The Politician

Annotation

Lou Rawls, born in Chicago, Illinois (1 December 1933), he grew up on Chicago's South Side. Son of a minister, he started out as a gospel singer, featuring in the group the The Highway QC's (1951-53). He had a teenage association with Sam Cooke, Curtis Mayfield, and The Dells. In the 1950s he moved to Los Angeles, California, joining the gospel group The Pilgrim Travelers. He later developed a smooth soul vocal sound. He annually ran a telethon, from 1979, for the United Negro College Fund raising millions for former African-American universities and colleges. He died in Los Angeles (6 January 2006).12 The song "The Politician" (MGM Records # K 14428), released as a single in 1972, seems to be a personal attack on Richard Nixon, who promised peace, but according to the narrator, failed to deliver as he dropped bombs and sent US soldiers to fight in "a jungle far away". Featured on the album A Man of Value (MGM Records # SE 4861), which Billboard reviewed on 6 January 1973: "Rawls offers his second LP entry for the label with a collection of message tunes all with a soulful drive...The title tune and 'The Politician' feature well worth listening to monologues".3 Suggested by soulmakossa.Sources1Ebony, November 1966↩2Jet, 23 January 2006↩3Billboard, 6 January 1973↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — Soul, Gospel, & Funk Songs

Lou Rawls, born in Chicago, Illinois (1 December 1933), he grew up on Chicago's South Side. Son of a minister, he started out as a gospel singer, featuring in the group the The Highway QC's (1951-53). He had a teenage association with Sam Cooke, Curtis Mayfield, and The Dells. In the 1950s he moved to Los Angeles, California, joining the gospel group The Pilgrim Travelers. He later developed a smooth soul vocal sound. He annually ran a telethon, from 1979, for the United Negro College Fund raising millions for former African-American universities and colleges. He died in Los Angeles (6 January 2006).12 The song "The Politician" (MGM Records # K 14428), released as a single in 1972, seems to be a personal attack on Richard Nixon, who promised peace, but according to the narrator, failed to deliver as he dropped bombs and sent US soldiers to fight in "a jungle far away". Featured on the album A Man of Value (MGM Records # SE 4861), which Billboard reviewed on 6 January 1973: "Rawls offers his second LP entry for the label with a collection of message tunes all with a soulful drive...The title tune and 'The Politician' feature well worth listening to monologues".3 Suggested by soulmakossa. Sources1Ebony, November 1966↩2Jet, 23 January 2006↩3Billboard, 6 January 1973↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: Does the baby know her daddy is dying somewhere in a jungle far away? / Does the little old lady know her grandson's crying cause his best friend died today? / Does the politician know, I don't believe him, when he tells me peace is near? / The politician's lips are moving, but the mother's prayer is all I hear / See the politician push the button / Hear the children screaming as the bombs explode

Notes

MGM Records K 14428 (72 L 4101); "The Politician" (Mac Davis), Screen Gems-Columbia Music, Inc., BMI, 3:13; "From the forthcoming MGM Album SE 4861 'A Man of Value'"; Lou Rawls, "Arranged by Reggie Powell", "Produced by Michael Lloyd", vocal arrangements Tommy Oliver; "Manufactured by MGM Records, Inc., 7165 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, Calif. 90046". [From the record sleeve and labels]

About the artist

American soul singer, born 1 December 1933 in Chicago, Illinois; died 6 January 2006 in Los Angeles, California. [Source: Wikipedia]

Themes

Anti-War

In collections

Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years] · Soul, Gospel, & Funk Songs