Billy Bragg - Life's A Riot With Spy VS Spy Vinyl

Artist: Billy Bragg

Title: Life's A Riot With Spy Vs Spy

Label: Utility Records

Catalogue Number: UTIL 1

Country: United Kingdom

Original Release Year: 1983

Pressing Year: 1983 UK Original Pressing

Format: Vinyl LP

Speed: 45 RPM

Description

Life's A Riot With Spy Vs Spy is the remarkable debut album by Billy Bragg, released in 1983. Recorded over just three days with nothing more than Bragg's voice and electric guitar, the album introduced his unique blend of folk, punk and politically charged songwriting. Despite its short running time, it qualified as an album and reached No. 30 on the UK Albums Chart, establishing Bragg as one of Britain's most distinctive singer-songwriters.

Featuring the classic songs A New England, To Have And To Have Not, The Milkman Of Human Kindness, Richard, The Man In The Iron Mask, The Busy Girl Buys Beauty and Lovers Town Revisited, the album remains one of the defining releases of the British folk-punk movement.

Pressing Notes

Original 1983 UK pressing on Utility Records, catalogue number UTIL 1.

Issued on the short-lived Utility label before later pressings appeared on Go! Discs, the original album is famously cut at 45 RPM despite being a full-length LP. Early UK pressings are highly regarded for their superb analogue sound and remain the most desirable edition for collectors.

Track Listing

Side One

The Milkman Of Human Kindness
To Have And To Have Not
Richard

Side Two

A New England
The Man In The Iron Mask
The Busy Girl Buys Beauty
Lovers Town Revisited
Additional Information
Original 1983 UK pressing
Utility Records
Catalogue number UTIL 1
45 RPM vinyl LP
Produced by Oliver Hitch
Features A New England
Includes To Have And To Have Not
Features The Milkman Of Human Kindness
Includes Richard
Features The Man In The Iron Mask
Classic British folk-punk album
Highly collectible original UK pressing
Condition

Sleeve: Very Good Plus (VG+)

Record: Very Good Plus (VG+)

Inner Sleeve: Very Good Plus (VG+)

Rockabuy Records Grading Guide

Near Mint (NM)

Virtually flawless condition. Played only a handful of times with no visible marks or signs of wear.

Excellent (EX)

Lightly played and exceptionally well cared for. May show only minimal signs of handling with no significant marks affecting playback.

Very Good Plus (VG+)

A well-preserved copy with only light signs of use. The sleeve remains clean and structurally sound, while the vinyl shows minimal surface marks that do not significantly affect playback.

Very Good (VG)

Noticeable signs of use with light surface marks and handling wear, though the record plays well throughout without major faults.

Good (G)

Visible wear with more pronounced marks. Playback remains enjoyable with some background noise.

Poor / Fair (P/F)

Heavy wear and significant scratches affecting playback quality.

Shipping

All records are visually inspected and conservatively graded for both sleeve and vinyl condition. Records are securely packaged in professional record mailers with protective stiffeners and dispatched via a fully tracked delivery service to ensure safe arrival.