Does Anybody Know I'm Here? (Vietnam Through the Eyes of Black America)

Annotation — Vietnam War Compilations

Kent followed up A Soldier's Sad Story with another 23 tracks of soul and funk music (# CDKEND 245), including Marvin Gaye's "Soldier's Plea" and "I Should Be Proud" by Martha and The Vandellas. The inside front cover of the compilation shows a photograph of a North Vietnamese propaganda plaque somewhere in the jungle, which read: "Negro soldiers: You are committing the same ignominious crimes in South Vietnam that the KKK clique is perpetrating against your family at home". It jumped around chronologically, and once again contained an extensive booklet with notes on the songs and pictures of the original 7"s and artists. The archival research was conducted by Tony Rouse. The record company promoted the compilation on the back cover as: "more astute observation and acerbic commentary on the role of black America in Vietnam".

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Notes

Kent (Ace Records) CDKEND 245, CD, UK, 2005; second Kent volume (subtitled 1962-1972), 24 tracks in rough date order, including The Dells "Does Anybody Know I'm Here?", Inez & Charlie Foxx "Vaya Con Dios / Fellows in Vietnam", Roy C "Open Letter to the President", Archie Bell & The Drells "A Soldier's Prayer 1967" and Martha Reeves & The Vandellas "I Should Be Proud". Entered as one release. [From Discogs and Bear Family]

About the artist

Various Artists

Themes

Soldier's Perspective · Home Front Perspective · Draft