By Kristine Chase
I was reminded of a project my friend and I did in order to procrastinate from writing our theses when I read Kaitlin’s post about homemade bread with the Kinks’ lyrics.
While I was procrastinating on finishing up my master’s thesis, I got an idea in my head about soundtracks and songs about preservation. As a graduation gift for all my fellow class mates, I made CDs of songs I had found that dealt with preservation, old buildings, development and downtowns. A book of Historic Preservation cartoons is in existence so why not a CD of preservation songs? I’m surprised someone hasn’t come up with this before- Folk music is largely about social activism. Why hasn’t the National Trust come up with a preservation anthem?
So these are the songs I found and it’s still a work in progress. My favorites are Developer’s Lullaby, Queen Anne Front, Gentrification Blues, and The House. Enjoy!
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Developer’s Lullaby by Bank-B-Gone Compilation
Our House by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Houses in the Fields by John Gorka
This Old House by Loretta Lynn
Little Boxes by Malvina Reynolds
Industrial Park by the Mammals
Daddy Won’t Sell the Farm by Montgomery Gentry
My Town by Montgomery Gentry
Wal-mart Associate’s Mandatory International Anthem by Paul Kotheimer
Queen Anne Front by Pete Seeger
Downtown by Petula Clark
Gentrification Blues by The Shakes
Jesus of Suburbia by Green Day
A Song is Not a Business Plan by The Rocket Summer (discovered after taking a class on non-profits)
Hey Levittown by Bob Koenig (he has a couple of albums about Levittown)
Village Green Preservation Society also done by Kate Rusby
The House Song by Peter, Paul and Mary
Preservation in Pink 