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Sunday 4 May 2014

Southern Soul Sunday 31


Another album as opposed to individual artist this week.
From the mighty Kent label here are three tracks from the utterly marvelous A Soldier's Sad Song - Vietnam Through The Eyes of Black America 1966 - 73.
Before we get to the music a couple of quotes from the sleevenotes.
" Of the 240,00 men recruited under Project 100,000 (the draft) between October 1966 and June 1969 41% were black, although black Americans represented only 11% of the US population"
"They want me to go to Vietnam to shoot some folks that never lynched me, never called me "n*****", never assassinated my leaders" Muhammad Ali
Now to the music - firstly Joe Tex jumpin' out his foxhole to get himself two mo' enemies.
I'm not sure whether Bill Withers constitutes Southern Soul but I couldn't miss out I Can't Write Left Handed.
Finally, on the basis that this could never be followed, Jerry Williams Jr (aka Swamp Dogg) with John Prine's Sam Stone.
Has there ever been a more poignant line written than " There's a hole in daddy's arm where all the money goes"?
If you do not have  this magnificent album I'm sure that you will rectify this before the week is out.

Joe Tex - I Believe I'm Gonna Make It

Bill Withers - I Can't Write Left Handed

Swamp Dogg - Sam Stone


2 comments:

  1. Terrific choice, absolutely terrific.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Withers is from West Virginia. Pretty damn Southern in my book.Nice post!

    ReplyDelete