Edgar Allan Poe inspired songs

Subject: Edgar Allan Poe inspired songs
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 19 Jan 24 - 06:20 AM

Spotted that it was the man's 115th birthday today so I thought I would look up if there were any songs attributed to him. None specifically but certainly many were inspired by his poetry. My favourite so far is The Raven by The Alan Parsons Project.

Does anyone have any recommendations for others?

BTW - In Terry Pratchett's Discworld universe the is a Raven call Quoth :-D

Subject: RE: Edgar Allan Poe inspired songs
From: GUEST,Groovy
Date: 19 Jan 24 - 08:19 AM

215th, surely?

Subject: RE: Edgar Allan Poe inspired songs
From: The Og
Date: 19 Jan 24 - 09:55 AM

A Tribute to Edgar Allen Poe (C)

From a 19 January 2016 “Mudcat Cafe” post, by Suzanne from Australia, of an item that had appeared earlier in a MAD Magazine from the 1960s; tune = “There’s No Business Like Show Business”

             C                     Am                     C                     Am
There’s no stories like Poe stories like no stories we know,
G                                     C
If you like a tale that is appalling,
G                                                   C
If you like to murmur, shriek and cry,
G                                           Am                         D
If you like a tale with bodies falling, and spirits calling,
                           G
Then Poe’s your guy!
             C                     Am                      C                     F
There’s no people like Poe people, they all fill us with woe,
Am             G                               C          A
If you like a tale that’s filled with death galore,
       D       G                  C          A
And spirits tapping…upon your door,
Dm                      G                         C       A
And some crazy raven shouting, “Nevermore,”
             Dm G             C
There’s no…writer like Poe.

    And...

In Praise of Stephen King (C)

MY take on a 19 January 2016 “Mudcat Cafe” post, by Suzanne from Australia, of an item that had appeared earlier in a MAD Magazine from the 1960s; tune = “There’s No Business Like Show Business”

C                     Am                      C                  Am
I sing glories to King stories they bring disquieting,
G                                                    C
Most of them are filled with untold terror,
G                                     C
Don’t be in error, I do not lie.
G                                           Am                      D
If you like your stories full of evil, with much upheaval,
            G
I’ll clari-fy.
             C                   Am                C                         F
There’s no villains like King villains, maybe living next door.
Am                   G          C          A
If you think that demons are just everywhere,
       D             G          C       A
With vampires lurking…in midair,
         Dm                      G                  C                A
Then maybe you’re just waiting for a King-sized scare.
       Dm             G             C
Just stop at your local bookstore.

Subject: RE: Edgar Allan Poe inspired songs
From: gillymor
Date: 19 Jan 24 - 10:15 AM

My 10th grade English teacher adapted Poe's The Bells for guitars and voices (at least I think he did, or perhaps he got it from some other source). I recall being mesmerized by the sound of the 6 and 12 string guitars and the harmonies when he and his musical partner played it for our class. It inspired me to get an after school job so I could get my hands on a Martin like his.

Subject: RE: Edgar Allan Poe inspired songs
From: GUEST,Nathan Tompkins
Date: 19 Jan 24 - 10:23 AM

Sarah Jarosz version of Annabelle Lee kicks a lot of ass.

Subject: RE: Edgar Allan Poe inspired songs
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 19 Jan 24 - 10:29 AM

Indeed - 215th! Thanks Groovy :-)

Subject: RE: Edgar Allan Poe inspired songs
From: GUEST,Groovy
Date: 19 Jan 24 - 02:02 PM

Good, now please start using commas.

Know what I mean, Dave (see what I did there).

Subject: RE: Edgar Allan Poe inspired songs
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 21 Jan 24 - 07:38 AM

As long as I don't go into a coma or come to a full stop!

Subject: RE: Edgar Allan Poe inspired songs
From: Joe Offer
Date: 25 Jul 26 - 11:15 PM

Robert Rodriquez informs me that there was a 1961 Reprise LP titled Folk Ballads from the World of Edgar Allan Poe by the Ivy League Trio.

