Protest songs

[gregM]

Is anyone here really up on their Vietnam protest songs?

I've been trying to remember a really obscure old protest song form about
1970. If anyone here thinks they really know the old songs, please send
me a PM.

[J C Gray]

The ultimate one has gotta be Country Joe McDonald..."GIMME AN 'F'....
John Prine did a few good ones too, but I can't remember the titles offhand.
Normally I can't stand Pink, but check out this hidden track on one of her albums, written and performed by her Dad who was a vet. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foevZn5l9pQ

[gregM]

JC,
Thanks for the reply. I'm still searching for the particular song but I'm
sure I will find it.

Greg

[BEB9]

The only one I know is Alice's Restaurant by Arlo Guthrie. It's probably not the one you are looking for as it isn't obscure, but I thought I would mentioned it just in case.

Cheers

Nicole

[gregM]

Thanks Nicole.
Not the one but I appreciate your taking the time to reply.

[Bill Brewster]

Where you'll Find it

Check out Hugo Keesing's 13 CD set "Next Stop is Vietnam." Virtually everything is there, good, bad and ugly.

Bill

[gregM]

Check out Hugo Keesing's 13 CD set "Next Stop is Vietnam." Virtually everything is there, good, bad and ugly.

Bill

The song I was looking for is "He said he had a friend" by Doc Williams.
Forum member Andy (Historyguy) came up with the name and artist.

I had been in contact with Hugo Keesing about the song. He along with
Lydia Fish and John Bakey who collaborated with him on his list of protest
songs have been searching for the song for me for a couple of weeks.

After Andy found the song, I sent emails to Mr, Keesing. He had never heard
of the song before.

Thanks again to everyone who has helped me with this and Andy------------
-------You're the man .

Greg

[historyguy]

Thanks! I was quite happy to help-- anything to procrastinate typing the manuscript for my next article...

[Gil Burket]

Check out Hugo Keesing's 13 CD set "Next Stop is Vietnam." Virtually everything is there, good, bad and ugly.

Bill

Thanks for posting about "Next Stop is Vietnam". I heard a review of that on All Things Considered one night and I could not remember the name of it.

There has been some criticism of it because as you say there is some very obscure and questionable quality stuff on there. Another problem I understand is that some of the more significant tunes are not on there with the big groups that did them due to copyright issues. Supposedly some of the more recognizable tunes are on there with a lessor known group. But it's still on my Want List for one of these days.

[DennyB]

I heard a song while in the army in 1971, I don't know if it would be classified as a protest song but more of a hippie/drug related type song. I can't remember all of the words but it started out:

"When I first got in country in Viet Nam
We didn't get to see a whole lot of Saigon
They just shook us down and called off roll
and sent us out on a long patrol"

It goes on to tell about smoking weed and running into a VC patrol and everyone smoking weed together, really sort of a silly song actually...

[theduke335]

Johnny Wright and Kittie Wells - Hello Veitnam......opening song on "Full Metal Jacket"

[TrenchfootJoe66]

I much prefer the patriotic country tunes of the period. The master of that genre being Special Forces legend Jim Tolbert. I also have alot of stuff that was recorded by a fighter jock I know. He had a musical act with his buddy. They were awesome ! He recently sent me a recordeing of his 100 mission party recorded in the O Club at Korat. Everybody seems to want to focus on the anti war/protest side of popular culture during the war period. What people seem to forget is that the war was not quite as unpopular as the we are led to believe. Lots of music was made reflecting the other side of the story.

JW
PS Not trying to slag on your interest in the protest songs, just wanted to throw this out there.

[gregM]

PS Not trying to slag on your interest in the protest songs, just wanted to throw this out there.

No problem here . I like some of the songs on both sides.