Album Review: Давным Давно Была Война (Long Past Is The War)
Released in 1979 under the Soviet label Мелодия, Давным Давно Была Война is a curious blend of pop sensibilities, military brass, and heartfelt vocal performances. This compilation brings together various artists to create an album that feels like flipping through a dusty old photo album—each track a snapshot of memory, loss, or triumph from wartime USSR. While it’s not perfect—and some moments feel dated—it nails its emotional core with tracks that stick with you long after the needle lifts.
One standout track is "День Победы" (Victory Day). You’ve probably heard this one before; it’s iconic for a reason. The soaring orchestration and choir-like backing vocals make it feel bigger than life. It’s celebratory but carries a weight, as if everyone singing knows what was sacrificed to get there. The lyrics are simple yet powerful—"This day will live forever!"—and even if you don’t speak Russian, the emotion punches through. It’s impossible not to hum along by the end.
Another gem is "Рязанские Мадонны" (Madonnas From The Ryazan Region). This one sneaks up on you. At first, it seems like just another ballad, but then the strings swell and the singer's voice cracks ever so slightly on certain notes. That rawness? It hits different. The imagery of mothers waiting for sons who never return sticks with you—it’s hauntingly beautiful. When I first heard it, I had to pause and sit with it for a minute. Heavy stuff.
The production quality isn’t exactly cutting-edge, even by 1979 standards. Some of the arrangements lean a bit too heavily into bombastic territory, and the orchestra credited simply as “Unknown Artist” doesn’t always gel perfectly. But honestly? That rough-around-the-edges vibe kinda works here. It adds authenticity, like these songs weren’t made for commercial success—they were made because they needed to exist.
Artwork by В. Козлов deserves a shoutout too. It’s stark and minimalistic, almost like propaganda posters from decades earlier. A fitting visual match for the music inside.
What strikes me most about this album is how unapologetically human it feels. These aren’t polished pop stars trying to sell records—they’re people telling stories, passing down memories. Tracks like "Письмо Отца" (Father’s Letter) and "Бухенвальдский Набат" (Tocsin Of Buchenwald) remind us of pain and resilience. They don’t sugarcoat anything. And maybe that’s why, despite its flaws, this album lingers.
Final thought? Listening to Давным Давно Была Война feels like stepping into someone else’s history class—a messy, emotional, deeply personal one. If you’re into vintage Soviet music or just want something that’ll make you think, give it a spin. Just don’t expect Spotify-level polish. Oh, and fun fact: the editor listed, А. Качалина, must’ve had her hands full keeping all these tracks cohesive. Hats off to her.
Rating: 7.5/10
Would pair well with: Old black-and-white war films or a quiet afternoon reflecting on life’s big questions.
