IT REALLY WAS A CRACKING DEBUT SINGLE (77)

I’ve never actually seen a copy of the debut single by Billy Bragg, but then again, it’s never been the easiest to come across.

Debut album Life’s A Riot With Spy vs Spy had been released on Utility (an imprint of Chrysalis Records)  in May 1983.  It contained seven songs, it rotated at 45rpm, and it had the words ‘Pay no more than £2.99 for this 7 track album’ printed on the front of the sleeve.

The follow-up, Brewing Up With Billy Bragg, came out on Go! Discs in November 1984,  The sleeve stated that the album was ‘A Puckish Satire On Contemporary Mores’ and that the asking price was no more than £3.99.

Billy was quite adamant that no singles should be lifted from either album.   Record companies being what they are, weren’t all that enamoured by such an attitude. They tried to be clever by pressing up a 45 in Germany, as a combined release by Chrysalis and Go!Discs, featuring one track from both albums, with the front and reverse of the sleeve looking like the album covers.  The hope that fans would be determined enough to buy enough copies on import to enable a UK chart position.

mp3 : Billy Bragg – St Swithin’s Day
mp3 : Billy Bragg – A New England

The plan failed dismally.  The single didn’t chart and with no great demand, meaning there was never any repress, with the outcome being in 2024 that anyone wanting a copy will have to pay a bit more than they would for other Billy Bragg singles or albums from the era – you’re looking at £35-£40.

Fair play to Billy for being so dogmatic about things, but what a great double-A side 45 it proved to be…..

JC