You're in the Army But I Wish You Were Here
Big Beat BB-133-1287 · Greenville, Mississippi
- Artist
- Vicki Williams
- Title
- You're in the Army But I Wish You Were Here
- Release
- Best of Luck to You / You're in the Army But I Wish You Were Here
- Label
- Big Beat # BB-133-1287
- Format
- 7" · Single
- Language
- English
- Country
- Greenville, Mississippi, USA
- Songwriter
- R. Hines / V. Williams
- Genre
- Soul, Gospel & Funk · Soul
- Primary theme
- Home Front Perspective / Soldier's Perspective
Annotation
This is another obscure release, by the largely unknown Vicki Williams. As the title of the song suggested, "You're in the Army, But I Wish You Were Here" (Big Beat Records # BB-133-1287), it is narrated from the perspective of a soldier's sweetheart back home. The label was distributed by Lynn's Records, based in Greenville, Mississippi, owned by Henry Reginald Hines - apparently Vicki Williams' husband. He co-wrote the song with her. (1) So the sweetheart in the US wrote a letter to the soldier, telling him that she cries "all night long" and has started to "talk to your pictures". She pleaded with him: "don't forget the girl back home".
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
About the artist
Vicki Williams recorded within the Greenville, Mississippi soul scene of the late 1960s, cutting at least three 45s and working as a producer-songwriter for other Greenville acts (O.D. Williams; Vic Lee) on Big Beat. "You're In The Army But I Wish You Were Here" (Big Beat 1287) is described by Sir Shambling's Deep Soul Heaven as a fine Vietnam ballad. Speculation that she also recorded as Vikki Styles or Vicki Starr is noted by the source itself as unconfirmed. [Source: Sir Shambling's Deep Soul Heaven]