilation album in 1996 combining the tracks from the album with the four tracks from the Between the Wars EP and titled Life's a Riot Between the Wars.http://www.billybragg.co.uk/releases/albums/index.html
In 2006 as part of a series of reissues of albums from his back catalogue, the album was reissued as Life's a Riot with Spy Vs Spy, with the original tracks on one disc along with a bonus CD of alternate versions and previously unreleased material. The tracks on the bonus CD were produced and compiled by Grant Showbiz
Grant Showbiz
Grant Showbiz is a British record producer principally known for his work with The Fall, The Smiths, and Billy Bragg plus as an artist in his own right with Moodswings. He continues his work with both Billy Bragg & The Fall to this day, having worked on more albums by both The Fall & Billy Bragg...
.
Disc one
- "The Milkman Of Human Kindness" – 2:49
- "To Have And to Have Not" – 2:33
- "Richard" – 2:51
- "A New EnglandA New EnglandKirsty MacColl recorded the song the year after its release by Bragg, produced by her then-husband Steve Lillywhite.. It was her biggest solo hit - reaching #7 in the UK Singles Chart and #8 in the Irish Singles Chart....
" – 2:14 - "The Man In The Iron Mask" – 2:13
- "The Busy Girl Buys Beauty" – 1:58
- "Lovers Town Revisited" – 1:19
Disc two (2006 reissue)
- "Strange Things Happen" (alternative version) – 3:19
- "The Cloth I" – 2:50
- "Love Lives Here" – 1:42
- "Speedway Hero" – 2:39
- "Loving You too Long" – 2:51
- "The Guitar Says Sorry" (alternative version) – 2:14
- "Love Gets Dangerous" (alternative version) – 2:32
- "The Cloth II" – 2:47
- "The Man in the Iron Mask" (alternative version) – 2:17
- "A13, Trunk Road to the Sea" (music by Bobby TroupBobby TroupRobert William "Bobby" Troup Jr. was an American actor, jazz pianist and songwriter. He is best known for writing the popular standard " Route 66", and for his role as Dr...
, words by Bragg) – 2:27 - "Fear is a Man's Best Friend" (John CaleJohn CaleJohn Davies Cale, OBE is a Welsh musician, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer who was a founding member of the experimental rock band The Velvet Underground....
) – 2:32
MusicianMusicianA musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
s
- Billy BraggBilly BraggStephen William Bragg , better known as Billy Bragg, is an English alternative rock musician and left-wing activist. His music blends elements of folk music, punk rock and protest songs, and his lyrics mostly deal with political or romantic themes...
– vocals, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Dave Woodhead – trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
on "The Man in the Iron Mask" (alternative version)
Production
- Oliver Hitch – producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, engineerAudio engineeringAn audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
, recorded by (original album plus "The Guitar Says Sorry" (alternative version), "Love Gets Dangerous" (alternative version), "The Cloth II", "A13, Trunk Road to the Sea", "Fear is a Man's Best Friend") - Grant ShowbizGrant ShowbizGrant Showbiz is a British record producer principally known for his work with The Fall, The Smiths, and Billy Bragg plus as an artist in his own right with Moodswings. He continues his work with both Billy Bragg & The Fall to this day, having worked on more albums by both The Fall & Billy Bragg...
– reissue producer, reissue compiled by - Tim Young – digitally remasterRemasterRemaster is a word marketed mostly in the digital audio age, although the remastering process has existed since recording began...
ed by (original album tracks) - Duncan Cowell – digitally remastered by (bonus tracks)
- Steve Goldstein – record by ("Strange Things Happen" (alternative version), "The Cloth I", "Love Lives Here")
- Wiggy – recorded by ("Speedway Hero", "Loving You too Long")