The Vietnam conflict has been called “America’s first rock-and-roll war” because of the predominance of rock music that permeated the American experience there. As draft quotas were raised and deferment and exemption loopholes closed, an overwhelming number of military personnel belonged to one generation: the average age of combat soldiers was 19 and, according to some figures, 90 percent were under 23 years of age.

During the Siege of Khe Sanh, many of the Marines adopted the song, “No Place To Run” by Martha and the Vandellas as it seemingly depicted their plight at the time.

Many of these conscripts did not want to be in Vietnam, and no one wanted to be alienated from his own generation back home. Therefore, many GIs imported their tastes in music into the war zone. Rock music was the most popular genre, and beads and peace symbols were worn with and on many uniforms

According to an interview in Rolling Stone, most enlisted men preferred hard rock or psychedelic music; 30 percent enjoyed rhythm and blues; 10 percent, country; 5 percent, classical; and 10 percent, folk.  See my list at the end of this article.

Some of the constraints on the type of music allowed on the airwaves came from the Republic of Vietnam (RVN) government, which prohibited from being played, among other songs, the Animals’ hit, “We Gotta Get Outa This Place.” Most of the radio programs were prerecorded in Los Angeles and included top 40 hits.

Because radio did not reflect the preferences of most soldiers, the status symbol among GIs was the tape recorder. Cassette tapes, either brought from home or purchased on leave, were the most popular medium for music in Vietnam. The tape players were small, battery operated, highly portable, and therefore easily carried into the field.

The rhythms, raw energy, and screaming guitars of rock music mirrored the confusion of war and firefights, and since music helps define a generation, music helped define the Vietnam War. Snatches from lyrics of popular songs were used in the context of the war. “Rock-and-roll” substituted for “lock and load,” referring to the procedure for readying the M16 for firing or for switching the weapon from semiautomatic to automatic fire.

Fifty years ago, when black musicians had a difficult time breaking into a music business that was divided by race, Motown changed everything. Catchy dance tunes blending R&B, gospel, swing and pop from Berry Gordy’s Detroit-based record company caught on nationwide.  Initially, Mr. Gordy wouldn’t allow any of the groups under contract with Motown Records to record songs with anit-war lyrics – maintaining that policy until almost 1970.

African Americans contributed much of this sometimes forgotten anti-war music. Martha Reeves and the Vandellas released “I Should Be Proud” in 1970, the first anti-war song from the Motown label. It was followed a few months later by “War,” recorded first by the Temptations (not released as a single for fear of conservative backlash) and then rerecorded by Edwin Starr. With its simple but memorable refrain—“War, what is it good for? Absolutely nothing!”—the song went to number one on the Billboard Pop Singles chart.

More tender and soulful was Marvin Gaye’s plea for peace and love in “What’s Going On,” where “war is not the answer, for only love can conquer hate.”

“In 1969 or 1970,” Gaye said, “I began to re-evaluate my whole concept of what I wanted my music to say. I was very much affected by letters my brother was sending me from Vietnam,as well as the social situation here at home. I realized that I had to put my own fantasies behind me if I wanted to write songs that would reach the souls of people. I wanted them to take a look at what was happening in the world.”

As history has proven, music helps to define a generation and the U.S. soldiers imported their musical preference into the war zone. It is interesting to note that there was not significant separation in musical tastes between enlisted men and officers. Many songs of the period were inspired by the Vietnam War with even the most popular musical artists being influenced, for better or for worse, by the plight of the soldiers forced into battle. For instance, “Purple Haze”, by Jimi Hendrix, a former “Screaming Eagles” paratrooper, made reference to a slang term for the M-18 violet smoke grenade, used by United States armed forces. In the song “Magical Mystery Tour” by The Beatles, the lyrics “Coming to take you away, dying to take you away”, had special meaning for Marines during the battle of Khe Sanh (when the Marine base was isolated and there were a series of desperate actions that lasted 77 days).

