It occurred to me as I was sorting out the c.d.s the other day, and came across a Massive Attack release that had been issued when they had been urged by their record company to change their name to just 'Massive' during Gulf War I, that things were rather different in the Sixties and Seventies.
Even groups such as Martha and the Vandellas and Archie Bell and the Drells could release, if not anti-war songs, then certainly songs that acknowledged the conflict was happening and still get airplay.
In fact, Martha Reeves had a brother who served and died in Viet Nam- the subject of her single 'I'm So Proud', and Archie Bell was called up for service- so that he was unable to feature fully on the 1968 Drells' album 'Tighten Up', as he was wounded and not available for the album sessions.
The sixties and seventies saw songs such as Zerben R. Hicks and the Dynamics' 'Lights Out' , J B Lenoir's 'Vietnam/Vietnam Blues' (featured on the compilation album 'Vietnam Blues'),Troy Seals' 'Mama Hold My Hand' about a young recruit waiting to be shipped out and worrying he'll never see his mother again.
In the soul/jazz fusion vein, Terry Callier released 'Ho Tsing Mee' (A Song In The Sun) and Freda Payne released the uncompromisingly titled 'Bring The Boys Home'.
Of course these days not only would the record company baulk at the prospect of songs like those, but they wouldn't get playlisted.
Even groups such as Martha and the Vandellas and Archie Bell and the Drells could release, if not anti-war songs, then certainly songs that acknowledged the conflict was happening and still get airplay.
In fact, Martha Reeves had a brother who served and died in Viet Nam- the subject of her single 'I'm So Proud', and Archie Bell was called up for service- so that he was unable to feature fully on the 1968 Drells' album 'Tighten Up', as he was wounded and not available for the album sessions.
The sixties and seventies saw songs such as Zerben R. Hicks and the Dynamics' 'Lights Out' , J B Lenoir's 'Vietnam/Vietnam Blues' (featured on the compilation album 'Vietnam Blues'),Troy Seals' 'Mama Hold My Hand' about a young recruit waiting to be shipped out and worrying he'll never see his mother again.
In the soul/jazz fusion vein, Terry Callier released 'Ho Tsing Mee' (A Song In The Sun) and Freda Payne released the uncompromisingly titled 'Bring The Boys Home'.
Of course these days not only would the record company baulk at the prospect of songs like those, but they wouldn't get playlisted.
Vietnam Through The Eyes Of Black America
A Soldier’s Sad Story
The Monitors Greetings (This is Uncle Sam)
The Players He’ll be back
William Bell Marching off to war
Eddy G Giles & The Jive Five While I’m away (baby keep the faith)
Big Amos Going to Vietnam
Mike Williams Lonely Soldier
Joe Tex I Believe I’m gonna make it
Johnny & Jon Christmas in Vietnam
Jimmy Holiday I’m gonna help hurry my brothers home
James Carr Let’s face facts
Zerben R Hicks & The Dynamics Lights Out
Richard Barbary When Johnny Comes Marching Home
Tiny Watkins A Soldier’s Sad Story
Emmanuel Laskey A Letter from Vietnam
Gloria Edwards Something you couldn’t write about
Mel & Tim Mail Call Time
The O’Jays There’s someone (waiting back home)
Freda Payne Bring the Boys Home
Edwin Starr Stop the War Now
The Whispers POW – MIA
Carla Whitney War
Bill Withers I Can’t write left handed
Curtis Mayfield Back to the world
Swamp Dogg Sam Stone
A Soldier’s Sad Story
The Monitors Greetings (This is Uncle Sam)
The Players He’ll be back
William Bell Marching off to war
Eddy G Giles & The Jive Five While I’m away (baby keep the faith)
Big Amos Going to Vietnam
Mike Williams Lonely Soldier
Joe Tex I Believe I’m gonna make it
Johnny & Jon Christmas in Vietnam
Jimmy Holiday I’m gonna help hurry my brothers home
James Carr Let’s face facts
Zerben R Hicks & The Dynamics Lights Out
Richard Barbary When Johnny Comes Marching Home
Tiny Watkins A Soldier’s Sad Story
Emmanuel Laskey A Letter from Vietnam
Gloria Edwards Something you couldn’t write about
Mel & Tim Mail Call Time
The O’Jays There’s someone (waiting back home)
Freda Payne Bring the Boys Home
Edwin Starr Stop the War Now
The Whispers POW – MIA
Carla Whitney War
Bill Withers I Can’t write left handed
Curtis Mayfield Back to the world
Swamp Dogg Sam Stone
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