There were plenty of protest and patriotic songs written about the Vietnam war. There was a compilation of songs sung in Nam, “In Country” (Folk songs of the Vietnam war), collected by Saul Broudy, assembled by The Vietnam Veterans Oral History and Folklore Project, Buffalo State College, and issued on the Flying Fish label in 1991. There are fewer songs concerning the plight of veterans and their families: For example, “Agent Orange” (recorded by Kate Wolf), “My Country Tis of Thee” (Larry Long), “Sam Stone” (John Prine), and “The Ballad of Penny Evans” (Steve Goodman). But until recently, the voice of the Vietnam Veteran was conspicuously absent. It’s taken over 30 years, but Vietnam Veterans are finally writing about their experiences, both in combat, and after returning home. The three featured here are Sarge Lintecum, Dane Brown, and Bobby Ross. Each of the three featured here has recorded excellent original material.

WARNING: some songs may contain adult language.

Sarge Lintecum is a blues singer, harmonica master, and has a highly recommended CD “Vietnam Blues – Combat Tested Blues…For Peace”.

Buy it here

Track listing: (my favorites – 1,4,13)

The Vietnam Blues

This Shirt of Mine

Into The Fire From The Fryin’ Pan

Time Bomb In My Mind

Oh Shit

Sister Soldier

Veterans Wife

Blue Monsoon

Combat Fatigue

It Don’t Mean Nothin’

Five Down

Saturday Morning Cartoons

Reunion At The Wall

Welcome Home

Check out his cool website: http://vietnamblues.com . Sarge did three tours of duty in Nam 1966-67-68. All songs written by Sarge except “Five Down”, written by Clark Rigsby, the producer and engineer of the CD. Sarge says: “It’s easy to figure out what we lost in Vietnam. Just look at the Wall. But has anyone figured out what we gained? Thanks for listening.”

(LCpl) Dane Brown records in a country/southern rock style as “The 1/27 Grunts”. His CD, dedicated to the POW/MIAs of the Vietnam war, is entitled “It’s Just A Nam Thing”

Buy it here.

Track listing: (my favorites – 1,2,5)

Just An Old Viet Vet

My Sixties

The Corps

Complicated Man (PTSD Blues

It’s Just A Nam Thing

My Sixties Reprise

The Boys From 1/27

M-Day

Chorus of “Just An Old Viet Vet”:

“ I don’t remember much about him

Hell I never even asked his name

Don’t know if he had any family

Didn’t know much about his pain

But I do remember one thing though

An old patch up on his hat

It said proud to serve, born to kill

Just another old Vietnam Vet”

Dane and fellow marine Doug Carey reunited after 32 years, and collaborated to record the CD. Produced by Tab Warwick who also provides backing percussion and keyboards on the tracks.

Listen to Dane’s music at http://www.myspace.com/127grunt

Last, but not least, (Lt) Bobby Ross has a great Nashville sound CD “Voice of America” with a melodic vocal style well suited to the lyrics.

Track listing: (my favorites – 5,7,8,11,13)

Voice of  America

Coming of Age

The Reunion

Goodbye To West Virginia

Back To Blue Jeans Again

GI Loan

Too Close To The Line

No Home For The Brave

Saigon State of Mind

Jack

The Home of Billy D

Daddy’s Red Ribbons

I’ll Go To The Wall

One Moment In Time

Buy it here: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bobbyross

All the above guys are terrific songwriters, and aren’t afraid to tell their stories – their way! It’s nice to hear recordings uncensored by the industry, and great to hear the stories told by those who were there. These recordings nicely fill a void and provide a unique historical perspective. Highly recommended, the songs will have more meaning to veterans.  To Sarge, Dane, Bobby, and others not mentioned here – THANK YOU for serving your country, and for sharing your songs – finally.

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