Social Studies | ||||
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Studio album by Loudon Wainwright III | ||||
Released | 1999 | |||
Genre | Folk, satire | |||
Length | 52:08 | |||
Label | Hannibal | |||
Producer | Joe Boyd, John Wood | |||
Loudon Wainwright III chronology | ||||
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Allmusic | link |
Robert Christgau | link |
Rolling Stone | link |
Social Studies is a studio album by Loudon Wainwright III, released in 1999. The album comprises various topical and satirical songs, originally produced for National Public Radio and based upon then-current issues and events, such as the Tonya Harding scandal, the O. J. Simpson murder trial, the lead-up to Y2K, and controversies surrounding comments made by former Republican U.S. Senator Jesse Helms.
Regarding the album's topical nature, Wainwright notes: "It's something that no-one does anymore; write songs about current events. When I was young there were a lot of topical songwriters around; maybe folk music had more impact on culture back then. I see these songs as a kind of musical journalism. My father was a journalist, for Life magazine, and I've definitely inherited something of that approach."
All tracks composed by Loudon Wainwright III