There were some bootlegged versions of approved recordings copied onto X-Rays just because the discs could be bought a bit cheaper but in general the music they contained was forbidden. Whilst most strikingly for us this included Western Jazz and Rock and Roll, the bulk of it seems to have been Russian music - either made by emigres or by homegrown singers. The latter was often 'bard' or folk music with lyrics about life in the gulag. Perhaps this was more 'unofficial' rather than banned, considered low culture rather than actually anti-soviet. It was certainly very popular not least because as a friend said to me recently: 'nearly every family at that time had at least one member in the gulag.."
People want to hear their own music in their own language. But what was the officially approved repertoire? Of course, there was much wonderful instrumental classical and choral music but a lot of the sanctioned songs and popular music may have been rather worthy and hence to young people at least, very dull - with stiff rhythms and politically correct lyrics.
The images show a seven inch vinyl recording on the State record label Melodiya: "Pioneers' Songs' recorded by the Soviet Communist Scouts Organisation. The song titles give an idea of the content:
1. BURN THE FIRES UP!
2. BAKLAGKA
3. POTATOES
4. ATTENTION, START!
5. NA ZARYADKU!
6. PIONEER'S ROAD SONG
