The Return of a Soldier
1967 · Capitol P 5845 · Los Angeles, California
- Artist
- Ric King
- Title
- The Return of a Soldier
- Release
- The Return of a Soldier / Hymn to a Returning Soldier
- Year
- 1967
- Label
- Capitol # P 5845
- Format
- 7" · Single
- Language
- English
- Country
- Los Angeles, California, USA
- Songwriter
- Eddie White, Lex de Azevedo
- Genre
- Easy Listening · Easy Listening · Narration
- Primary theme
- Home Front Perspective / Soldier's Perspective
Annotation
Return of a Soldier, The (King, Ric) Hymn to a Returning Soldier (King, Ric) A-side: Fanfare, soldier's perspective. Glad to be home from Vietnam - drive through the town, recalls old time, hang-outs, old friends, his girlfriend, his dog, his football coach, the banker etc. But it is in fact his funeral that the town has gathered for - KIA. Some early descriptions of PTSD (even though the narrator is dead) - cannot forget the jungle, nightmares about Vietnam. B-side: instrumental.
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
About the artist
Pseudonym of Ric de Azevedo (Richard Renato de Azevedo), American singer and television producer, born 10 May 1947 in North Hollywood, California, died 14 March 2023 in Fruit Heights, Utah; son of Alyce King of the King Sisters and a featured singer on ABC's 'The King Family Show'. Served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War as vocal soloist for the U.S. Army Field Band; 'The Return of a Soldier' (1967, Los Angeles pressing) was produced by his brother Lex de Azevedo. Later a member of the trio Reunion (with two former Lettermen) and a TV producer ('Private Benjamin', 'Enos'). [Source…
Themes
Soldier's Perspective · K.I.A. · Combat · Jungle · Religion