Roads to Moscow was inspired by “One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Solzhenitsyn. Al claims to have read about 50 WWII history books before writing the song. Al’s Between the Wars from 1995 is my favorite record of all time. Stylistically, the entire record, except “Sampan”, sounds as if it was written during the 20’s and 30’s. It is a masterpiece, much as RtM is. Bob
BTW, Sampan contains one of my favorite Al Stewart lines: “Sea and sky Come together in a hazy kiss upon the ocean Europe seems a foreign notion Hardly thought of.”
While I’m at it, Al’s line from a New Years Eve celebration from same album: “Uncork your spirits and welcome it in. Who knows what it’s got up its sleeve? Can’t wait for it all to begin...She’s laughing, laughing into 1939.”
Pithy stuff, methinks. Bob
PS: I need to read some Solzhenitsyn. I’m terribly unversed in his works!