Name: A Soldier's Sad Story: Vietnam Through the Eyes of Black America 1966-73
Brand: Dark Peak Productions
SKU: 161010
Price: 13.22 USD
Availability: InStock

A Soldier's Sad Story

Rating

Album: A Soldier's Sad Story: Vietnam Through the Eyes of Black America 1966-73
#	Song Title		Time
1)	Greetings (This Is Uncle Sam)	More Info...	0:03
2)	He'll Be Back	More Info...	0:02
3)	Marching Off to War	More Info...	0:03
4)	While I'm Away (Baby Keep The Faith)	More Info...	0:02
5)	Going To Viet Nam	More Info...	0:03
6)	Lonely Soldier	More Info...	0:03
7)	I Believe I'm Gonna Make It	More Info...	0:03
8)	Christmas in Vietnam	More Info...	0:03
9)	I'm Gonna Help Hurry My Brothers Home	More Info...	0:03
10)	Let's Face Facts	More Info...	0:02
11)	Lights Out	More Info...	0:03
12)	When Johnny Comes Marching Home	More Info...	0:02
13)	A Soldier's Sad Story	More Info...	0:03
14)	A Letter From Viet Nam	More Info...	0:03
15)	Something You Couldn't Write About	More Info...	0:02
16)	Mail Call Time	More Info...	0:03
17)	There's Someone (Waiting Back Home)	More Info...	0:02
18)	Stop the War Now	More Info...	0:03
19)	Bring the Boys Home	More Info...	0:03
20)	P.O.W. - M.I.A.	More Info...	0:04
21)	War	More Info...	0:03
22)	I Can't Write Left Handed	More Info...	0:06
23)	Back to the World	More Info...	0:05
24)	Swap Dogg	More Info...	0:04

Album: A Soldier's Sad Story: Vietnam Through the Eyes of Black America 1966-73
#	Song Title		Time
1)	Greetings (This Is Uncle Sam)	More Info...	0:03
2)	He'll Be Back	More Info...	0:02
3)	Marching Off to War	More Info...	0:03
4)	While I'm Away (Baby Keep The Faith)	More Info...	0:02
5)	Going To Viet Nam	More Info...	0:03
6)	Lonely Soldier	More Info...	0:03
7)	I Believe I'm Gonna Make It	More Info...	0:03
8)	Christmas in Vietnam	More Info...	0:03
9)	I'm Gonna Help Hurry My Brothers Home	More Info...	0:03
10)	Let's Face Facts	More Info...	0:02
11)	Lights Out	More Info...	0:03
12)	When Johnny Comes Marching Home	More Info...	0:02
13)	A Soldier's Sad Story	More Info...	0:03
14)	A Letter From Viet Nam	More Info...	0:03
15)	Something You Couldn't Write About	More Info...	0:02
16)	Mail Call Time	More Info...	0:03
17)	There's Someone (Waiting Back Home)	More Info...	0:02
18)	Stop the War Now	More Info...	0:03
19)	Bring the Boys Home	More Info...	0:03
20)	P.O.W. - M.I.A.	More Info...	0:04
21)	War	More Info...	0:03
22)	I Can't Write Left Handed	More Info...	0:06
23)	Back to the World	More Info...	0:05
24)	Swap Dogg	More Info...	0:04

Performer Notes

Performers include: Edwin Starr, Curtis Mayfield, William Bell, The O'Jays, The Whispers, James Carr, Zerben R. Hicks, The Brilliant Korners.
Liner Note Authors: James MayCock; Tony Rounce.
Unknown Contributor Roles: Edwin Starr; Freda Payne; Joe Tex; The Monitors ; The O'Jays; The Whispers; William Bell; Richard Barbary.
Arrangers: Rich Tufo; Tom Washington; Bobby Martin ; Teacho Wiltshire; Jerry Williams, Jr. ; Riley Hampton.
As much a penetrating and painful lesson in American history as it is a fantastic set of vintage soul, A Soldier's Sad Story: Vietnam Through the Eyes of Black America 1966-73 documents a very different dimension of antiwar protest music -- Edwin Starr's classic "War" aside, the mainstream antiwar canon comprises songs written and performed almost entirely by white folkies (Bob Dylan, Phil Ochs, Barry McGuire, etc.), but the African-American response was just as potent and provocative, with an underlying sense of hopelessness and disenfranchisement that speaks volumes about the mindset of the black counterculture as war raged not only in Southeast Asia but also in places like Detroit and Watts. Ranging from the gritty deep soul of James Carr ("Let's Face Facts") to the sweet folk-soul of Bill Withers ("I Can't Write Left-Handed"), the set spans not only musical styles but also varying shades of polemical intensity -- some cuts are confrontational and direct, others elegiac and allegorical, but all burn with the emotional honesty and complexity that are the hallmarks of soul music at its finest. Other highlights include Mel & Tim's "Mail Call Time," the Monitors' "Greetings (This Is Uncle Sam)," Johnny & Jon's "Christmas in Vietnam," and the O'Jays' "There's Someone (Waiting Back Home)." ~ Jason Ankeny

Professional Reviews

Q (2/04, p.108) - 4 stars out of 5 - "[S]oul shouters and sobbers look at the war against communism from every blues, ballad or funk viewpoint..."