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I heard an interview with Suzanne Vega on the radio, she was promoting a new cd by various artists (including herself) of songs that have been inspired by literature. An interesting concept for a compilation album. For example "the ghost of Tom Joad" Bruce Springsteen, inspired by steinbeck's "Grapes of wrath". Full track listing, artist and the work that inspired the songs on the link below. Thought some of you out there may be interested.


http://www.artistsforliteracy.org./siblcd1.html

Rob

You're right, Rob . Such an innovative way to encourage/inspire children and young people to read worthwhile literature .

Thanks for the info Rob. I like songs inspired by book, theatre or film so I'll definitely check this one out. They have a very cinematic quality. The Springsteen song is the only one I'm familiar with on this tracklist.
But they should have started the tracklist with Woody Guthrie's song "Tom Joad" and ended with "The ghost of Tom Joad" - two quite different songs although inspired by the same book.
Springsteen said in an interview that what thrilled him most about the whole album "Ghost of TJ" was that many high school teachers from around the country wrote to him saying they used it as educational tool for students for the album's social and historical content.

I have been trying to thinkof other songs inspired by books,so far.....

"White rabbit", jefferson airplane (alice in wonderland)
"Venus in furs", Velvet underground, from Sacher-Masoch's book of the same tittle.
"World turned upside" down, dont remember who wrote the song, I have it by Billy Bragg, from Christopher Hill book of the same tittle.

Any more?
Rob.

Ooops,
title, title, title. Think I got it now.