Rob Conroy

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Member Since: 1/22/2001
Total Mixes: 629
Total Feedback: 9267

With a pint of beer and a new tattoo

Artist Song
Billy Bragg  The Milkman of Human Kindness  
Billy Bragg  To Have and to Have Not  
Billy Bragg  A New England  
Billy Bragg  The Man in the Iron Mask  
Billy Bragg  From a Vauxhall Velox  
Billy Bragg  The Saturday Boy  
Billy Bragg  St. Swithin's Day  
Billy Bragg  This Guitar Says Sorry  
Billy Bragg  A Lover Sings  
Billy Bragg  Which Side Are You On? 
Billy Bragg  The World Turned Upside Down  
Billy Bragg  Levi Stubbs' Tears  
Billy Bragg (with Johnny Marr)  Walk Away Renee (Version) 
Billy Bragg  Greetings to the New Brunette  
Billy Bragg  The Marriage  
Billy Bragg  Ideology  
Billy Bragg  Help Save the Youth of America  
Billy Bragg  The Warmest Room  
Billy Bragg  The Tracks of My Tears 
Billy Bragg  Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards  
Billy Bragg  Wishing the Days Away [1988 b-side] 
Billy Bragg  She's Got a New Spell  
Billy Bragg  Must I Paint You a Picture 
Billy Bragg  The Short Answer 

Comment:

This has been a long time coming but was finally finished upon the release of those fantastic new '80s reissues. Although I, as usual, initially planned to make this a career overview, I couldn't help but limit it to his work through 1988 (Workers Playtime and its attendant singles). Again, although he's definitely had some worthwhile work since then (the first Wilco collaboration, in particular), none of it to me measures up to the extraordinary quality of his best early work, and I couldn't imagine cutting any of these tracks in favor of any of his more recent tracks. Last tracks cut: "Love Gets Dangerous," "There is Power in a Union," "Richard," "Strange Things Happen," "Like Soldiers Do," and "It Says Here."

Feedback:

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musicgnome
Date: 3/22/2006
This artist absolutely screams for a mix by you. Thanks for this.
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Salman1
Date: 3/22/2006
Wonderfully created mix. I'm not too particularly familiar with his work, but you seemed to have hit upon the stuff I am, and subsequently like, from him.
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Media Vixen: Radio Sally
Date: 3/22/2006
Great! And definitive, a la Rob!
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p the swede
Date: 3/22/2006
wonderful stuff
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sammyg123
Date: 3/22/2006
Got this one nailed, Rob. Spot on!
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Siobhan
Date: 3/22/2006
Yeah! Fantastic. I went through a bit of a Billy Bragg spell last week, you know the kind - listening to albums and thinking "hmmm, I never knew I liked that song." You've made wise choices here, especially with the last few tracks. Also, Mr. Bragg is someone I'd like to see live - apparently he still goes on about the miners' strike but hey, at least he's passionate. Anyway, great compilation of songs!
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Muzag
Date: 3/22/2006
Classic. Great picks throughout, Rob - although I have nostalgic soft spot for A13 myself too.
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G-Sphere
Date: 3/22/2006
Yeah, great choices. Classic artist.
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plushpig
Date: 3/22/2006
My wife would really dig this -I'm more lukewarm about him. Massively respect his moral stance & commitment but his music doesn't really push my buttons. Always had a particular soft spot for "Great Leap Forwards", tho'.
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12vman
Date: 3/22/2006
Definitely a mix to BRAGG about.
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Nomates
Date: 3/22/2006
As Single Artist Mixes go, this is a good one. It's a veritable satnav that directs us straight to the essence of Billy Bragg. You have reached your destination.
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French Connection
Date: 3/22/2006
Just see what buying a Mushroom Biryani for the late great John Peel can do for a musicians career! #12 is my fave Rob. Top mix.
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Air Raid
Date: 3/22/2006
I have always been a fan of Billy Bragg. Great mix.
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Barrydali
Date: 3/22/2006
All present and correct here Rob. Class.
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hemizen
Date: 3/22/2006
A perfect mix from just the man to make it.
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Lancelot Link IV1
Date: 3/22/2006
Inspires me to revisit the "Back to Basics" double lp that I haven't listened to in ages. Goood work!
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Mark Petruccelli
Date: 3/22/2006
This is excellent Rob, (although I think a post '88 second volume would be worthwhile)
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sport !
Date: 3/22/2006
great picks, sir!
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Moe
Date: 3/22/2006
I was going to say what 12vman said. Yes, his early work was great. Haven't listened to him in years.
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Rob_z2.
Date: 3/22/2006
Looks really nice. I have heard some Bragg, but here is a lot i dont know. Maybe i have to check it out?
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gobi
Date: 3/23/2006
Billy for me is best in small doses - on a mix is fine, but a whole mix? Isn't this hard-work?
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Dom1
Date: 3/24/2006
Oooh I'm sorry about this but Gawd how I despise Bragg and his militant left wing babble...wish he'd got lost on the Red Wedge Tour and never found his way home. He is what makes this country so bleak. He can't sing and his diction is darn right appalling.
So saying that I do like track 22!
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Vinz Clortho Keymaster of Gozer
Date: 3/24/2006
I just saw him on Conan and was very impressed. Trade?
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Pop Kulcher
Date: 3/30/2006
Missed this last week. I, too, would probably draw a line where you did (liked a couple later tracks, like "Sexuality," but can't say I listen to 'em). While, like some people noted, I prefer BB in small doses, I think "Great Leap Forwards" is unbelievably great, and most of Talking With The Taxman is wonderful.
I still remember when then-Congresswoman Patricia Schroeder addressed my college graduating class in '88 and she quoted "Help Save The Youth Of America," which, at the time, convinced me she was the coolest person in the universe. Can you imagine a politician today doing that? No frickin' way.
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Sean Lally
Date: 4/6/2006
all great stuff. i think he's nearly flawless through the 80s.