Reaching to the Converted

• Artist: Billy Bragg
• Rating:
• Release Date: August 31, 1999
• Type: Compilation (best of), Lyrics are included with the album
• Genre: Rock

Review

This is no ragtag rummage sale of leftovers, castoffs, and third-rate rejects. Having previously purchased the ten singles Reaching is culled from, spanning 1985-1997, one nevertheless revels in the poignant, luxurious breadth of Bragg's heart and brain. Like Bragg's real LPs, this is a roadmap to the spectrum of feeling, from bliss to misery and every destination in between. One experiences the heart-busting sweetness of "Ontario, Quebec and Me," the contented, bubbling joy of "The Boy Done Good," the knowing shrug of "Bad Penny," the regretful resignation of a revamped (by an inspired Johnny Marr) "Greetings to the New Brunette" called "Shirley," the distasteful, frank frustration of "Sulk," the gentle sadness in a rendition of the Smiths' B-side "Jeane," the wrenching melancholy of a ballad-rethink of "Wishing the Days Away," and the dour despair of his piano cover of Brit-folk standard "Heart Like a Wheel." (Or, for those who favor sociopolitics, there is "Days Like These" and a less frenzied re-recording of "Accident Waiting to Happen.") Unfortunately, some of Bragg's best B-sides are oddly A.W.O.L. The scathing "Thatcherites" and the Natalie Merchant-sung collaboration "Bread and Circuses" should have replaced the too-sketchy "I Don't Need This Pressure Ron" and "Scholarship Is the Enemy of Romance" -- or simply been added, along with his torch job on Love's "Seven and Seven Is." Likewise, a so-so cover of the Beatles' "She's Leaving Home" probably should have been left on the forgettable charity Sgt. Pepper tribute LP it came from. But, otherwise, this album might be better than William Bloke. If Bragg-faves the Temptations once sang "I Wish it Would Rain," then Reaching is like that song's memorable coda: "Let it rain...." ~ Jack Rabid, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Shirley [#] (Lyrics)	Billy Bragg	Billy Bragg	(3:35)
Sulk (Lyrics)	Billy Bragg, Cara Tivey	Billy Bragg	(3:48)
Accident Waiting to Happen [Red Star Version]	Billy Bragg	Billy Bragg	(3:49)
The Boy Done Good	Billy Bragg, Johnny Marr	Billy Bragg	(3:23)
Heart Like a Wheel	Anna McGarrigle	Billy Bragg	(2:47)
Bad Penny (Lyrics)	Billy Bragg	Billy Bragg	(2:34)
Ontario, Quebec and Me (Lyrics)	Billy Bragg	Billy Bragg	(2:44)
Walk Away Renee [Version]	Michael Brown, Tony Sansone, Bob Calilli	Billy Bragg	(2:25)
Rule nor Reason (Lyrics)	Billy Bragg	Billy Bragg	(3:13)
Days Like These [UK Version]	Billy Bragg	Billy Bragg	(2:21)
Think Again	Dick Gaughan	Billy Bragg	(3:34)
Scholarship Is the Enemy of Romance (Lyrics)	Billy Bragg	Billy Bragg	(2:23)
Wishing the Days Away [Ballad Version]	Billy Bragg	Billy Bragg	(4:37)
The Tatler	Ry Cooder, Russ Titelman	Billy Bragg	(3:41)
Jeane	Johnny Marr, Morrissey	Billy Bragg	(2:53)
She's Leaving Home	John Lennon, Paul McCartney	Billy Bragg	(3:03)
I Don't Need This Pressure Ron (Lyrics)	Billy Bragg	Billy Bragg	(1:57)

Credits

Shawn Amos (Project Assistant), Cara Tivey (Piano), John Porter (Mandolin), Andy Hobson (Bass), Wiggy (Project Consultant), Johnny Marr (Guitar (Acoustic)), Gary Stewart (Compilation Producer), Billy Bragg (Liner Notes), Johnny Marr (Multi Instruments), Gary Smith (Producer), Doug Erb (Illustrations), Robert Handley (Vocals), Ken Jones (Guitar), Greg Allen (Art Direction), Patrick Milligan (Project Assistant), Johnny Marr (Producer), Penny Smith (Photography), Greg Allen (Design), Julee Stover (Editorial Supervision), Rachel Gutek (Art Direction), Michael W. Johnson (Project Assistant), Lorraine Bowen (Vocals (Background)), Greg Allen (Photography), Cara Tivey (Vocals), Edward DeBono (Producer), John Porter (Producer), Rob Allum (Drums), Kirsty MacColl (Vocals (Background)), Wiggy (Guitar), Billy Bragg (Guitar (Electric)), Jody Linscott (Percussion), J.F.T. Hood (Drums), Grant Showbiz (Compilation Producer), Grant Showbiz (Producer), Ken Jones (Producer), Nigel Frydman (Guitar (Bass)), Cara Tivey (Keyboards), Amanda Vincent (Piano), Billy Bragg (Vocals), Billy Bragg (Guitar (Acoustic)), Nigel Frydman (Bass), Tim Young (Remastering), Billy Bragg (Guitar), Cara Tivey (Recorder)

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