Volume 2 cover

Released 20 years ago

Volume 2

Billy Bragg · 2006

364 min · 125 tracks · alternative rock

A spirited collection of folk-infused rock that channels personal and political narratives through poignant melodies.

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 want

  • prefer instant gratification tracks
  • seek strictly upbeat tempos

Where this album fits

Career context
In 2006, Billy Bragg released 'Volume 2' as a follow-up to his earlier compilations, marking a phase of renewed artistic focus. This album arrived during a period when Bragg was re-establishing his voice in the acoustic and alternative rock scene after decades of influential music-making. It reflects his enduring commitment to storytelling and social commentary.
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