Khe Sanh
1978 · WEA 600038 · Australia
- Artist
- Cold Chisel
- Title
- Khe Sanh
- Release
- Cold Chisel
- Year
- 1978
- Label
- WEA # 600038
- Format
- LP · Album
- Language
- English
- Country
- Australia
- Genre
- Rock · Pub Rock
- Primary theme
- Post-War
Annotation
Cold Chisel formed in September 1973, in Elizabeth, South Australia, featuring the members Don Walker (keyboards), Jimmy Barnes (vocals, guitar), Ian Moss (guitar, vocals), Steve Prestwich (drums, 1973-2011), and Phil Small (bass, 1975-present). The group released the song "Khe Sanh" (Atlantic #600038-1), one of the most well-known Australian Vietnam War songs, named after the 1968 Battle of Khe Sanh between US Marines and the North Vietnamese Army. (1) Some Australian forces were directly involved, mainly through air cover. It reached # 41 in the Australian charts.The song looked at a disillusioned Australian veteran, referencing several themes often found in post-war songs. It started with a soldier noting that they were not welcomed home, like the World War Two generation: "long forgotten dockside... there were no V-day heroes in 1973". The vet struggled to find a job: "hours long, pay packets lean... held a job on an oil-rig, flying choppers when I could". It noted drug addiction: "growing need for speed and novocaine". The vet also suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) - often connected in songs to stress, shell shock, flashbacks, nostalgia, and feelings and…
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Annotation — Australian & New Zealand Songs
Cold Chisel formed in September 1973, in Elizabeth, South Australia, featuring the members Don Walker (keyboards), Jimmy Barnes (vocals, guitar), Ian Moss (guitar, vocals), Steve Prestwich (drums, 1973-2011), and Phil Small (bass, 1975-present). The group released the song "Khe Sanh" (Atlantic #600038-1), one of the most well-known Australian Vietnam War songs, named after the 1968 Battle of Khe Sanh between US Marines and the North Vietnamese Army. (1) Some Australian forces were directly involved, mainly through air cover. It reached # 41 in the Australian charts. The song looked at a disillusioned Australian veteran, referencing several themes often found in post-war songs. It started with a soldier noting that they were not welcomed home, like the World War Two generation: "long forgotten dockside... there were no V-day heroes in 1973". The vet struggled to find a job: "hours long, pay packets lean... held a job on an oil-rig, flying choppers when I could". It noted drug addiction: "growing need for speed and novocaine". The vet also suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) - often connected in songs to stress, shell shock, flashbacks, nostalgia, and feelings and…
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
About the artist
Australian rock band formed 1973 in Adelaide, Australia ('Khe Sanh'). [Source: Wikipedia]