There are few songs particularly representative of that period and, all of them, are openly against the war. In chronological order of recording:

“Eve of Destruction” (Barry McGuire)

“Give Peace a Chance” (John Lennon),

“Fortunate Son” (Creedence Clearwater Revival)

“Ball of Confusion” (The Temptations),

“Ohio” (Crosby Stills Nash & Young)

“War” (Edwin Starr).

I chose these specific songs because they are the most meaningful of the period and, at the same time, were influenced by and have influenced the Vietnam War Era. It’s interesting to note that these songs were written (except the first one “Eve of Destruction” which was released in the 1965) recorded and released between late 1969 and early 1970. In fact, a few of them were during in the same month: at the height of the American presence in Southeast Asia and at the height of the anti-war movement in the U.S.

Popular among the enlisted men were Filipino, Korean, Vietnamese, and other Asian bands that could imitate British and American rock groups and their hits with uncanny accuracy, even though band members could not speak English.

These groups played in enlisted men’s clubs and civilian bars in Vietnam. Some of the more popular songs performed were: “Simon Says,” “Black Is Black,” “Unchained Melody,” “Gloria,” “San Francisco (Wear Flowers in Your Hair),” “Sky Pilot,” and “Hey Jude.”

 

Click on this link and watch the actual videos: https://www.thirteen.org/blog-post/top-10-vietnam-songs-veterans-playlist/

 

References:

• Charles N. Fasanaro – http://warriors.warren.k12.il.us/dmann/musicandvietnamwar.html
• Rolling Stone, 9 November 1968; 10 April 1975; 19 June 1975.

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Many of the top Motown hits of the period are on this video:

Motown Singles Collection 1966 – 1970

1. Reach Out (I’ll Be There) – Four Tops – 1966
2. (I know) I’m Losing You – The Temptations – 1966
3. Standing In The Shadows Of Love – Four Tops – 1966
4. It Takes Two – Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston – 1966
5. The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game – The Marvelettes – 1967
6. Jimmy Mack – Martha & the Vandellas – 1967
7. Bernadette – Four Tops – 1967
8. Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell – 1967
9. More Love – Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – 1967
10. I Heard It Through The Grapevine – Gladys Knight & the Pips – 1967
11. I Second That Emotion – Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – 1967
12. I Wish It Would Rain – The Temptations – 1968
13. I Can’t Give You Back The Love I Feel For You – Syreeta Wright – 1968
14. Does Your Mama Know About Me – Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers – 1968
15. Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell – 1968
16. Love Child – Diana Ross & The Supremes – 1968
17. For Once In My Life – Stevie Wonder – 1968
18. Cloud Nine – The Temptations – 1968
19. I Heard It Through The Grapevine – Marvin Gaye – 1968
20. Baby, Baby Don’t Cry – Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – 1969
21. Twenty-Five Miles – Edwin Starr – 1969
22. My Whole World Ended (The moment you left me) – David Ruffin – 1969
23. What Does It Take (To win your love) – Jr. Walker & The All-Stars – 1969
24. I Can’t Get Next To You – The Temptations – 1969
25. Baby I’m For Real – The Originals – 1969
26. Up The Ladder To The Roof – The Supremes – 1970

Vietnam War Era Music – here’s a list of the popular songs between 1965 and 1971

Note:  This list is not all-inclusive and does not include every song published during those years.  Take a look through this list of songs, how many can you count that were influenced by the Vietnam War?

Songs published during each category year are listed in alphabetical order only to help in locating your favorite tune(s).