Here's a review I came across, posted in 2006 by "Ill Folks."

The last gasp from The Ivy League Trio has turned out to be an enduring death rattle, the lp "Folk Songs from the World of Edgar Allan Poe." The trio landed at the tail end of both the folk craze and the Famous Monsters of Filmland horror-novelty era, and this Reprise gem was neglected. It was the debut for newest trio member Ronn Langford (replacing Bev Galloway) and also the farewell. Ironically he, of all other members, has ended up with a long and prosperous life outside of show biz.

At least one rocker (Greg Kihn) has listed this as a very influential album. The trio flirted with macabre material during their Coral/Decca era, including "Ballad of Springhill," "Ballad of Tim Evans" and "Delia's Gone," but surpassed themselves as they adapted and in many cases re-wrote the original material given them by their new record label. The album ranges from poignant ("Eleanora") to spooky ("House of Usher") to ludicrous ("Tell-Tale Heart" re-written as a Western!) with this sample falling in between. It combines lusty folk balladry with over-the-top guignol as one might expect (and even demand).
"Folk Ballads..." is one of the finest ill folksong albums, and if you like "Pit and the Pendulum" then reward the record dealer who has been waiting for years to unload it on someone, cheap. Why, the moody album cover painting is suitable for framing....

https://illfolks.blogspot.com/2006/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcDTvl5KNps&list=PLoQ7t7Q6vLqU4g9qYgB7l89XhDIFHyNs2

Track Listing:

• The Tell-Tale Heart
• Eleanora
• The Masque Of The Red Death
• The Fall Of The House Of Usher
• Annabel Lee
• The Cask Of Amontillado
• The Pit And The Pendulum
• The Oblong Box
• The Bells
• The Raven
• Morella
• Never Bet The Devil Your Head

Lou Reed's 2003 concept album The Raven consists of interpretations of Poe's stories and poems, selected and arranged by Reed and performed by him and a number of guest vocalists.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imClfO9HB9o

Subject: RE: Edgar Allan Poe inspired songs
From: Joe Offer
Date: 25 Jul 26 - 11:37 PM

Up above, it's mentioned that the Alan Parsons Project recorded songs related to Edgar Allan Poe.

The Alan Parsons Project - Tales of Mystery and Imagination Edgar Allan Poe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OmqSdMEieo&list=PLSf6ymGhzJqeiXVeQUqDV0i5j-cCn5LDH&index=1

This album has a Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tales_of_Mystery_and_Imagination_(Alan_Parsons_Project_album)

Track Listing:

• A Dream Within A Dream 3:42
• The Raven 3:58
• The Tell-Tale Heart 4:35
• The Cask Of Amontillado 4:29
• (The System Of) Doctor Tarr And Professor Fether 4:12
• The Fall Of The House Of Usher (15:13)
  • Prelude
  • Arrival
  • Intermezzo
  • Pavane
  • Fall
• To One In Paradise

Subject: RE: Edgar Allan Poe inspired songs
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 26 Jul 26 - 02:37 AM

One of my favourite songs.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xS5LtNretk

Subject: RE: Edgar Allan Poe inspired songs
From: GerryM
Date: 26 Jul 26 - 07:54 AM

That's the Phil Ochs setting of The Bells (for those of you who don't like to click on links when you don't know where they go).

Subject: RE: Edgar Allan Poe inspired songs
From: MoorleyMan
Date: 26 Jul 26 - 09:59 AM

Peter Hammill's rock opera on The Fall of the House of Usher (with libretto by Chris Judge Smith) is an interesting, but ultimately flawed entry within his extensive and absorbing canon. First outed in 1991, then subsequently revised in 1999. Each version has its merits...

In the field of classical music, Rachmaninov wrote the choral symphony The Bells in 1913, based on Poe's poem of that name.