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Artist Dick Gregory
Release Dick Gregory's Frankenstein
Year 1970
Label Poppy # PYS-60004
Format LP · Live
Country USA
Language English
Songs here 2 in the archive
Citation: Justin A. Brummer, Vietnam War Song Project (VWSP) — Dick Gregory, Dick Gregory's Frankenstein; cite each song by its SongID

Dick Gregory's Frankenstein

1970 · Live · Poppy # PYS-60004 · USA
2 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: Chicago Seven, Bobby Seale, Civil Rights.
Annotation
Artist background
Dick Gregory - an American comedian and social activist, who in 1968 ran for president for the Freedom and Peace Party. He was born 12 October 1932 in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, and died 19 August 2017 in Washington, DC, USA.12 He released a bunch of political comedy and spoken-word records, largely focused on Civil Rights, many of which referred to the Vietnam War, including Dick Gregory On: (1969), The Light Side: The Dark Side (1969), Dick Gregory's Frankenstein (1970), and At Kent State (1971) about the Kent State shooting in Ohio, where four student were killed.
This record, released on Poppy (# PYS-60,004) had two tracks related to the Chicago '68 Vietnam War demonstration, in the Civil Rights context. The first track "Tricks: Black Power; Money; Chicago Trial; Panthers" called it a "trick trial", and stressed the importance of it, with regards to justice and equality. While the older generation were concerned with law and order and making money, he called on young people to remember its importance:

The second track "Bobby Seale / The Real Criminals" of course focused on the co-founder of the Black Panthers, Bobby Seale, noted to have been "shackled to a chair, hands cuffed, mouth taped" because he wanted to defend himself in the courtroom. Gregory made the point that if the same thing had happened Russia, Americans would be pointing fingers at the communist. He noted that serial killer Charles Manson was permitted to defend himself, as well as Jack Ruby, who assassinated Lee Harvey Oswald. He concluded that to be convicted in an American court room does not make you a criminal, and that Bobby Seale faced discrimination from a racist judge and court.
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Collections
Songs from this release appear in these 3 curated collections.
The songs
1.
1970 · Live · Poppy # PYS-60004 · St. Louis, Missouri · Dick Gregory's Frankenstein

2LP gatefold recorded at Bronx Community College; producer Kevin Eggers.

2.
1970 · Live · Poppy # PYS-60004 · St. Louis, Missouri · Dick Gregory's Frankenstein

2LP gatefold recorded at Bronx Community College; producer Kevin Eggers.