Chicago's 7

Annotation

Born Earl Walter Rodden on 6 January 1936 in Taloga, Oklahoma, USA he died 13 September 2013 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA. He was a member of the Nashville Songwriter’s Association and Country Music Association (CMA). (1) His song "Chicago's 7" (Phils Records # 1025) referred to the arrest of high profile activists outside the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. There is no date on this record, but the copyright was filed on 6 April 1970: "CHICAGO SEVEN; w & m Walt Wilder, pseud. of Earl W. Rodden, & Tom Greco, pseud. of Tom Saris. 2 p.© Earl W. Rodden & Tom Saris; 6Apr70; EU173749". (2) Patriotic and conservative views were typically found in the country music genre, especially in the early years of the war. This single is especially interesting in that it sided with the protesters, despite being a country record and being released in Oklahoma. The narrator, from the perspective of the Chicago Seven, said that "we love our freedom of speech", and that "we know the Constitution" - that they had a right to demonstrate and express their views. It went on to say "we came unprepared to fight", and that the Chicago police started the violence. Note the reference to the…

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — 1968 Chicago Seven / Eight Songs

Born Earl Walter Rodden on 6 January 1936 in Taloga, Oklahoma, USA he died 13 September 2013 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA. He was a member of the Nashville Songwriter’s Association and Country Music Association (CMA). (1) His record "Chicago's 7" (Phils Records # 1025) referred to the arrest of high profile activists outside the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. There is no date on this record, but the copyright was filed on 6 April 1970: "CHICAGO SEVEN; w & m Walt Wilder, pseud. of Earl W. Rodden, & Tom Greco, pseud. of Tom Saris. 2 p.© Earl W. Rodden & Tom Saris; 6Apr70; EU173749". (2) Patriotic and conservative views were typically found in the country music genre, especially in the early years of the war. This song is especially interesting in that it sided with the protesters, despite being a country record and being released in Oklahoma. The narrator, from the perspective of the Chicago Seven, said that "we love our freedom of speech", and that "we know the Constitution" - that they had a right to demonstrate and express their views. It went on to say "we came unprepared to fight", and that the Chicago police started the violence. Note the reference to the…

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

About the artist

Unknown - Walt Wilder (Walter Wilder) was a Burbank, California-based producer who worked with his brothers George and Warner as the Wilder Brothers and with the group Sounds Of Sunshine. "Chicago's 7" / "Chicago's Old Town" - a Chicago Seven trial novelty (the trial ran 1969-70) - is confirmed as his release, though label and catalogue detail did not render. Distinct from row 457. [Source: Discogs]

Themes

Demonstration · Chicago Seven · Protest · Silent Majority

In collections

1968 Chicago Seven / Eight Songs · Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs