There are many songs that could be described as political or that overtly address social issues. But more rarely has a song been so impactful as to directly influence American political and legal history. In the new book On the Record: Music that Changed America, Anna Celenza shares the stories of songs like Billie Holiday’s “Strange Fruit” and Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring that have inspired legislative change. We also take calls from listeners about the political songs that have stuck with them.
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