Viet Nam War (Pt. 1) & (Pt. 2)
1968 · Jewel LPS 5001 · USA
- Artist
- Lightnin' Hopkins
- Title
- Viet Nam War (Pt. 1) & (Pt. 2)
- Release
- Talkin' Some Sense
- Year
- 1968
- Label
- Jewel # LPS 5001
- Format
- LP · Album
- Language
- English
- Country
- USA
- Genre
- Blues · Blues
- Primary theme
- Home Front Perspective / Soldier's Perspective
Annotation
Lightnin' Hopkins, born Sam Hopkins on 15 March 1912, in Centreville, Texas, recorded extensively from the 1940s-1970s, typically playing blues in the style that came out of his native Texas, like Blind Lemon Jefferson (acoustic / electric Texas blues). Often singing about topical events, such as the Korean War and Great Depression, in the mid-late 1960s he turned his attention to Vietnam. He died in Houston Texas on 30 January 1982. (1) In 1969, he released the anti-war single "Please Settle in Viet Nam" (Joliet # 205). He also recorded the song "Vietnam War" with his cousin Billy Bizor on the album Blowing My Blues Away in 1968, discussed above. In fact, Hopkins released his own version of that song, called "Viet Nam War (Pt.1) & (Pt.2)" (Jewel Records # LPS 5001). Recorded on 17 January 1968 (a few months before the track above), at ACA Recording Studio (Houston, Texas), it displayed the fear of a draft letter arriving from President Johnson (LBJ). It featured Billy Bizor on the harmonica.
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Annotation — Blues songs
Lightnin' Hopkins, born Sam Hopkins on 15 March 1912, in Centreville, Texas, recorded extensively from the 1940s-1970s, typically playing blues in the style that came out of his native Texas, like Blind Lemon Jefferson (acoustic / electric Texas blues). Often singing about topical events, such as the Korean War and Great Depression, in the mid-late 1960s he turned his attention to Vietnam. He died in Houston Texas on 30 January 1982. (1) Hopkins released several Vietnam War-related songs (see the info box below). On this album is the song "Viet Nam War (Pt.1) & (Pt.2)" (Jewel Records # LPS 5001), recorded on 17 January 1968, a few month before the song "Vietnam War", performed with his cousin Billy Bizor on the album Blowing My Blues Away in 1968, discussed above. Essentially, it is an alternative version of the same song. Recorded at the ACA Recording Studio in Houston, Texas, it displayed the fear of a draft letter arriving from President Johnson (LBJ). It featured Billy Bizor on the harmonica.
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
About the artist
Born 15 March 1912, in Centreville, Texas. Died 30 January 1982, Houston, Texas, USA