CHESS VOICE (No. 29) October-November 1972

THE BALLAD OF BOBBY FISCHER

By DAVID L. AMKRAUT, USCF Expert

"THE BALLAD OF BOBBY FISCHER," (record) sung by Joe Glazer and the Fianchettoed Bishops. Available from Collector Records, Suite 209, 8422 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

In addition to everything else, Bobby is now being idolized in song.

Sung in twangy, country-music style by Joe Glazer and the Fianchettoed Bishops, the seven-minute "Ballad of Bobby Fischer" relates Bobby's career from the beginning ("He opened his mouth on the day he was born... and said move that pawn") through his school days ("Sittin' in the classroom he barely could think, 'cause chess was his food, chess was his drink") on through the Interzonal and the Candidates Matches ("Despite his attempts to innovate Larsen was bent right out of shape") and concludes with Bobby Fischer Champion of the World and a disgraced Boris Spassky being hustled off to Siberia.