''Back to Basics'' is a 1987 collection of

Billy Bragg Stephen William Bragg (born 20 December 1957) is an English singer, songwriter, musician, author and political activist. His music blends elements of folk music, punk rock and protest songs, with lyrics that mostly span political or romantic th ...

'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''—all of which make their debut in the United States here. This collection did not contain any new material, but did document Billy Bragg's early "one man and his guitar" approach. The songs collected on this release demonstrate major recurrent themes in Bragg's work: highly critical commentary on

Thatcherite Thatcherism is a form of British conservative ideology named after Conservative Party (UK), Conservative Party leader Margaret Thatcher that relates to not just her political platform and particular policies but also her personal character a ...

Britain, laced with poetic love songs. The collection was re-released in November 1993 on the

Cooking Vinyl Cooking Vinyl is a British independent record label, based in Acton, London, England. It was founded in 1986 by former manager and booking agent Martin Goldschmidt and his business partner Pete Lawrence. Goldschmidt remains the current owner an ...

label.

Track listing

#"The Milkman of Human Kindness" (''Life's a Riot'') #"To Have and To Have Not" (''Life's a Riot'') #"Richard" (''Life's a Riot'') #"Lovers Town Revisited" (''Life's a Riot'') #"

A New England "A New England" is a song written and recorded by Billy Bragg, included on his album '' Life's a Riot with Spy Vs Spy'', released in 1983. It remains a signature song from the early years of Bragg's recording career. In 1985, a cover version by ...

" (''Life's a Riot'') #"The Man in the Iron Mask" (''Life's a Riot'') #"The Busy Girl Buys Beauty" (''Life's a Riot'') #"It Says Here" (''Brewing Up With Billy Bragg'') #"Love Gets Dangerous" (''Brewing Up With Billy Bragg'') #"The Myth of Trust" (''Brewing Up With Billy Bragg'') #"From a Vauxhall Velox" (''Brewing Up With Billy Bragg'') #"The Saturday Boy" (''Brewing Up With Billy Bragg'') #"Island of No Return" (''Brewing Up With Billy Bragg'') #"St Swithin's Day" (''Brewing Up With Billy Bragg'') #"Like Soldiers Do" (''Brewing Up With Billy Bragg'') #"This Guitar Says Sorry" (''Brewing Up With Billy Bragg'') #"Strange Things Happen" (''Brewing Up With Billy Bragg'') #"A Lover Sings" (''Brewing Up With Billy Bragg'') #"Between the Wars" (''Between The Wars'') #"World Turned Upside Down" (''Between The Wars'') #" Which Side Are You On?" (''Between The Wars'')

References

1988 greatest hits albums Billy Bragg compilation albums Cooking Vinyl compilation albums {{1980s-folk-album-stub