Billy Bragg Albums in Order – Complete Discography & Musicians
by Mike Bell
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Billy Bragg has built a studio album career that fuses punk spirit, folk honesty, and sharp political commentary. Across four decades and more than a dozen albums, he has collaborated with a diverse circle of musicians, including The Blokes, Kirsty MacColl, Wilco, and Joe Henry. This guide lists Billy Bragg’s studio albums in order, as detailed on my music map, with the full musician credits that shaped each release.
Life’s a Riot with Spy vs Spy (1983)
| Musician | Contribution |
|---|---|
| Billy Bragg | Vocals, guitar |
| Dave Woodhead | Trumpet on “The Man in the Iron Mask” (alternative version) |
Brewing Up with Billy Bragg (1984)
| Musician | Contribution |
|---|---|
| Billy Bragg | Vocals, guitar |
| Dave Woodhead | Trumpet |
| Kenny Craddock | Organ |
| Johnny Marr | Guitar, vocals, tambourine |
| Bobby Valentino | Violin |
| George Shilling | Percussion |
Talking with the Taxman About Poetry (1986)
| Musician | Contribution |
|---|---|
| Billy Bragg | Vocals, guitar |
| Dave Woodhead | Trumpet, flugelhorn |
| Kirsty MacColl | Backing vocals |
| Simon Moreton | Percussion |
| B. J. Cole | Pedal steel guitar |
| Bruce Thomas | Bass guitar |
| Cara Tivey | Piano, vocals, Hammond C-3 organ |
| Danny Thompson | Double bass |
| Julia Palmer | Cello |
Workers Playtime (1988)
| Musician | Contribution |
|---|---|
| Billy Bragg | Guitars (acoustic & electric), vocals |
| Cara Tivey | Piano, Hammond organ, shakuhachi, vocals |
| Danny Thompson | Double bass |
| Michelle Shocked | Backing vocals |
| Micky Waller | Drums |
| Theresa Pamplin | Viola |
| Wiggy | Electric, acoustic & slide guitar, backing vocals |
| Côr Cochion Caerdydd | Vocals |
| David Bedford | Arrangement and conducting |
The Internationale (1990)
| Musician | Contribution |
|---|---|
| Billy Bragg | Vocals, acoustic & electric guitars |
| Robert Handley | Vocals on “Hold the Fort” |
| Dick Gaughan | Vocals |
| Cara Tivey | Piano, organ |
| J. F. T. Hood | Drums, percussion |
| Andy Hobson | Bass |
| Caroline Hall | Trombone |
| Elliet Mackrell | Violin |
Don’t Try This at Home (1991)
| Musician | Contribution |
|---|---|
| Billy Bragg | Vocals, acoustic & electric guitars, keyboards |
| Michael Stipe | Backing vocals (“You Woke Up My Neighbourhood”) |
| Peter Buck | Mandolin |
| Johnny Marr | Electric guitar |
| Wiggy | Electric guitar, bass |
| Andy Hobson | Bass |
| Jody Linscott | Percussion |
| Kirsty MacColl | Vocals |
William Bloke (1996)
| Musician | Contribution |
|---|---|
| Billy Bragg | Vocals, guitar |
| Wiggy | Guitars |
| Andy Hobson | Bass |
| Cara Tivey | Piano |
| J. F. T. Hood | Drums, percussion |
| Simon Moreton | Percussion |
| Robert Wyatt | Backing vocals |
| John Porter | Guitar, mandolin, bass |
Mermaid Avenue (with Wilco, 1998)
Followed by Mermaid Avenue Vol. II (2000) and Mermaid Avenue: The Complete Sessions (2012).
| Musician | Contribution |
|---|---|
| Billy Bragg | Vocals, guitar |
| Jeff Tweedy | Guitars, harmonica, lead/backing vocals, handclaps |
| Jay Bennett | Keyboards, guitars, bouzouki, banjo, percussion, backing vocals |
| John Stirratt | Bass, keyboards, backing vocals, handclaps |
| Ken Coomer | Drums, percussion, backing vocals, handclaps |
| Natalie Merchant | Lead & backing vocals |
| Peter Yanowitz | Drums |
| Eliza Carthy | Violin |
England, Half-English (2002, with The Blokes)
| Musician | Contribution |
|---|---|
| Billy Bragg | Vocals, guitars |
| Ian McLagan | Hammond B3, piano, Wurlitzer |
| Ben Mandelson | Mandolin, bouzouki, guitars, harmonica, lap steel |
| Lu Edmonds | Cümbüş, electric guitar |
| Martyn Barker | Drums, percussion |
| Simon Edwards | Double bass, electric bass, marímbula |
Mr Love & Justice (2008)
| Musician | Contribution |
|---|---|
| Billy Bragg | Vocals, guitars |
| May Fitzpatrick | Backing vocals |
| Robert Wyatt | Backing vocals on “I Keep Faith” |
| Ben Mandelson | String instruments |
| Ian McLagan | Hammond organ, piano |
| Martyn Barker | Drums, percussion |
| Simon Edwards | Bass |
| Cara Tivey | Keyboards |
Tooth & Nail (2013)
| Musician | Contribution |
|---|---|
| Billy Bragg | Vocals, guitar |
| Joe Henry | Production |
| Greg Leisz | Acoustic guitar, pedal steel, mandolin |
| David Piltch | Bass, upright bass |
| Jay Bellerose | Drums, percussion |
| Patrick Warren | Keyboards |
Bridges Not Walls (2017)
| Musician | Contribution |
|---|---|
| Billy Bragg | Vocals, guitars |
| CJ Hillman | Electric guitar, pedal steel, mandolin, backing vocals |
| Dave Ross | Drums |
| Fred Claridge | Drums, cajón, backing vocals |
| Jacob Stoney | Piano, organ, Mellotron, keyboards, backing vocals |
| Darren Beckett | Drums |
| Jack Valero | Guitar |
| Michele Stodart | Vocals |
| Romeo Stodart | Vocals |
The Million Things That Never Happened (2021)
| Musician | Contribution |
|---|---|
| Billy Bragg | Vocals, guitars |
| Joe Harvey-Whyte | Pedal steel guitar |
| Nick Pynn | Multi-instruments |
| Maisie Rose Skipper | Vocals |
| Judith Goodman | Mellotron |
| Dave Izumi Lynch | Production |
| Darren Beckett | Drums |
Q&A: Billy Bragg’s Albums & Collaborations
What is Billy Bragg’s most famous collaboration?
His work with Wilco on the Mermaid Avenue albums involved setting Woody Guthrie’s lyrics to music.
Did Billy Bragg always play solo?
No, while his early albums were raw one-man shows, later works feature The Blokes and many guest musicians.
Who produced Bragg’s recent work?
Joe Henry produced Tooth & Nail (2013) and collaborated on later projects.
Data sources: artist credits compiled from Mike Bell’s research spreadsheet and discography references
