Sent Here to Die
2007 · Not On Label NR 001 · Melbourne, Australia
- Artist
- Normie Rowe
- Title
- Sent Here to Die
- Release
- Missing in Action
- Year
- 2007
- Label
- Not On Label # NR 001
- Format
- CD · Album
- Language
- English
- Country
- Melbourne, Australia
- Genre
- Rock · Pop Rock
- Primary theme
- Post-War
Annotation
Normie Rowe, pop rock artist and Australian Vietnam War veteran, born 1 February 1947 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. He served in Vietnam from January 1969 to February 1970. Rowe was reported to have been the protaganist in the song " Smiley " by Ronnie Burns , conscripted to fight in the Vietnam War. Johnny Young , the songwriter, said on ABC-TV’s Love Is In The Air that "before he left, he was really happy-go-lucky, fun-filled young fella. When he came back, he changed" . Rowe released this collection of post-Vietnam songs, presenting the veteran / military soldier's perspective, which according to his website was "14 tracks relating to Normie’s experiences as a Vietnam war veteran" . This included a cover of "Smiley" , and a cover of "Still in Saigon" by The Charlie Daniels Band . The title song "Missing in Action" was about the impact of the war on a veteran back in Australia: "he's changed... he's not the same... thirty years have past" , probably containing some biographical elements.
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Album of 14 songs on Rowe's Vietnam service and its aftermath (2007, NR 001, produced by Shane Flew at The House of Hits, Manly).
About the artist
Normie Rowe - pop rock singer born 1 February 1947 in Melbourne, Victoria; served in Vietnam January 1969 - February 1970, and is said to be the subject of Ronnie Burns's "Smiley".