Some years ago I bought this Rhino compilation of patriotic country songs called Country Shots: God Bless America specifically for this Bill Anderson song that I was mocking in an old public access show. It turned out to be a pretty listenable collection [mostly Vietnam era] with a fair variety of styles and tone, suprisingly good for not even having Merle Haggard. Here's the line-up:
1. God Bless America Again - Bobby Bare
2. Viet Nam Blues - Dave Dudley
3. It's America (Love It Or Leave It) - Ernest Tubb
4. God Must Have Blessed America - Glen Campbell
5. The Minute Men (Are Turning In Their Graves) - Stonewall Jackson
6. Ballad Of Two Brothers - Autry Inman
7. Americans (A Canadian's Opinion) - Tex Ritter
8. Where Have All Our Heroes Gone - Bill Anderson
9. Don't Give Us A Reason - Hank Williams Jr.
10. God Bless The USA - Lee Greenwood
I've just dug it out again, and it all sounds interesting and fresh in many ways in our current situation. Hearing it from a real wartime situation, instead of from the safe campy comfort of even two years ago makes it vital. I would highly and heartily recommend it to one and all.
One track has jumped out at me in the current context. Autry Inman's "Ballad of Two Brothers" is more of a drama/comedy sketch than a song, but it's excellent however you want to label it. He narrates a letter home from a dedicated soldier in Vietnam, interspersed with his highly mockable brother back home at the university, and his protest marches.
What fascinates me is the contrast of this silly protester brother to modern protesters against the Iraq war. I regarded the Inman character as a cheesy caricature of peace activists. Yet this broad parody of a Vietnam protester does not BEGIN to look as utterly stupid as the ignoramuses at the modern "vomit-ins" and such.
I got the CD in the first place for "Where Have All Our Heroes Gone?" It is mostly a breathy Bill Anderson narration with a female chorus. He's basically lamenting the no-goodniks that our young people look up to today (1970ish) versus his boyhood heroes. I mocked it on air, and would do so again- but still with an appreciation for his execution. The examples and explanations have real personality, and a strong air of real conviction- more so than a lot of his better known hits.
Article comments
1 - Elizabeth Inman
Wow where do I start. I am Elizabeth Inman I am the oldest granddaughter of the late Autry Inman. My father is his oldest son. It is amazing to me that after nearly 20 years of him being gone that people still can read, and listen to my "POP". Thank you for keeping him alive in his music, out side of his family that was his life. God Bless...
2 - Al Barger
Miss Elizabeth- You're most welcome. It must be a fine point of pride to have such a cool grandpa. That'd definitely be bragging rights.
Merry Christmas.
3 - bliffle
The country song I remember from the Vietnam era was "Dee-troit City", played over and over on the tavern jukebox by soldiers on R&R, and at the chorus the whole joint would join in: "I want to go home, I want to go home, Lord how I want to go home".
4 - Al Barger
Oh yeah, that was a big hit for Bobby Bare - and recorded by a whole bunch of people.
Then, of course, there was Merle who found them dang nabbed hippies walking on his fighting side. I note that Merle Haggard is now strongly supporting Hillary Clinton for president - after having voted for Bush.
5 - bliffle
I never heard a soldier play one of those other songs.
Did you?