Billy Bragg - Between The Wars (Go! Discs)

A low price EP of four songs showing the man with the large nose at his most potent and lyrical. Billy 'pulls no punches', the thing beginning with "Between The Wars", an anti union-bashing song and ending on a new, slower version of "It Says Here" attacking the Tory press. You could argue that blatant political commentary alienates and ends up preaching only to the converted. Yet subtlety never works either. (Eleanor Levy, Record Mirror, March 16, 1985)

With just his trusty guitar and a swagbag of modern folk songs Spiced with the acid wit of punk, Billy Bragg has confounded all those who've said such antics had no place in 1985. Neil Kinnock's fave pop person (after Trace of course) has now released his first ever 7-inch single. It has four tracks that highlight Billy's mastery of investing simple songs with a sense of defiance and humanity. At £1.25, you can't go wrong. (Adrian Tierney-Jones, No 1, March 9, 1985)

Oh dear, I hate this man and his music. I've heard this on Whistle Test and hated it – my opinion hasn't changed. It's got the same monotonous tune all the way through and he can't sing to save his life. Why don't you just leave the music business, Billy? (Marshall O'Leary, Smash Hits, March 14, 1985)

Billy Bragg - Levi Stubbs' Tears (Go! Discs)

For a long time, Billy Bragg has been about the only politically motivated English singer not to trip over a soapbox every time he opens his mouth. And all he's ever needed is his voice and a guitar. But here he has added some percussion, keyboards, a bit of harmony and some "production" - and (hey presto!) the coarse strength of his old approach is gone. It seems a shame, especially as his gruff old voice is a bit swallowed up, but the words and subject matter (about the lead singer of the Four Tops) are not as strong as usual anyway. Oh dear. (Duncan Wright, Smash Hits, June 18, 1986)

I've always believed that anyone who has to through life looking like me or Billy Bragg deserves fame and fortune as compensation. "Levi Stubbs' Tears" succeeds on the title alone for me: standard Bragg with a story to tell. (Gary Crowley, Record Mirror, June 21, 1986)