The Internationale

by Billy Bragg

Overview

Billy Bragg's albums have always contained material with the strong political slant of classic folksingers in the Woody Guthrie/Bob Dylan mold. This release shows him at his most muckrakingly fervent and angry. Only "The Marching Song of the Covert Battalions" has music actually composed by Bragg -- and that selection contains a lengthy quote of the tune "When Johnny Come Marching Home." The rest are covers of songs (some of them pre-20th century) that either overtly or covertly deal with revolution, radical politics, or pacifist sentiments. The arrangements are a real departure for Bragg, and are most unusual and effective. "I Dreamed I Saw Phil Ochs Last Night" and "Nicaragua Nicaraguita" are for unaccompanied voice. "Marching Song of the Covert Battalions" features prominent clarinet and recorder passages supported by organ, accordion, and revival-meeting bass drum/cymbals combination. "Red Flag" is an energetic reel set sparsely for voice, whistles, percussion, and minimal guitar. The title track is given a grand, traditional, all-stops-out treatment, arranged for chorus, large brass ensemble, and percussion. The album's best selection, "My Youngest Son Came Home Today," is a dirgelike antiwar number that is very moving and effective. This album is a committed, deeply felt manifesto well worth a listen. Original pressings of this record came with a wide-ranging and enjoyable promotional 45 containing selections by Bragg, Clea & McLeod, Caroline Trettine, and the Young Fresh Fellows. ~ David Cleary

Product Details

Release Date:	07/30/2013
Label:	Cooking Vinyl
UPC:	0711297470529
Rank:	141757

Tracks

1. Internationale
2. I Dreamed I Saw Phil Ochs Last Night
3. Marching Song of the Covert Battalions
4. Blake's Jerusalem
5. Nicaragua Nicaraguita
6. Red Flag
7. My Youngest Son Came Home Today
8. Introduction
9. Help Save the Youth of America
10. Think Again
11. Chile Your Waters Run Red Through Soweto
12. Days Like These [DC Remix]
13. To Have and to Have Not
14. There Is Power in a Union (With the Pattersons)
15. Joe Hill
16. This Land Is Your Land
17. Never Cross a Picket Line
18. A Change Is Gonna Come
19. A Miner's Life

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Billy Bragg   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals,Guitar (Electric)
The Pattersons   Primary Artist
Cara Tivey   Shakuhachi,Piano,Vocals
Marc Duff   Whistle (Instrument)
Cor Cochion Caerdydd   Vocals
Christie Tyler Cory   Brass
Charlie Llewellin   Drums,Cymbals
Dick Gaughan   Vocals
Wiggy   Vocals,Guitar (Bass)
Lorraine Bowen   Organ,Piano,Clarinet,Recorder,Accordion,Recorder (Soprano)
Grant Showbiz   Vocals
Jim Sutherland   Bodhran,Percussion
David Bedford   Conductor

Technical Credits

Pierre Degeyter   Composer
Derek Bolland   Engineer
Derek Boland   Engineer
Step Parikian   Engineer
Jim Connell   Composer
Charlie Llewellin   Engineer
Traditional   Composer
Bernice Johnson Reagon   Composer
Billy Bragg   Composer
Curtis Mayfield   Composer
Earl Robinson   Composer
Bobby Troup   Composer
Dick Gaughan   Composer
Wiggy   Producer
Peter Haigh   Engineer
Van Morrison   Composer
Phil Ochs   Composer
David Bowie   Composer
Woody Guthrie   Composer
William Blake   Composer
Grant Showbiz   Producer
Carlos Mejia Godoy   Composer
Eric Bogle   Composer
Leon Rosselson   Composer
Hubert Parry   Composer
David Bedford   Arranger