The Americans (A Canadian's Opinion)

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 million copies, with the proceeds also donated to the American Red Cross. Country singer Tex Ritter covered the monologue in 1974: the song "The Americans (A Canadian's Opinion)", released just after he died (reaching # 90 in the Billboard charts; #35 in the country charts). This record spurned several answer / response records, a couple that were comedic in nature, and the others thanking Sinclair for his positive thoughts, listed in the note below. Byron MacGregor also released an updated version in 1979 in respsone to the Iranian Hostage Crisis, called "Stand Up America".Charles Ashman - "An American's Answer (To Gordon Sinclair)" Ken Wade – "The Americans Thank You" Father Guido Sarducci - "A European (Speaks Up for the US)" Gabriel Kaplan – "De Amerikans" Chris Glendon – "My Fellow American" Gordon Sinclair - "The Americans (A Canadian's Opinion)" Byron MacGregor – "America" Tex Ritter - "Americans (A Canadian's Opinion)"Sources1American Red Cross (redcross.org)↩2usnews.com↩

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 million copies, with the proceeds also donated to the American Red Cross. Country singer Tex Ritter covered the monologue in 1974: the song "The Americans (A Canadian's Opinion)", released just after he died (reaching # 90 in the Billboard charts; #35 in the country charts). This record spurned several answer / response records, a couple that were comedic in nature, and the others thanking Sinclair for his positive thoughts, listed in the note below. Byron MacGregor also released an updated version in 1979 in respsone to the Iranian Hostage Crisis, called "Stand Up America".Answer songs: Charles Ashman - "An American's Answer (To Gordon Sinclair)" Ken Wade - "The Americans Thank You" Father Guido Sarducci - "A European (Speaks Up for the US)" Gabriel Kaplan - "De Amerikans" Chris Glendon - "My Fellow American" Byron MacGregor - "Stand Up America" Cover versions: Gordon Sinclair - "The Americans (A Canadian's Opinion)" Byron MacGregor - "America" Tex Ritter - "Americans (A Canadian's Opinion)" Sources1American Red Cross (redcross.org)↩2usnews.com↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: You talk about scandals and the Americans put theirs right in the store window for everyone to look at. Even the draft dodgers are not pursued and hounded. They are here on our streets, most of them...unless they are breaking Canadian laws..are getting American dollars from Ma and Pa at home to spend here [Canada]. When the Americans get out of this bind...as they will...who could blame them if they said 'the hell with the rest of the world' Answer songs: Charles Ashman - "An American's Answer (To Gordon Sinclair)" Ken Wade - "The Americans Thank You" Father Guido Sarducci - "A European (Speaks Up for the US)" Gabriel Kaplan - "De Amerikans" Chris Glendon - "My Fellow American" Byron MacGregor - "Stand Up America"Versions: Gordon Sinclair - "The Americans (A Canadian's Opinion)" Byron MacGregor - "America" Tex Ritter - "Americans (A Canadian's Opinion)

Notes

Avco AV-4628 (1712), purple label with red rim, ℗ 1973 Avco Record Corp.; "The Americans (A Canadian's Opinion)", written and narrated by Gordon Sinclair, Conestoga Music (BMI), time 4:40; "Broadcast on June 5, 1973 on Radio Station CFRB Toronto, Canada"; manufactured by Avco Records Corp., 1700 Broadway, New York, New York, made in U.S.A. [From the record sleeve and labels]

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 · US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs [War Years]