Life’s a Riot With Spy vs Spy

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Work

Life’s a Riot With Spy vs Spy · Billy Bragg recorded the seven tracks of his debut from 2 to 4 February 1983 in the demo studio of Chappell Music, under the supervision of in-house producer Oliver Hitch. Everything went onto tape in one go, without mixing. Only he himself can be heard, with his electric guitar. The record played at 45 rpm and lasted almost sixteen minutes. The title refers to his nickname Spy vs Spy, which he used as a street musician, after the comic strip in Mad magazine.

The album was released on 1 July 1983 on Utility, a new label of Charisma. NME placed it third of the year at the end of 1983. Douglas Wolk wrote in Rolling Stone that it cut through the overblown pop music of 1983. In 2006 a reissue appeared with a second CD full of alternative versions.

Listening

Track list

CD 1

1. 1The Milkman of Human Kindness2:49Apple Music ↗
2. 2To Have and to Have Not2:33Apple Music ↗
3. 3Richard2:52Apple Music ↗
4. 4A New England2:15Apple Music ↗
5. 5The Man in the Iron Mask2:14Apple Music ↗
6. 6The Busy Girl Buys Beauty1:59Apple Music ↗
7. 7Lovers Town Revisited1:20Apple Music ↗

CD 2

1. 1Strange Things Happen (Alternate Version)3:19Apple Music ↗
2. 2The Cloth (Version 1)2:51Apple Music ↗
3. 3Love Lives Here1:43Apple Music ↗
4. 4Speedway Hero2:39Apple Music ↗
5. 5Loving You Too Long2:52Apple Music ↗
6. 6This Guitar Says Sorry (Alternate Version)2:15Apple Music ↗
7. 7Love Gets Dangerous (Alternate Version)2:33Apple Music ↗
8. 8The Cloth (Version 2)2:47Apple Music ↗
9. 9The Man in the Iron Mask (Alternative Version)2:17Apple Music ↗
10. 10A13, Trunk Road to the Sea2:28Apple Music ↗
11. 11Fear Is a Man's Best Friend2:32Apple Music ↗

30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