Vietnam War Soundtrack
…radio show

The Rock’n’Roll Unravelled Show, with a look the Vietnam War and its influence on the music of the 1960s and ’70s – Vietnam War Soundtrack radio show.

Original broadcast
….. 1 March 2021
on Access North West

LISTEN AGAIN – PODCAST
Vietnam War Soundtrack radio show

ARE THEY ON TOUR NOW?
Artists/bands mentioned in
Vietnam War Soundtrack radio show

Soundtrack to the Vietnam War

In this Rock’n’Roll Unravelled Show, we’re taking a look at one of the greatest influences on the music of the 1960s and ’70s – the Vietnam War.

The history of the American involvement in the Vietnam War. How it started in 1954, The turning point in 1968 and the American peace settlement in 1973. Although, the War between North and South Vietnam didn’t end until 1975. (spoiler alert – the North won!)

America’s direct involvement started when they took over the fight in 1954, after the French colonial troops were defeated at Dien Bien Phu.

Initially the Americans were only in Vietnam in an advisory capacity. The first American combat troops were deployed in 1965. American involvement escalated and by 1968 there were around half a million American troops in Vietnam.

The turning point came after the devastating Tet Offensive in the January of 1968. Peace talks began four months later but did not reach an agreement until 1973. That was the end of the direct American involvement but the fighting between North and South Vietnam continued for another two years. In March 1975 the North invaded South Vietnam and claimed victory when Saigon fell less than two months later.

The Vietnam War was one of the biggest influences on the music of the 1960s and 70s. Anti-war feeling in America continued to grow throughout the War and we’ll look at some of the landmark demonstration which took place.

The music also reflected the times and I’ll be playing some classic tracks from the era.

PLAYLIST
Vietnam War Soundtrack radio show

1 The Animals – We Gotta Get Out of This Place
2 Bruce Springsteen – War
3 Phil Ochs – Draft Dodger Rag
4 Merle Haggard – Okie from Muskogee
5 C Company ft. Terry Nelson – Battle Hymn of Lt Calley
6 Pete Seeger – Waist Deep in the Big Muddy
7 Crosby Stills Nash & Young – Ohio
8 Country Joe McDonald – I Feel Like I’m Fixin’ to Die Rag

ROCK’N’ROLL UNRAVELLED SHOW

How rock’n’roll came about, it’s transition into rock music in the mid-1960s and the array of rock genres which followed in the late 1960s and ‘70s.

Blues, R&B, rock’n’roll, rock, prog, folk rock, country rock, psychedelia, glam, early metal, punk, new wave +++… will all find their way into the shows. Plus artists and bands, some well known and others who are more on the cult side. Stories behind classic singles and albums, record labels, venues, gigs… Not forgetting the people behind the scenes: producers, managers, promoters, writers, Svengalis – the people who made it all happen.

If it’s relevant to the music of the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s, I’ll be talking about it.
All this and great music, although, some you’ll recognise and some you might well be hearing for the first time.

COMPETITION
Win a copy of
Rock’n’Roll Unravelled

Phil Spector Story radio show — *Rock’n’Roll Unravelled*

For this month’s question and
TO ENTER the competition…

The names go into a hat and the lucky winner selected at random.
I’ll post the book to the lucky winner
anywhere in the world…

Rock’n’Roll Unravelled – THE BOOK

Derek Shelmerdine, author of Rock’n’Roll Unravelled.

In its unique three-part format
Timeline + What Happened Today? + Pocket Histories
Rock’n’Roll Unravelled tells the story of rock’n’roll from its roots to mid-1970s punk.

Not just the story of the music but also the social events which shaped it. The Vietnam War, Civil Rights struggle and so many other factors because they had such an influence on the music of the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s.

Record Collector magazine review
“Shelmerdine has made a painstaking effort to document pretty much every event that would prove significant in shaping popular music … a comprehensive guide… invaluable.”

TO BUY the book Rock’n’Roll Unravelled

RADIO APPEARANCES