Hair

Annotation — Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs

A largely spoken word release, with musical background (Flying Dutchman # FDS-127) in which Rosko narrated the newspaper articles of Pete Hamill - an American journalist who in the 1960s wrote for the New York Post, reporting from Vietnam. (1) It took a highly critical view of the Vietnam War, the military, and the politicians of the era, such as President Eisenhower and President Nixon. Produced by Bob Thiele, founder of Flying Dutchman, it featured background music from Ron Carter (bass) and James Spaulding (flute). Nat Hentoff, music critic and historian, wrote the linear notes to the record. Hamill also wrote the words for the 1970 record Massacre at My Lai (Flying Dutchman # FDS-118). On the front cover appeared a painting of John Filo's photograph of Mary Ann Vecchio kneeling next to Jeffrey Miller's body. Billboard wrote an article about the album on 6 June 1970, reporting that "Bob Thiele's Fluing Dutchman label is releasing...a documentary album compiled from the columns of New York Post writer, Pete Hamill. This is the fourth album in a series of social comment LP's....Said Thiele: 'I also have tape of the Richard Nixon remark about 'student bums' and some comments by…

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — Kent / Jackson State Songs

A spoken word release (Flying Dutchman # FDS-127) in which Rosko narrated the newspaper articles of Pete Hamill - an American journalist who in the 1960s wrote for the New York Post, reporting from Vietnam. (1) It took a highly critical view of the Vietnam War, the military, and the politicians of the era, such as President Eisenhower and President Nixon. Produced by Bob Thiele, founder of Flying Dutchman, it featured background music from Ron Carter (bass) and James Spaulding (flute). Nat Hentoff, music critic and historian, wrote the linear notes to the record. Hamill also wrote the words for the 1970 record Massacre at My Lai (Flying Dutchman # FDS-118). On the front cover appeared a painting of John Filo's photograph of Mary Ann Vecchio kneeling next to Jeffrey Miller's body. Billboard wrote an article about the album on 6 June 1970, reporting that "Bob Thiele's Fluing Dutchman label is releasing...a documentary album compiled from the columns of New York Post writer, Pete Hamill. This is the fourth album in a series of social comment LP's....Said Thiele: 'I also have tape of the Richard Nixon remark about 'student bums' and some comments by Vice President Agnew, including the…

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

About the artist

Spoken-word recordings written and produced by New York Post columnist Pete Hamill (born 24 June 1935, Brooklyn, New York; died 5 August 2020, Brooklyn), narrated by New York radio DJ William 'Rosko' Mercer, with jazz backing - including Massacre at My Lai (Flying Dutchman, 1969) and Murder at Kent State University (1970). [Source: Wikipedia; Discogs]

Themes

Kent State · Anti-War

In collections

Jazz Songs · Kent / Jackson State Songs · Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs