Released 20 years ago this October
Volume 2
Billy Bragg · 2006
364 min · 125 tracks · alternative rock
A rich tapestry of folk-inflected melodies woven with sharp, socially conscious lyrics and Bragg's unmistakable vocal delivery.
Top tracks — play these first
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She's Got a New Spell — This track combines catchy melodies with incisive lyrics about love and loss, exemplifying Bragg's knack for blending personal storytelling with broader social commentary.
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Must I Paint You a Picture? — A poignant exploration of emotional vulnerability, this song captures the essence of longing while maintaining Bragg's signature wit and lyrical depth.
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Tender Comrade — With its haunting melody and reflective lyricism, this track addresses themes of solidarity and friendship, showcasing Bragg's political undertones and emotional resonance.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic journey with emotional peaks
- spirited sing-alongs with friends
- reflective moments during quiet evenings
- engaging storytelling through melodies
- background energy for creative work
Maybe skip if you
- prefer instant gratification tracks
- seek strictly upbeat tempos
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 2006, Volume 2 marks Billy Bragg's transition into a period of retrospective celebration, compiling tracks from his extensive back catalog. This album followed a string of successful releases in the 1990s and early 2000s, showcasing his enduring relevance and commitment to political themes in music as he looked back on his career.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Joe Strummer· The Clash· Graham Parker
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
Disc 1
- 1 She's Got a New Spell 3:25
- 2 Must I Paint You a Picture? 5:32
- 3 Tender Comrade 2:50
- 4 The Price I Pay 3:34
- 5 Little Time Bomb 2:17
- 6 Rotting on Remand 3:39
- 7 Valentine's Day Is Over 4:53
- 8 Life With the Lions 3:06
- 9 The Only One 3:26
- 10 The Short Answer 4:59
- 11 Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards 4:36
Disc 2
- 1 The Only One (demo) 3:36
- 2 The Price I Pay (demo) 4:01
- 3 Love Has No Pride 3:35
- 4 That's Entertainment 3:53
- 5 She's Got a New Spell (demo) 2:44
- 6 The Short Answer (demo) 5:21
- 7 Little Time Bomb (demo) 2:21
- 8 Bad Penny (demo) 3:05
- 9 Reason to Believe (live) 2:12
- 10 Must I Paint You a Picture? (extended version) 7:13
- 11 Raglan Road (live) 3:46
Disc 3
- 1 Accident Waiting to Happen 4:00
- 2 Moving the Goalposts 2:34
- 3 Everywhere 5:00
- 4 Cindy of a Thousand Lives 4:14
- 5 You Woke Up My Neighbourhood 3:11
- 6 Trust 4:13
- 7 God's Footballer 3:04
- 8 The Few 3:27
- 9 Sexuality 3:48
- 10 Mother of the Bride 3:35
- 11 Tank Park Salute 3:30
- 12 Dolphins 4:20
- 13 North Sea Bubble 3:19
- 14 Rumours of War 2:50
- 15 Wish You Were Her 2:46
- 16 Body of Water 3:57
Disc 4
- 1 Party of God 4:15
- 2 North Sea Bubble (demo) 3:29
- 3 Sexuality (demo) 3:53
- 4 Just One Victory (alternative mix) 5:30
- 5 Everywhere (alternative mix) 4:42
- 6 Trust (demo) 5:42
- 7 Bread & Circuses 4:28
- 8 Cindy of a Thousand Lives (demo) 3:38
- 9 The Few (demo) 3:50
- 10 Revolution 1:50
- 11 Tighten Up Your Wig 3:17
- 12 MBH 2:07
- 13 This Gulf Between Us 2:46
- 14 Piccadilly Rambler 1:49
Disc 5
- 1 From Red to Blue 3:20
- 2 Upfield 4:06
- 3 Everybody Loves You Babe 3:09
- 4 Sugardaddy 4:37
- 5 A Pict Song 4:55
- 6 Brickbat 3:14
- 7 The Space Race Is Over 4:26
- 8 Northern Industrial Town 2:58
- 9 The Fourteenth of February 3:26
- 10 King James Version 3:21
- 11 Goalhanger 3:46
Disc 6
- 1 As Long as You Hold Me (demo) 3:25
- 2 Who's Gonna Shoe Your Pretty Litte Feet? (demo) 1:42
- 3 Sugar Daddy (demo) 4:07
- 4 The Space Race Is Over (demo) 5:09
- 5 Goalhanger (demo) 2:42
- 6 Upfield (demo) 5:03
- 7 The Fourteenth of February (demo) 3:25
- 8 Qualifications 1:48
- 9 Never Had No One Ever 3:40
- 10 Thatcherites 4:13
- 11 All Fall Down 3:34
Disc 7
- 1 St. Monday 3:03
- 2 Jane Allen 3:58
- 3 Distant Shore 2:30
- 4 England, Half English 2:28
- 5 NPWA 5:31
- 6 Some Days I See the Point 4:59
- 7 Baby Faroukh 3:05
- 8 Take Down the Union Jack 3:19
- 9 Another Kind of Judy 3:44
- 10 He'll Go Down 3:21
- 11 Dreadbelly 3:32
- 12 Tears of My Tracks 3:53
Disc 8
- 1 Billericay Dickie 4:45
- 2 Mansion on the Hill 4:20
- 3 Glad and Sorry 4:08
- 4 He'll Go Down (demo) 3:30
- 5 Yarra Song 3:32
- 6 You Pulled the Carpet Out 2:38
- 7 Mystery Shoes 3:08
- 8 Tears of My Tracks (demo) 3:19
- 9 Take Down the Union Jack (band version) 3:22
- 10 England, Half English (7" remix) 3:55
- 11 1 2 3 4 2:04
- 12 Dry Bed (band version) 3:18
- 13 Danny Rose 2:27
- 14 She Smiled Sweetly 2:50
Disc 9
- 1 You Woke Up My Neighbourhood
- 2 The Saturday Boy
- 3 The Marching Song of the Covert Battalions
- 4 The World Turned Upside Down
- 5 Dolphins
- 6 Valentine's Day Is Over
- 7 North Sea Bubble
- 8 Body of Water
- 9 Levi Stubbs' Tears
- 10 A Lover Sings
- 11 She's Got a New Spell
- 12 Cindy of a Thousand Lives
- 13 Accident Waiting to Happen
- 14 Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards
- 15 Tender Comrade
- 16 Tank Park Salute
- 17 The Warmest Room
- 18 Sexuality
- 19 A Lover Sings
- 20 The Price I Pay
- 21 Debris
- 22 Tank Park Salute
- 23 All You Fascists
- 24 Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards
- 25 A13, Trunk Road to the Sea
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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