I have been listening to a lot of Al Stewart lately. He inhabits a rather unique musical niche in that a good chunk of the material that he writes is about historical figures and situations. To me songs like “Roads To Moscow” are mini epic masterpieces. I can’t really think of any other artist that concentrates on writing so much historical songwriting. I was wondering if there are any other examples similar to Al?
Gordon Lightfoot? Jaime Brockett? Arlo Guthrie? Tiny Tim?
Last edited by rcarlberg; 08-14-2014 at 05:03 PM.
Iron Maiden (Alexander the Great)
Lightfoot came to mind as some of his stuff is historical. "The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald" is practically the national anthem here in Michigan. But, overall his focus did not seem to be nearly as much on history as Al was.Originally Posted by rcarlberg
Maiden has their fair share of historical references true.
Chris Deburgh had quite a a few historical songs. As a genre, I think Al Stewart is pretty much the man.
Very early Chris De Burgh- songs with a historical, vaguely religious bent. I was surprised that 'Spanish Train And Other Stories' is really a tremendous album, considering he later set new standards of schmaltz with 'Lady In Red', 'Missing You' and the like.
How about Robbie Robertson?
Of course, I would add Dylan, but much of what he wrote in his early days was current events, although still of historical significance.
Donovan did some, too.
"The White Zone is for loading and unloading only. If you got to load or unload go to the White Zone!"
Don McClean--Van Gogh
Al is the man.
That was my first thought as well.
Maybe not exactly operating in the same genre as Al Stewart but you really should listen to Big Big Train, "English Electric Full Power" in particular. Most songs are about or inspired by English historical events. The 'full power' edition comes with a booklet with lots of information about the events the songs are referring to. A real treat.
For this, might be generally easier to make a list of albums than a list of musicians.
For example, Mark Knopfler's Shangri-La album has at least 7 historical tunes (listed below) but in his other solo albums you might not find more than two historical songs (some are listed below) (note: I haven't listened to his last two albums).
There's also an album called Shackleton's Voyage (about Shackleton's voyage), which I hear is a prog album, by a band called Eureka I haven't listened to.
historical songs from his album Shangri-La:
5:15AM -- story of a 1967 criminal case in England
Boom Like That -- McDonald's founder Ray Kroc
Stand up guy -- about fake cure potion salesmen in the old West
Song For Sonny Liston - boxer Sonny Liston
Back to Tupelo -- Elvis
Don't Crash the Ambulance -- you decide who it is about
Donegan's Gone -- Scottish musician Lonnie Donegan
historical songs from his album Golden Heart:
Imelda -- Imelda Marcos, Former First Lady of the Phillipines
Done With Bonaparte -- Napoleon Bonaparte and war with Russia
historical songs from his album Sailing to Philadelphia
Sailing to Philadelphia -- Mason and Dixon
Speedway at Nazareth -- car racing in the USA
historical songs from his album Ragpicker's Dream:
Why Aye Man -- Scottish going to work in Germany (I think)
Devil Baby -- old sideshows
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