Ballads that have marked musical history

Ballads have existed since the 12th century. These songs, which began as an oral tradition and were passed from singer to singer, generation to generation, are traditionally long narrative songs. Some of the famous ballads recorded throughout history include the 15th century legend “Robin Hood,” the broadside “The Avondale Mine Disaster” about the nobility of labor and “The Flying Cloud,” a slave voyage narrative.

Folk ballads, the more common type of ballad and which is still sung today, typically uses dialogue and action to tell a dramatic story. Although some of the most popular ballads in recent history have been about love, not all ballads are.

Here are the ten best ballads:

1957: Patsy Cline’s “Walkin’ After Midnight”
This ballad was first given to pop singer Kay Starr. Country star Cline first rejected the song, as Starr did, but eventually recorded it. As Cline’s first major hit single, it reached #2 on the Billboard Country music chart and #12 on the Pop chart. It is remembered by some as one of the greatest country songs ever recorded.

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