''Between the Wars'' is an

extended play An extended play record, usually referred to as an EP, is a musical recording that contains more tracks than a single but fewer than an album or LP record.

released by Billy Bragg in 1985. It reached number 15 on the

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

. The title track was inspired by the

UK miners' strike (1984–1985) UK miners' strike may refer to: * UK miners' strike (1893) * South Wales miners' strike (1910) *National coal strike of 1912 * UK miners' strike (1921) * UK miners' strike (1953) * UK miners' strike (1969), a widespread unofficial strike * UK miner ...

. The choice of other songs on the record was also relevant to the dispute - "Which Side Are You On?" is an updated version of the American pro-

trade union A trade union (labor union in American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers intent on "maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment", ch. I such as attaining better wages and benefits ...

song of the same title from the 1930s, whilst "It Says Here" is critical of the

political bias Political bias is a bias or perceived bias involving the slanting or altering of information to make a political position or political candidate seem more attractive. With a distinct association with media bias, it commonly refers to how a r ...

of British newspapers, most of which opposed the strike. The proceeds from sales of the record were donated to the striking miners' fund.Family Detective: Billy Bragg
''

The Daily Telegraph ''The Daily Telegraph'', known online and elsewhere as ''The Telegraph'', is a national British daily broadsheet newspaper published in London by Telegraph Media Group and distributed across the United Kingdom and internationally. It was f ...

'', 31 March 2007 All four tracks are available on the Billy Bragg compilation album, '' Back to Basics'', and the 2006 reissue of ''

Brewing Up with Billy Bragg ''Brewing Up with Billy Bragg'' is the second album by Billy Bragg, released in 1984. While his debut album ''Life's a Riot with Spy vs Spy'' (1983) was performed by Bragg accompanied only by his guitar, ''Brewing Up with Billy Bragg'' began t ...

''.

Track listing

All tracks composed by Billy Bragg; except where indicated # "Between the Wars" # " Which Side Are You On?" (music by

Florence Reece Florence Reece (April 12, 1900 – August 3, 1986) was an American social activist, poet, and folksong writer. She is best known for the song " Which Side Are You On?" which she originally wrote at the age of twelve while her father was out ...

; new lyrics by Billy Bragg) # "World Turned Upside Down" (

Leon Rosselson Leon Rosselson (born 22 June 1934, Harrow, Middlesex, England) is an English songwriter and writer of children's books. After his early involvement in the folk music revival in Britain, he came to prominence, singing his own satirical songs, i ...

) # "It Says Here"

References

1985 EPs Billy Bragg albums Protest songs {{1980s-rock-album-stub