Lefty Pritchett

Vietnam Rotation Blues

1968 · Dee Lark 6951 · Oak Grove, Kentucky

Vietnam Rotation Blues – Lefty Pritchett (Label (alternate scan))

Artist
Lefty Pritchett
Title
Vietnam Rotation Blues
Release
Vietnam Rotation Blues / Our Children
Year
1968
Label
Dee Lark # 6951
Format
7" · Single
Language
English
Country
Oak Grove, Kentucky, USA
Songwriter
Lefty Pritchett
Genre
Country · Country
Primary theme
Home Front Perspective / Soldier's Perspective

Annotation

Born Claude E. Pritchett in 1931 in Alabama, he served in the US Army during the Korean War, where he "got too close to a Chinese mortar and got a brain concussion". He toured there with Tex Ritter, entertaining troops. He also served in Vietnam. He said that "if I wasn't on duty I'd start playing and singing and all the troops would come around. We'd have a big jam session". When he returned to the US he became an army recruiter, and released the country song "Vietnam Rotation Blues" (Dee Lark Records # 6951), inspired by his tour in Vietnam: "over there they wanted to hear something about coming home, so that's why I wrote the song". (1) The typed notes on the company sleeve said the following promotional blurb: "May God bless you for playing Lefty Pritchett's songs: He is a veteran of over 19 years in the army. Two conflicts, Korea and Vietnam. Holds two Purple Hearts, Army Commendation Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, plus others, and has played over 400 shows for the sick and wounded in Vietnam, Korea, and the USA". Note the impressive yodeling. Released in Oak Grove, Kentucky. Distributed by Sounds of Nashville Inc., Tennessee.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

About the artist

Born 18 May 1931, Alabama, USA. Currently Columbus, Georgia, USA

Themes

Soldier's Perspective

In collections

US Military & Veteran Songs

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