Vietnam: Musical Retrospective

Various Artists (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 20, 1998)
• Original Release Date: October 20, 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Umvd Labels
• ASIN: B00000DF90
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #249,770 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Nowhere to Run

2. One

3. Good Vibrations

4. Born to Be Wild

5. Somebody to Love

6. Rescue Me

7. Wipe Out

8. Sooner or Later

9. Incense and Peppermints

10. California Dreamin'

11. On the Road Again

12. Wild Thing

13. California Dreamin'

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good, could be better, January 30, 2001

By 

Leeann Snyder (A small peaceful hamlet that's known as Tchpone) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Vietnam: Musical Retrospective (Audio CD)

Well, it was ok. I like all the songs on there. The narrartion was excellent, but instead of hearing the newer version of Califonia Dreaming, the one that sucks, I would rather have heard a song any Viet Vet knows by heart, THE ANIMALS -WE GOT TO GET OUT OF THIS PLACE. Had that been on it instead I'd give it a full 5 stars, at least.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Adrian Cronaeur introduces the music of the Vietnam War, February 12, 2004

By 

Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Vietnam: Musical Retrospective (Audio CD)

With "Vietnam: A Musical Retrospective" reading the reviews is as interesting as listening to the album to find out what songs various Vietnam vets feel needed to be included for this collection to sound true. As somebody whose musical associations with Vietnam comes from movies like "Apocalypse Now" and "Platoon," where you end up thinking of Richard Wagner and Samuel Barber as much as the Doors, as well as "Good Morning, Vietnam," this CD is a pretty good reality check.

In listening to these songs, all of which are familiar, I found myself thinking specifically of what they would have meant to American troops out in the field. Yes, "We've Got to Get Out of This Place" by the Animals reflects an obvious sentiment (maybe there are questions with rights that denied it a place in this collection), but "No Where to Run" by Martha Reeves & the Vandellas and "Rescue Me" by Fontella Bass reflect similar attitudes. Then you have the whole attitude behind Steppenwolf's "Born to Be Wild" and "Wild Thing" by the Troggs, that served a different function for the troops. In any war there will be the wistful songs about home, such as "California Dreamin'" by the Mamas and the Papas." However, if there is a deeper meaning for "Incense and Peppermint" specific to the Vietnam experience, outside of the idea of drug use, I am missing it.

The other element of this album mixes Adrian Cronauer doing bits from the "Dawn Buster" show on AFR Vietnam that inspired "Good Morning, Vietnam" with his reflections on the war and the music. These are of interest, but are really too brief and touch only tangentially on the music. Since my mind was trying to come to terms with these songs from the perspective of those who listened to them in Vietnam I would have appreciated a bit more insight by Cronauer on the special meanings of some of these songs, but I realize that is just my own rhetorical perspective at work. Most listeners will be happy to hear the familiar sound of Cronauer's voice that they remember from that time or to hear what that voice really sounds like (i.e., much more radio friendly than Robin Williams).

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Missing, January 19, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Vietnam: Musical Retrospective (Audio CD)

Where is Ina-gada-da-vida by Iron Butterfly? That would have made it complete for me. There was on OV-10 pilot at DaNang who used to play it on his loudspeakers when he was circling to land or taxing in or out. You could hear it miles away. I'm sure he played it for Charles too. It was too cool.