Gordon Sinclair

Americans (A Canadian's Opinion)

1973 · Avco AV-4628 · USA

Artist
Gordon Sinclair
Title
Americans (A Canadian's Opinion)
Release
The Americans (A Canadian's Opinion) / A Profile of Gordon Sinclair
Year
1973
Label
Avco # AV-4628
Format
7" · Single
Language
English
Country
USA
Songwriter
Gordon Sinclair
Genre
Spoken Word · Spoken Word
Primary theme
Post-War

Annotation

Gordon Sinclair was a well known Canadian radio broadcaster, from Toronto. On 5 June 1973 he wrote the song "The Americans (A Canadian's Opinion)" - inspired by the news that the American Red Cross had run out of funds because of recent aid efforts in reaction to natural disasters. The editorial praised the efforts of the US to help the world, but said that nobody helped the US when they faced trouble. The monologue included a reference to Vietnam, including draft dodgers, and praising American democracy. (1) US News and World Report published the monologue in full which led its explosion across the US. (2) Sinclair released the single, with all profits going to the American Red Cross, reaching # 24 in the Billboard charts. Its commercial success, and patriotic stance, led to several US covers. Byron MacGregor, a news director of an Ontario (Canadian) radio station, which also services Detroit, Michigan, and Cleveland, released the song "Americans", which reached # 4 in the charts. (It also featured as the title track of his 1974 album Americans, which included 14 US patriotic tracks). This was a far more successful version than the Gordon Sinclair single, selling over 3 and half…

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — Draft Songs

Gordon Sinclair was a well known Canadian radio broadcaster, from Toronto. On 5 June 1973 he wrote the song "The Americans (A Canadian's Opinion)" - inspired by the news that the American Red Cross had run out of funds because of recent aid efforts in reaction to natural disasters. The editorial praised the efforts of the US to help the world, but said that nobody helped the US when they faced trouble. The monologue included a reference to Vietnam, including draft dodgers, and praising American democracy. (1) US News and World Report published the monologue in full which led its explosion across the US. (2) Sinclair released the single, with all profits going to the American Red Cross, reaching # 24 in the Billboard charts. Its commercial success, and patriotic stance, led to several US covers. Byron MacGregor, a news director of an Ontario (Canadian) radio station, which also services Detroit, Michigan, and Cleveland, released the song "Americans", which reached # 4 in the charts. (It also featured as the title track of his 1974 album Americans, which included 14 US patriotic tracks). This was a far more successful version than the Gordon Sinclair single, selling over 3 and half…

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

About the artist

Canadian broadcaster, born 3 June 1900 in Toronto, Canada; wrote and recorded 'The Americans (A Canadian's Opinion)'; died 17 May 1984 in Toronto. [Source: Wikipedia]

Themes

Patriotic · Answer to Americans

In collections

Draft Songs

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