Review: Songs America Voted By. Fine collection

Subject: Review: Songs America Voted By. Fine collection
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 20 Feb 03 - 11:22 PM

There's a book that I've been thumbing through every couple of months for the past few years and I thought I'd see how many other folks have found it as enjoyable as I have. It's called "Songs America Voted By" and I may even have gotten it from J. Offer (if so, thanks a ton Joe) I can't remember for sure.

It's edited by Irwin Silber and has NO connection with an album put out a while ago purporting to be election songs through the years, but really just a bunch of composed songs with the candidates names in them. Can't give ya more info, than it's published by "Stackpole Books"...which I've never heard of.

There are some real surprises here, not the least of which is the inclusion of (much of) "The Highland Muster Roll" (Little Wat Ye Wha's A Comin')...remember that incredibly stirring rant that Ewan MacColl would start off his concerts with to loosen up his vocal chords? Well here it is as an 'anti-John Adams' song/rant, complete with very American lyrics.

"Plunder's comin, Blunder's comin'
Robbin's comin' Jobbin's comin'
......and the plague O' war's a comin'"

(ha, ha, any similarity to current political situation NOT intended....in actual fact I was re-reading the book to take my mind OFF current politics!)

Anyway this is a fascinating book if your interest in Folk Music goes beyond The Kingston Trio (or NOT, for that matter), so if you see it in a used store grab it.

Cheers

Rick

Subject: RE: Review: Songs America Voted By. Fine collection
From: masato sakurai
Date: 21 Feb 03 - 07:39 AM

Bibliographical info:

Irwin Silber (compiled and edited with historical notes by).
Songs America Voted By [with the words and music that won and lost elections and influenced the democratic process] (Harrisburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 1971/1988; 4to, 320 pp.; Hardcover/Softcover.

I have posted two or three songs here in the forum from the book.

~Masato

Subject: RE: Review: Songs America Voted By. Fine collection
From: raredance
Date: 21 Feb 03 - 11:15 PM

I concur with Rick that it is a fascinating book. Another great book with a similar theme is "Music for Patriots, Politicians, and Presidents" by V B Lawrence (1975 Macmillan Publishing). The greatest era for USA political songs was the mid 1800's. The following three recordings contain an assortment of legitimate campaign songs.

    BRAND, OSCAR        Presidential Campaign Songs 1789-1996 (CD)

    Hail To the Chief!        American Political Marches, Songs & Dirges of the 1800's -CHESTNUT BRASS COMPANY & FRIENDS (CD)

JANOVSKY, PETER        Winners & Losers: Campaign from the Critical Elections in American History, Vol. II (LP Folkways)


rich r

Subject: RE: Review: Songs America Voted By. Fine collection
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 23 Feb 03 - 10:47 PM

Well I just discovered a little note BEHIND the bookcase. It WAS a gift from Joe. Thank you sir. At the moment I'm trying to find a similar resource for Canadian elections.......with no luck so far. We just wrote far fewer songs about stuff I guess!

Cheers

Rick

Subject: RE: Review: Songs America Voted By. Fine collection
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 24 Feb 03 - 02:32 PM

well...one more re-fresh and then I'll let it die a deserved death.

Subject: RE: Review: Songs America Voted By. Fine collection
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 27 Feb 03 - 06:31 PM

Boy, what a country! We ARE a democracy. We DO have politicians. They ARE stupid, crooked and worse.....but nobody writes songs about them. Oh well....who cares?

Cheers

Rick

Subject: RE: Review: Songs America Voted By. Fine collection
From: EBarnacle
Date: 09 Sep 09 - 09:52 AM

Last night, I was in a conversation about a campaign appearance by a politician we are working against. A line was spoken which led to this jingle:

No plan at all, no plan at all,
Chris Christie's a man who has not plan at all;
No plan at all, no plan at all,
Don't vote for a man who has no plan at all!
(Chorus melody from No Balls at all, etc.)

Subject: RE: Review: Songs America Voted By. Fine collection
From: EBarnacle
Date: 09 Sep 09 - 03:51 PM

I have been told this afternoon that I will be interviewed by the campaign PR people and the songlet is likely to be adopted statewide.

Subject: RE: Review: Songs America Voted By. Fine collection
From: Jack Campin
Date: 09 Sep 09 - 04:29 PM

You might like to look at my "Embro, Embro" pages for a few Scottish ones:
http://www.campin.me.uk/Embro/Webrelease/Embro/Embro.htm

The "arrivals and welcomes" chapter has some stuff about Gladstone's Midlothian campaign, which was a much bigger deal than you might think, and the one on politics, riot and repression has a great one about a certain Mr Blair.