Prokofiev's Op. 66 collection was his first attempt to write so-called "mass songs," songs for the common man and woman in Russia using patriotic and propagandistic texts, as was more or less required of Soviet composers. This choral song cycle was his second attempt to write such music, though now on a large scale. In between these two efforts, of course, Prokofiev wrote, among other (mostly non-political) works, the controversial Cantata for the 20th Anniversary of the October Revolution, a far grander composition than either of these.

The Songs of Our Times begins with a colorful orchestral march and is followed by "Across the Bridge," a setting of text by A. Prishelets. It is joyous cavalry song having a jaunty, march-like character. Next comes "Be Happy," a gentle, simple song that radiates cheer and high spirits, but is hampered by its bland text, translated from Byelorussian traditional sources. "Golden Ukraine" (text after U. Barabash) is pleasant-sounding, but, again, the words—which extol the (imagined) successes of the collective farm—weaken the effort.

No. 4, "Brother's Revenge" (text by V. Lebedev-Kumach) has a grim, march-like manner in conveying its story about a young villager seeking to avenge his brother's death in battle by joining the army to fight the enemy. "Girls" (text by A. Prishelets) is next, a lively, light paean to Soviet women that features a lovely middle section. "A Twenty-Year-Old," is textually, at least, the strongest item in the collection. It is a setting of words by Samuil Marshak about the heroic actions of a young man who scales a drainpipe to rescue a young girl from a building consumed by fire. Its music is intense and exciting in places, but still somewhat pleasant for the dramatic events it depicts.

The ensuing "Lullaby" (text by Lebedev-Kumach) is lovely, but the mother's gentle words to her infant daughter are marred by inclusion of praise for Josef Stalin. "From Land to Land" closes the set with rousing, attractive music in the outer sections, which frame a lovely theme in the middle section. Once more, the (anonymous) text features praise for the Red Leader.

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