Don’t Try This at Home

Released in 1991, 'Don’t Try This at Home' represents the most significant production shift in Billy Bragg's career to that point. Moving away from the 'one man and his guitar' ethos, Bragg utilized a wide array of guest musicians, including Johnny Marr (The Smiths), Michael Stipe and Peter Buck (R.E.M.), and members of The Pogues. This resulted in a record that aligned more closely with the alternative rock and jangle pop of the era than the folk-punk of his 80s output. The album is notable for its thematic breadth, containing the hit 'Sexuality' - a plea for tolerance and safe sex - alongside 'Tank Park Salute', widely considered one of the most moving songs about grief in the English language. Despite the slicker production, Bragg’s socialist politics remain central on tracks like 'North Sea Bubble' and 'The Few'. It stands as his most commercially successful work, peaking at number 8 on the UK Albums Chart.