The song was covered by dozens of musicians.
Each iconic composition has its own story. In the romance “The Long Road” it is especially complex and dramatic. Many believe that the song was invented back in the 19th century, but it was composed by the poet Konstantin Podrevsky and composer Boris Fomin in 1924. Alas, the authorities did not appreciate the work.
In Soviet Russia, the romance genre experienced persecution: the masterpiece was banned at home, but gained popularity abroad, in emigrant circles. The song was also performed by the legendary Alexander Vertinsky. In the 1960s, the composition was translated into English, and the American public learned about it.
The Russian romance, called Those Were the Days, glorified the young singer Mary Hopkin. The artist conquered the charts with her, many musicians subsequently performed their cover versions of the composition. The public had no idea that the fashionable hit was invented in the distant Soviet Union.
