Saigon Strut (Instrumental)
1968 · Shamley S 44017 · Hollywood, California
- Artist
- The Soul Patrol
- Title
- Saigon Strut (Instrumental)
- Release
- Saigon Strut
- Year
- 1968
- Label
- Shamley # S 44017
- Format
- 7" · Single
- Language
- Instrumental
- Country
- Hollywood, California, USA
- Songwriter
- Quesada, Amador, Mariscal
- Genre
- Soul, Gospel & Funk · Funk · Soul
- Primary theme
- Home Front Perspective / Soldier's Perspective
Annotation
A funk track, "Saigon Strut" (Shamley # S 44017), by the obscure Soul Patrol, focused on American G.I.s visiting clubs and prostitutes on the famous Tu Do street in Saigon, South Vietnam - Tu Do translated as "Liberty", called that between 1955 and 1975. It was formerly known as Catinat street (pre-1955), and was re-named Dông Khoï (General Insurrection) after the fall of Saigon. (1) The narrator told the listener that he was "drifting down to Tu Do Street, where all the girl are just so sweet". They apparently cost "200 xu" (probably somewhere between $3-5). (2) The soldier then referenced a series of clubs: CC Club, Mango Club, Paradise Club, and Hollywood Club. Then the narrator spotted an army superior: "what's that general doing?...he's doing the Saigon strut". Shamley, a small Hollywood, Californian based label, a sub-label of Uni Records, released the record. The B-side song was an instrumentl version.
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
About the artist
Unknown - member identities not found in verified sources after searching. Funk group credited as 'The Soul Patrol Featuring Cheap Charlie' on the early-1970s 45 'Saigon Strut' (vocal) / 'Saigon Strut' (instrumental) (Shamley S 44017, US); a rare-funk collector links them to the later disco-era Soul Patrol, but Discogs treats them as separate artists, so the connection is unconfirmed. [Source: Discogs / Rare Funk On Vinyl]