Normie Rowe

Missing in Action

2002 · Australia

Artist
Normie Rowe
Title
Missing in Action
Release
Missing in Action
Year
2002
Format
7" · Single
Language
English
Country
Australia
Genre
Easy Listening · Easy Listening
Primary theme
Post-War

Annotation

Normie Rowe, pop rock artist and Australian Vietnam War veteran, born 1 February 1947 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. He served in Vietnam from January 1969 to February 1970. Rowe was reported to have been the protaganist in the song "Smiley" by Ronnie Burns, conscripted to fight in the Vietnam War. Johnny Young, the songwriter, said on ABC-TV’s Love Is In The Air that "before he left, he was really happy-go-lucky, fun-filled young fella. When he came back, he changed". (1) Rowe released this collection of post-Vietnam songs, presenting the veteran / military soldier's perspective, which according to his website was "14 tracks relating to Normie’s experiences as a Vietnam war veteran". (2) This included a cover of "Smiley", and a cover of "Still in Saigon" by The Charlie Daniels Band. The title song "Missing in Action" was about the impact of the war on a veteran back in Australia: "he's changed... he's not the same... thirty years have past", probably containing some biographical elements..

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — Australian & New Zealand Songs

Normie Rowe, pop rock artist and Australian Vietnam War veteran, born 1 February 1947 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. He served in Vietnam from January 1969 to February 1970. Rowe was reported to have been the protaganist in the song "Smiley" by Ronnie Burns, conscripted to fight in the Vietnam War. Johnny Young, the songwriter, said on ABC-TV’s Love Is In The Air that "before he left, he was really happy-go-lucky, fun-filled young fella. When he came back, he changed". (1) Rowe released this collection of post-Vietnam songs, presenting the veteran / military soldier's perspective, which according to his website was "14 tracks relating to Normie’s experiences as a Vietnam war veteran". (2) This included a cover of "Smiley", and a cover of "Still in Saigon" by The Charlie Daniels Band. The title song "Missing in Action" was about the impact of the war on a veteran back in Australia: "he's changed... he's not the same... thirty years have past", probably containing some biographical elements.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

About the artist

Australian pop singer, born 1 February 1947 in Melbourne, Australia; conscripted and served in Vietnam 1969. [Source: Wikipedia]

Themes

ANZUS

In collections

Australian & New Zealand Songs