Billy Bragg
1998-07-09
Yalding House, Studio 4
John Peel Session
London, UK

Source: FM > cassette Ist gen > CDR > WAV > trader's little helper > FLAC

01. Chatter 
02. My Flying Saucer 
03. Chatter 
04. Another Mans Done Gone 
05. Chatter 
06. Chatter 
07. Black Wind Blowing 
08. Chatter 
09. Psalm 
10. Chatter 
11. Chatter 
12. A Song About Law & Order 
13. Chatter 
14. All You Fascists Bound To Lose 
15. Chatter 
16. Chatter 
17. Ingrid Bergman 
18. Chatter 
19. Let's Have Christ For President 
20. Chatter 

Total Running Time: [34:58]

Notes:
This session is Billy Bragg in the studio with John Peel playing a selection of Woody Guthrie songs that he, Jeff Tweedy and Jay Bennett (the latter two from Wilco) wrote tunes for at the request of Nora Guthrie, Woody's daughter. A selection of these tunes were recorded and released as the two Mermaid Avenue albums.

As Billy explains, the songs he plays on the session were ones that didn't make the (first) album (some more of them made it on to the second one). But these versions are all live in a Billy-and-his-guitar format.

I have left in the extensive chatter between Billy and John Peel as it offers a great insight into the project and the relationship between the two (obviously great friends since the "Biryani incident"). Even though it isn't directly relevant, I've left in a discussion about Lonnie Donegan as it adds to the understanding of where Billy was drawing his muse from (sort of - I also thinks parts of it are very funny).

To be honest, I don't think it is as wonderful as the sessions available on the Peel Sessions cd - there is less venom and I miss hearing Billy's own songs (I'm more of a fan of Billy Bragg than Woody Guthrie). But it is still very good and bears repeated listening.

And if you like it, why not buy the Mermaid Avenue albums. And go and see Billy live, wherever and whenever you can - if you never have, you don't know what you're missing and if you have already, you'll know why you need to go again (and again).

Dimeadozen.org: Torrent 302581 (by roofwalker)
