Draft Board Blues
1973 · St. George International ST 06 · USA
- Artist
- Merry Airbrakes
- Title
- Draft Board Blues
- Release
- Merry Airbrakes
- Year
- 1973
- Label
- St. George International # ST 06
- Format
- LP · Album
- Language
- English
- Country
- USA
- Genre
- Rock · Hard Rock
- Primary theme
- Post-War
Annotation
A concept album written by Bill Homans, a Vietnam veteran, released just after the official ending of the conflict in 1973. It contained many patriotic lyrics, but also questioned the point of the war. The album included the instrumental "Happy Song For Hanoi" as well as "Draft Board Blues" which expressed the feeling of a man who had recently received his draft letter.
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Annotation
Various artist compilation, featuring Jimmy Anderson, blues artist born on 21 November 1934 in Natchez, Mississippi, USA. He moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana in the 50s and recorded in the region, including the song "Draft Board Blues" (Flyright Records # FLY 607), recorded 1962 in the pre-Vietnam War years under JFK, but unreleased at the time, appearing on this compilation. (1) The narrator notes receiving the draft call for a "trip across the world". He was "not gonna like it, cause I miss you". Apparently the board gave him a choice, "the land, sea or the air".
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
About the artist
American protest folk/psych band centered on Vietnam veteran Bill Homans (later bluesman 'Watermelon Slim'; b. 1949, Boston, Massachusetts), with his brother and friends; their private-press LP 'Merry Airbrakes' (St. George International, 1973) was an anti-war statement by a member of Vietnam Veterans Against the War. [Source: Discogs / AllMusic / Scissor Tail reissue notes]