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Billy Bragg / The Roaring Forty 1983-2023

40 years across four formats

By Paul Sinclair

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63

Later this year, Cooking vinyl will release The Roaring Forty 1983-2023, a new 14CD Billy Bragg box set. The box will contain more than 300 songs, including each of Billy’s twelve studio albums, non-album singles and B-sides, session tracks, rare live recordings, collaborations and previously unreleased material from across his career.

It comes with a large format book containing images of 40 significant objects from Billy’s career, including the hand tinted flyer to his first solo gig, his first NME cover, the original lyrics to ‘A Lover Sings’, the Red Wedge manifesto, his membership card to the Smokey Robinson & The Miracles fan club, and more, with commentary from the man himself.

Roaring Forty 1983-2023 14CD box set (click image to enlarge)

If that’s more Bragg than you’ll allow in the house, then a 40-track selection is available on what looks like a very attractive 3LP coloured vinyl set with each record in a different shade of green. The same 40-tracks are also available on a 2CD deluxe.

All the formats have been compiled by Billy Bragg himself and there’s also single LP edition pressed on orange vinyl which distills 40 years of music down to 13 tracks! All the vinyl formats come with a download card.

The 14CD box set is exclusive to Billy Bragg’s official store (at least for now) while the other formats should be available via all the usual channels. Fans are going to have to wait however, since The Roaring Forty is scheduled for release on 27 October 2023, almost eight months away!

The first 1000 orders at the official shop come with this rather groovy signed A4 art print

If you order via the official shop, the first 1000 orders (any format) come with a signed A4 art print (one print per customer). You also get access to pre-sale tickets to a future tour.

Tracklisting

Roaring Forty 1983-2023 Billy Bragg / 14CD box set

      1. 1983 – 1984: Life’s A Riot… Plus
      2. 1984 – 1985: Brewing Up With… Plus
      3. 1986 – 1988: Talking With The Taxman… Plus
      4. 1988 – 1989: Workers Playtime… Plus
      5. 1990 – 1991: The Internationale… Plus
      6. 1991 – 1992: Don’t Try This At Home… Plus
      7. 1996 – 1997: William Bloke / Bloke On Bloke… Plus
      8. 1998 – 2012: The Mermaid Avenue Recordings
      9. 1998 – 2002: England, Half English… Plus
      10. 2006 – 2010: Mr. Love & Justice / Pressure Drop… Plus
      11. 2011 – 2015: Tooth & Nail… Plus
      12. 2016 – 2017: Shine A Light / Bridges Not Walls… Plus
      13. 2021 The Million Things That Never Happened Plus
      14. 1990 – 2015: Rare & Previously Unreleased Recordings

Tracklisting

The Roaring Forty 1983-2023 Billy Bragg /

    • LP 1
      Side A
      1. ‘A New England (2013 Remaster) from ‘Life’s A Riot With Spy Vs. Spy (1983)
      2. ‘The Milkman Of Human Kindness’ (2013 Remaster) from ‘Life’s A Riot With Spy Vs. Spy’ (1983)
      3. ‘To Have And Have Not’ (2013 Remaster) from ‘Life’s A Riot With Spy Vs. Spy’ (1983)
      4. ‘The Man In The Iron Mask’ (2013 Remaster) from ‘Life’s A Riot With Spy Vs. Spy’ (1983)
      5. ‘St. Swithin’s Day’ (2006 Remaster) from ‘Brewing Up With’ (1984)
      6. ‘The Saturday Boy’ (2006 Remaster) from ‘Brewing Up With’ (1984)
      7. ‘Between The Wars’ (2006 Remaster) from ‘Between The Wars E.P.’ (1985)
      8. ‘The World Turned Upside Down’ (2006 Remaster) from ‘Between The Wars E.P.’ (1985)
      9. ‘Which Side Are You On?’ (2006 Remaster) from ‘Between The Wars E.P.’ (1985)
      Side B
      1. ‘Levi Stubbs’ Tears’ (2006 Remaster) from ‘Levi Stubbs’ Tears’ (1986)
      2. ‘Greetings To The New Brunette’ (2006 Remaster) from ‘Talking With The Taxman About Poetry’ (1986)
      3. ‘There Is Power In A Union’ (2006 Remaster) from ‘Talking With The Taxman About Poetry’ (1986)
      4. ‘Help Save The Youth Of America’ (2006 Remaster) from ‘Talking With The Taxman About Poetry’ (1986)
      5. ‘She’s Leaving Home’ (1999 Remaster) from ‘She’s Leaving Home’ (1988) – Billy Bragg with Cara Tivey
      6. ‘She’s Got A New Spell’ (2006 Remaster) from ‘Workers Playtime’ (1988)
      7. ‘Must I Paint You A Picture’ (2006 Remaster) from ‘Workers Playtime’ (1988)
    • LP 2
      Side C
      1. ‘Waiting For The Great Leap Forwards’ (2006 Remaster) from ‘Workers Playtime’ (1988)
      2. ‘The Internationale’ (2006 Remaster) from ‘The Internationale’ (1990)
      3. ‘Tank Park Salute’ (2006 Remaster) from ‘Don’t Try This At Home’ (1991)
      4. ‘Sexuality’ (2006 Remaster) from ‘Don’t Try This At Home’ (1991)
      5. ‘Accident Waiting To Happen (Red Star Version)’ (1999 Remaster) from ‘Accident Waiting To Happen’ (1992)
      6. ‘Upfield’ from ‘William Bloke’ (1996)
      Side D
      1. ‘The Boy Done Good’ (1999 Remaster) from ‘Bloke On Bloke’ (1997)
      2. ‘Walt Whitman’s Niece’ from ‘Mermaid Avenue’ (1998) Billy Bragg and Wilco
      3. ‘Way Over Yonder In The Minor Key’ from ‘Mermaid Avenue’ (1998) Billy Bragg and Wilco
      4. ‘My Flying Saucer’ from ‘Mermaid Avenue II’ (2000) Billy Bragg and Wilco
      5. ‘California Stars (Live October / November 1999)’ from ‘Mermaid Avenue Tour / You Can Call Me Cupcake’ (1999) Billy Bragg and The Blokes
      6. ‘Some Days I See The Point’ from ‘England, Half English’ (2002) – Billy Bragg & The Blokes
    • LP 3
      Side E
      1. ‘England, Half English’ from ‘England, Half English’ (2002) Billy Bragg and The Blokes
      2. ‘Take Down The Union Jack (Band Version)’ (2006 Remaster) from ‘Take Down The        Union Jack’ (2002) – Billy Bragg & The Blokes
      3. ‘Old Clash Fan Fight Song’ from ‘Johnny Clash’ (2007)
      4. ‘I Keep Faith’ from ‘Mr. Love & Justice’ (2008)
      5. ‘Bugeye Jim’ from ‘Mermaid Avenue III’ (2012)
      6. ‘Never Buy The Sun’ from ‘Fight Songs (A Decade Of Downloads)’ (2011)
      Side F
      1. ‘No One Knows Nothing Anymore’ from ‘Tooth & Nail’ (2013)
      2. ‘Handyman Blues’ from ‘Tooth & Nail’ (2013)
      3. ‘The L&N Don’t Stop Here Anymore’ from ‘Shine A Light: Field Recordings From The Great American Railroad’ – Billy Bragg and Joe Henry
      4. ‘King Tide And The Sunny Day Flood’ from ‘Bridges Not Walls’ (2017)
      5. ‘Mid-Century Modern’ from ‘The Million Things That Never Happened’ (2021)
      6. ‘I Will Be Your Shield’ from ‘The Million Things That Never Happened’ (2021)

Tracklisting

The Roaring Forty 1983-2023 Billy Bragg /

    • CD 1
      1. ‘A New England (2013 Remaster) from ‘Life’s A Riot With Spy Vs. Spy (1983)
      2. ‘The Milkman Of Human Kindness’ (2013 Remaster) from ‘Life’s A Riot With Spy Vs. Spy’ (1983)
      3. ‘To Have And Have Not’ (2013 Remaster) from ‘Life’s A Riot With Spy Vs. Spy’ (1983)
      4. ‘The Man In The Iron Mask’ (2013 Remaster) from ‘Life’s A Riot With Spy Vs. Spy’ (1983)
      5. ‘St. Swithin’s Day’ (2006 Remaster) from ‘Brewing Up With’ (1984)
      6. ‘The Saturday Boy’ (2006 Remaster) from ‘Brewing Up With’ (1984)
      7. ‘Between The Wars’ (2006 Remaster) from ‘Between The Wars E.P.’ (1985)
      8. ‘The World Turned Upside Down’ (2006 Remaster) from ‘Between The Wars E.P.’ (1985)
      9. ‘Which Side Are You On?’ (2006 Remaster) from ‘Between The Wars E.P.’ (1985)
      10. ‘Levi Stubbs’ Tears’ (2006 Remaster) from ‘Levi Stubbs’ Tears’ (1986)
      11. ‘Greetings To The New Brunette’ (2006 Remaster) from ‘Talking With The Taxman About Poetry’ (1986)
      12. ‘There Is Power In A Union’ (2006 Remaster) from ‘Talking With The Taxman About Poetry’ (1986)
      13. ‘Help Save The Youth Of America’ (2006 Remaster) from ‘Talking With The Taxman About Poetry’ (1986)
      14. ‘She’s Leaving Home’ (1999 Remaster) from ‘She’s Leaving Home’ (1988) – Billy Bragg with Cara Tivey
      15. ‘She’s Got A New Spell’ (2006 Remaster) from ‘Workers Playtime’ (1988)
      16. ‘Must I Paint You A Picture’ (2006 Remaster) from ‘Workers Playtime’ (1988)
      17. ‘Waiting For The Great Leap Forwards’ (2006 Remaster) from ‘Workers Playtime’ (1988)
      18. ‘The Internationale’ (2006 Remaster) from ‘The Internationale’ (1990)
      19. ‘Tank Park Salute’ (2006 Remaster) from ‘Don’t Try This At Home’ (1991)
      20. ‘Sexuality’ (2006 Remaster) from ‘Don’t Try This At Home’ (1991)
      21. ‘Accident Waiting To Happen (Red Star Version)’ (1999 Remaster) from ‘Accident Waiting To Happen’ (1992)
    • CD 2
      1. ‘Upfield’ from ‘William Bloke’ (1996)
      2. ‘The Boy Done Good’ (1999 Remaster) from ‘Bloke On Bloke’ (1997)
      3. ‘Walt Whitman’s Niece’ from ‘Mermaid Avenue’ (1998) Billy Bragg and Wilco
      4. ‘Way Over Yonder In The Minor Key’ from ‘Mermaid Avenue’ (1998) Billy Bragg and Wilco
      5. ‘My Flying Saucer’ from ‘Mermaid Avenue II’ (2000) Billy Bragg and Wilco
      6. ‘California Stars (Live October / November 1999)’ from ‘Mermaid Avenue Tour / You Can Call Me Cupcake’ (1999) Billy Bragg and The Blokes
      7. ‘Some Days I See The Point’ from ‘England, Half English’ (2002) – Billy Bragg & The Blokes
      8. ‘England, Half English’ from ‘England, Half English’ (2002) Billy Bragg and The Blokes
      9. ‘Take Down The Union Jack (Band Version)’ (2006 Remaster) from ‘Take Down The Union Jack’ (2002) – Billy Bragg & The Blokes
      10. ‘Old Clash Fan Fight Song’ from ‘Johnny Clash’ (2007)
      11. ‘I Keep Faith’ from ‘Mr. Love & Justice’ (2008)
      12. ‘Bugeye Jim’ from ‘Mermaid Avenue III’ (2012)
      13. ‘Never Buy The Sun’ from ‘Fight Songs (A Decade Of Downloads)’ (2011)
      14. ‘No One Knows Nothing Anymore’ from ‘Tooth & Nail’ (2013)
      15. ‘Handyman Blues’ from ‘Tooth & Nail’ (2013)
      16. ‘The L&N Don’t Stop Here Anymore’ from ‘Shine A Light: Field Recordings From The Great American Railroad’ – Billy Bragg and Joe Henry
      17. ‘King Tide And The Sunny Day Flood’ from ‘Bridges Not Walls’ (2017)
      18. ‘Mid-Century Modern’ from ‘The Million Things That Never Happened’ (2021)
      19. ‘I Will Be Your Shield’ from ‘The Million Things That Never Happened’ (2021)

Tracklisting

The Roaring Forty 1983-2023 Billy Bragg /

    • LP 1
      Side A
      1. ‘A New England’ (2013 Remaster) from ‘Life’s A Riot With Spy Vs. Spy’ (1983)
      2. ‘Between The Wars’ (2006 Remaster) from ‘Between The Wars E.P. ‘ (1985)
      3. ‘Levi Stubbs’ Tears’ (2006 Remaster) from ‘Levi Stubbs’Tears’ (1986)
      4. ‘Greetings To The New Brunette’ (2006 Remaster) from ‘Talking With The Taxman
        About Poetry’ (1986)
      5. ‘Waiting For The Great Leap Forwards’ (2006 Remaster) from ’Workers Playtime’ (1988)
      6. ‘Sexuality’ (2006 Remaster) from ‘Don’t Try This At Home’ (1991)
      7. ‘Accident Waiting To Happen (Red Star Version)’ (1999 Remaster) from ‘Accident
        Waiting To Happen’ (1992)
      Side B
      1. ‘Upfield’ (2006 remaster) from ‘William Bloke’ (1996)
      2. ‘The Boy Done Good’ (1999 Remaster) from ‘Bloke On Bloke’ (1997)
      3. ‘California Stars’ (Live October / November 1998) from ‘Mermaid Avenue Tour / You
        Can Call Me Cupcake’ (1999) – Billy Bragg & The Blokes
      4. ‘I Keep Faith’ from ‘Mr. Love & Justice’ (2008)
      5. ‘The L&N Don’t Stop Here Anymore’ from ‘Shine A Light: Field Recordings From The
        Great American Railroad’ (2016) – Billy Bragg & Joe Henry
      6. ‘I Will Be Your Shield’ from ‘The Million Things That Never Happened’ (2021)

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