Between the Wars (EP)

Between the Wars is an extended play released by Billy Bragg in 1985. It reached number 15 on the UK Singles Chart.[1]

Between The Wars
EP by
Billy Bragg
ReleasedFebruary 1985
GenreFolk punk, protest song
LabelGo! Discs
ProducerKenny Jones

The title track was inspired by the UK miners' strike (1984–1985).[2] The choice of other songs on the record was also relevant to the dispute - "Which Side Are You On?" is an updated version of the American pro-trade union song of the same title from the 1930s, whilst "It Says Here" is critical of the political bias of British newspapers, most of which opposed the strike.

The proceeds from sales of the record were donated to the striking miners' fund.[3] Bragg said, "Revolutions do not start in record shops. But if you write a song like "Between the Wars", you have to come up with the actions to meet it. I don't claim that the Labour Party has all the answers in the U.K., but they took the youth vote for granted in the last election and didn’t get it."[4]

All four tracks are available on the Billy Bragg compilation album, Back to Basics, and the 2006 reissue of Brewing Up with Billy Bragg.

Track listing

All tracks composed by Billy Bragg; except where indicated

  1. "Between the Wars"
  2. "Which Side Are You On?" (music by Florence Reece; new lyrics by Billy Bragg)
  3. "World Turned Upside Down" (Leon Rosselson)
  4. "It Says Here (Different Version)"

References
  1. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 75. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  2. Bragg's 20 years on campaign trail, BBC News, 7 October 2003
  3. Family Detective: Billy Bragg, The Daily Telegraph, 31 March 2007
  4. Sue Cummings (August 1985). "King of the Road". Spin. No. 4. p. 16.


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