This coming March marks the 30th anniversary of the return to work of the striking miners of 1984/1985. Tony Wright, front-man with The Hurriers, has put together a benefit compilation album featuring some of the most influential British left-wing musicians of the past thirty years, along with a selection of very fine local talent. As a hardened union man and activist, the album aims to raise money for an organisation close to Tony’s heart – The Orgreave Truth And Justice Campaign. The album has been produced in association with Philosophy Football and includes artists such as Paul Heaton, Billy Bragg, Sleaford Mods, New Model Army, Chumbawumba, Louise Distras and more, singing songs of protest and resistance, both traditional and modern. Louderthanwar.com said that the album is “surely one of the most important political protest albums of recent times.”
As well as songs by Barnsley bands The Black Lamps, Wilde Sammon and Cambodia, for me the true heart of the album lays in a spoken word piece called The Christmas of 1984 by the former’s vocalist, Jeff Platts, and the song Truth and Justice by The Hurriers, which closes the album. Those familiar with Jeff’s words will already know that this poem is insightful and heartbreaking, and a real reflection of a family’s experience of the miner’s strike of 1984.
The track list for Orgreave Justice is as follows:
DISC ONE:
Three Concerned Citizens – Never Cross
Louise Distras – Bullets
Billy Bragg – Which Side Are You On?
Quiet Loner – Kneel and Comply
Attila the Stockbroker – Never Forget
Thee Faction – Union Man
Banner Theatre – The Battle of Orgreave
Blaggers ITA – Bastard Chillin’
Robb Johnson – Terry French
Jethro Platts – The Christmas of 1984
The Black Lamps – The Smoking Party
TV Smith – Immortal Rich
Steve Drewett – Sweet Jesus
Pitman Poet – King Coal
Sleaford Mods- Guillotine
Jon Langford – The Ballad of Solomon Jones
Chumbawamba – Coal Not DoleDISC TWO
Blossoms – Blow
The Movement – We Got Marx
Chris T-T – If You Want Speak To the Minister
New Model Army – Angry Planet
Steve White and the Protest Family – Which Side Are You On?
Matt Abbott – From Peterloo to Orgreave (165 Years)
Paul Heaton – Acid Country
Grace Petrie – Rise
Wilde Sammon – Remember Orgreave
Cambodia – Bang To Rights
Tony Walsh – Another Name for Coal
Terry and Dead – T-shirts
The Oppressed – Riot
Chris Evans Collective – Freedom
Joe Solo – No Pasaran!
The Hurriers – Truth and Justice
The Orgreave Truth and Justice CD is available now for £9.99 with all profits going to the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign. The album is also available in a t-shirt bundle.
You can order the album by visiting www.philosophyfootball.com/view_item.php?pid=1200
The Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign includes ex-miners, Trades Unionists, activists and others who are determined to get justice for miners who were victims of police lies and cover ups at Orgreave in June 1984. You can also find more information about the campaign at otjc.org.uk/ or on twitter @OrgreaveJustice.
Left to Right; Jethro Platts, Louise Distras and Tony Right at Barnsley Rock and Blues Venue, December 2014. Photo by Ian Parker.
Alternative Barnsley 