Customer Reviews

Vietnam: Musical Retrospective

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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).

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.

I listed to Adrian Cronauer for one year in Vietnam. His program was one of the things that kept us going. First rate.

Anything to make a buck. The selection of music on this CD is anything but what a sertain reviewer states. As a Marine NCO and Viet Vet having served in the I Corps area of RSVN 66-68, I can tell you for a fact that if any of us could have gotten out hands on that Air Force DJ we would have killed him. (...)

The songs that we listend to were nothing more then the songs of the day. They may have given us a feeling of home, our girls, or ex-girls which was often the case but rarely did they reflect on a drug culture or a bunch of "heads" toked out and messed up in the Nam. Rather I believe it more accuratly points back to the life style at the colleges during that time in history when free love, messed up professors and violent actions were the norm. I never could understand in later life why intelligent people would act that way.

Anyway this collection of songs is very incomplete and only covers a small drop of time in the experience known as the VietNam conflict. Don't believe all that Hollywood tells you about this part of our history, most of what they do is fiction. The same goes for their rendition of current conflicts. They only deal in what will make MONEY for THEM, not to try and tell truths.

Semper Fi

This is Great!!! The only thing I would do, is either make it much, much longer, or simply volume 1! Great Collection, so keep it comin'!!

I was there, and would have liked to have seen BAD MOON ARISIN' I think by CCR on it. There were alot of them over there, and the song played on the radio alot too. Had BAD MOON ARISIN' Been on it, I'D have given it a 5 star.

I think the CD was put together very well. I'm sure that Viet Nam veterans would be brought back to that time. I was especially suprised to hear AMN Adrian Cronaeur's narration throughout the CD which added to the my enjoyment. No, for some it may not have been the best of times, certainly. However the music is what would've eased some of the wartime tension. That is what made this CD so entertaining to me.

I thought this was a great way to capture both music and thought. Adrian is great

As with all collections that uses a theme (in this case Vietnam era) you receive someone else's choices. This is like one of those TV offers. It is better than some of the "Best of" offers, which use unknown people to sing popular songs.

It may do well for a survey more of a particular time; however if you are going for the real thing it is best to obtain the original albums. I am also well aware that many songs and singers are missing. One reason is that as with many diverse groups true songs of the time could be almost anything produces before this time. Sitting in the bunkers where everyone had a proliferation of those reel-to-reel tape players you had groups playing everything from Elvis, to Otis Redding, to Iron Butterfly and even Wagner.

There was no Adrian Cronauer any ware near were we were.

But they will not fit on one CD or tape.