Billy Bragg further expanded his sound for the transformational emotional cartharsis of this rich and rewarding romantic recreation. In the time after his delightfully 'difficult' third album 'Talking With the Taxman About Poetry', Bragg made it to the top of the British charts with a cover of the Beatles' 'She's Leaving Home'. He decided to record his new album with legendary American producer Joe Boyd, who had worked with Pink Floyd, Fairport Convention, and Nick Drake. The sessions took place at Pavilion Studios in London and featured Billy Bragg on vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, and triangle; Danny Thompson on double bass; Cara Tivey on piano, vocals, and Hammond C-3 organ; Micky Waller on drums; co-producer Wiggy on electric guitar, acoustic guitar, 12 string guitar, slide guitar, and backing vocals; Tony Maronie on percussion; Bruce Thomas on bass guitar; Dave Woodhead on trumpets and flugelhorn; B.J. Cole on pedal steel guitar; Martin Belmont on electric guitar; Barb Jungr on harmonica; Julia Palmer on cello; Camilla Brunt and Donna Welchman on violin; Kenny Jones on 6 and 12 string acoustic guitar; and Theresa Pamplin on viola; Porky, Jayne Creamer, Kaya Jenner, and Michelle Shocked on backing vocals.
The lush sound on the album is a big departure from the one man band sound of Bragg's earlier records. Bragg considered at the time: “We had a lot of argument over putting drums on the new album… in the end, the one’s the drums are on, I thought added to the songs...The first album was the great release of 25 years of frustration – finally getting on vinyl; the second one was the reserve songs and several others that I’d written in that 18 month period between the two records; then the third album – the so-called ‘difficult third album’… I’d run out of songs from that first burst, but could I now still write. Now that I wasn’t sitting at home looking out of the window feeling sorry for myself and writing songs about it, had that meant I wouldn’t be able to write any more. So ‘Taxman’ was, for me, a real emotional wrench to get out, but once it was out, it was such a relief to find that I could write and it wasn’t just the situation around, it was me, it was something that was in me that I was getting out. ‘Worker’s Playtime’ is the next step on from there, and now I have a bit of the luxury of being able to take as long as I like in making an album, as long as I don’t take too long!...As long as you can keep your sense of humour, it’s bearable. You can’t be expected to change the world by singing songs about it. You have to be honest with yourself – if you can be honest with yourself about the limitations and the possibilities, then you can be honest with other people… I mean I’m a dreamer and I’m an idealist, but I try to be a practical dreamer...There is a collision between the fantasy of pop and the reality of what most people experience. I try and keep on the side of reality.”
'Worker's Playtime' originally had the subtitle 'Capitalism is Killing Music'; but it was removed on later pressings. The album went to number forty-seven in Australia and seventeen in the UK.
http://www.billybragg.co.uk/
promo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lJ9zz1bU7w
"She's Got a New Spell" – 3:26
"Must I Paint You a Picture?"– 5:32
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnwQ6zvoG4g
(Extended Version 7:08 Minutes)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHzhC_9ABi8
"Little Time Bomb" – 2:17
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnvkcV_61kg
"Rotting on Remand" – 3:37
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIw-earymbI
"Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards" – 4:35
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZaYEniPaJg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjLXyqD3lvI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FknxIkLbn7E
full album:
All tracks written by Billy Bragg
"She's Got a New Spell" – 3:26
"Must I Paint You a Picture?" – 5:32
"Tender Comrade" – 2:50
"The Price I Pay" – 3:34
"Little Time Bomb" – 2:17
"Rotting on Remand" – 3:37
"Valentine's Day is Over" – 4:53
"Life With the Lions" – 3:06
"The Only One" – 3:26
"The Short Answer" – 4:59
"Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards" – 4:35
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