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Artist Stev Manteiv

Release Ambush

Year 1985

Label SM # 1

Format LP · Album

Country USA

Language English

Songs here 10 in the archive

Citation: Justin A. Brummer, Vietnam War Song Project (VWSP) — Stev Manteiv, Ambush; cite each song by its SongID

Stev Manteiv

Ambush

1985 · Album · SM # 1 · USA

10 songs from this release are in the archive, listed below in catalogue order. Track positions are not recorded; the release may carry other songs that do not reference the war. Most common themes: Vet, Military, Vietnam Syndrome, K.I.A., PTSD, P.O.W..

Annotation

Album of Vietnam War songs, many dealing with post-war issues, such as the mistreatment of vets, the Vietnam Syndrome, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, the effects of Agent Orange, the use of napalm and combat conditions, including P.O.W.s / M.I.A., and of course, the memorial wall in D.C., dealt with in the song "Brian" (SM-001). The band name "Stev Mantiev" is actually "Vietnam Vets" reversed. Released in Detroit, Michigan, USA, the main vocalist was Bill House, who released a bunch of albums in the late 70s.¹ The album also featured Detroit-born Rob Tyner (a formed member of MC5), Vietnam vet Johnny Maxwell, Drew Abbott (a guitarist with Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band), and Marcus Belgrave.²³⁴ This song was strongly critical of the US government, calling the war "a politician's lie" , with the narrator saying that "my country you can't apologies, so face up to the truth" . Dedicated to the narrator's friend Brian, who was in Vietnam, but is now on the Wall in D.C.. The back of the record sleeve said the following:

Notes

Ambush is a reflection of our feelings of having faced the ultimate test, survival. Unlike a lot of music today, these songs speak for themselves with an intensity and urgency that compel you to listen, to think about what really happened, is still happening, and could just possible happen to you. We are all Vietnam Veterans. We all fought the war; in the jungles, in the streets, and on stage. Since that time, we have grown in knowledge and experience. So much so that we come together as peaceful warriors, as STEV, to bring you Ambush. The songs on this album are more than a collection of words and music. They are the real living emotions that were copyrighted with the blood that was shed to write them. We pull no punches, we leave no memory untouched. These songs are not about the War. They are how we, the Vets of Stev, feel. They are what has been inside us for years.

Sources

1 Discogs: Bill House ↩
2 furious.com ↩
3 Discogs ↩
4 lasalle.edu: LYDIA FISH COLLECTION OF VIETNAM VETERAN SONGS (archived copy) ↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Collections

Songs from this release appear in these 3 curated collections.

P.O.W. / M.I.A. Songs US Military & Veteran Songs Veterans Memorial Wall Songs

The songs

Stev Manteiv Brian

1985 · Album · SM # 1 · USA · Ambush

Detroit group of Vietnam veterans and local Detroit-area musicians - the name 'Stev Manteiv' is 'Vietnam Vets' spelled backwards. Released the private-press LP Ambush (SM-001, 1985), with contributors including Rob Tyner (MC5), Drew Abbott (Bob Seger's Silver Bullet Band) and trumpeter Marcus Belgrave. Based in Detroit, Michigan. [Source: Discogs; Lydia Fish Collection of Vietnam Veteran Songs and Music]

Themes: Vet Military K.I.A. Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall Vietnam Syndrome

Genre: ♪ Pop

Stev Manteiv Home to Stay

1985 · Album · SM # 1 · USA · Ambush

Themes: Vet Vietnam Syndrome

Genre: ♪ Pop

Stev Manteiv Hot L.Z. (Thorazine Shuffle)

1985 · Album · SM # 1 · USA · Ambush

Themes: Vet Military PTSD Agent Orange

Genre: ♪ Pop

Stev Manteiv Lonesome Road

1985 · Album · SM # 1 · USA · Ambush