1965

(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction – The Rolling Stones
Action – Freddy Cannon
All Day & All Of The Night – The Kinks
All I Really Want To Do – Cher
Baby Don’t Go – Sonny & Cher
Baby I’m Yours – Barbara Lewis
Back in my Arms Again – The Supremes
California Girls – The Beach Boys
Catch Us If You Can – The Dave Clark Five
Come See About Me – The Supremes
Downtown – Petula Clark
Eight Days a Week – The Beatles
Eve Of Destruction – Barry Mcguire
For Your Love – The Yardbirds
Game of Love -Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders
Get Off of My Cloud – The Rolling Stones
Hang On Sloopy – The Mccoys
Hello Vietnam – Johnnie Wright
Help – The Beatles
Help me, Rhonda – The Beach Boys
I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch) – Four Tops
I Feel Fine – The Beatless
I Got You Babe – Sonny & Cher
I Hear a Symphony – The Supremes
I’m Henry VIII, I Am – Herman’s Hermits
I’m Telling You Now – Freddie and the Dreamers
It Ain’t Me Babe – The Turtles
Laugh At Me – Sonny
Like a Rolling Stone – Bob Dylan
Mr. Tambourine Man – The Byrds
Mrs. Brown, You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter – Herman’s Hermits
My Girl – The Temptations
Nowhere To Run – Martha & Vandellas
Over and Over – The Dave Clark Five
Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag – James Brown
Satisfaction – The Rolling Stones
Seventh Son – Johnny Rivers
Shotgun – Jr. Walker & All Stars
Some Enchanted Evening – Jay & the Americans
Stop in the Name of Love – The Supremes
The Game Of Love – Wayne Fontana & Mindbenders
The In Crowd – The Ramsey Lewis Trio
The Last Time – The Rolling Stones
The Name Game – Shirley Ellis
This Diamond Ring – Gary Lewis & the Playboys
Ticket to Ride – The Beatles
Tracks of My Tears – The Miracles
Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season) – The Byrds
Unchained Melody – The Righteous Brothers
We Gotta Get Out Of This Place – The Animals
Wonderful World – Herman’s Hermits
Wooly Bully – Sam The Sham & Pharaoh
Yesterday – The Beatles
You Were On My Mind – We Five
You’ve Got Your Troubles – The Fortunes
You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling – The Righteous Brothers

1966

(You’re My) Soul and Inspiration – The Righteous Brothers
19th Nervous Breakdown – The Rolling Stones
634-5789 (Soulsville, U.S.A.) – Wilson Pickett
96 Tears – ? & the Mysterians
Ain’t too Proud to Beg – The Temptations
B-A-B-Y, Baby – Carla Thomas
Ballad of the Green Berets – SSgt Barry Sadler
Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) – Cher
Barbara Ann – The Beach Boys
Barefootin’ – Robert Parker
Beauty Is Only Skin Deep – The Temptations
Black Is Black – Los Bravos
Born A Woman – Sandy Posey
Born Free – Roger Williams
Bus Stop – The Hollies
California Dreamin’ – The Mamas & Papas
Cherish – The Association
Cherry Cherry – Neil Diamond
Cool Jerk – The Capitols
Dandy – Herman’s Hermits
Daydream – The Lovin’ Spoonful
Devil With A Blue Dress On – Mitch Ryder & Detroit Wheels
Elusive Butterfly – Bob Lind
Gloria – The Shadows of Knight
Good Lovin’ – The Young Rascals
Good Vibrations – The Beach Boys
Guantanamero – The Sandpipers
Hanky Panky – Tommy James and the Shondells
Hooray For Hazel – Tommy Roe
Hungry – Paul Revere and the Raiders
I Am A Rock – Simon and Garfunkel
I Fought The Law – The Bobby Fuller Four
If I Were A Carpenter – Bobby Darin
I’m a Believer – The Monkees
I’m Your Puppet – Bobby and James Purify
Just Like Me – Paul Revere and the Raiders
Lady Godiva – Peter and Gordon
Lighnin’ Strikes – Lou Christie
Lil’ Red Riding Hood – Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs
Love Is A Hurtin’ Thing – Lou Rawls
Monday Monday – The Mamas and the Papas
My Love – Petula Clark
No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach’s In) – The T-Bones
Nowhere Man – The Beatles
Oh How Happy – Shades of Blue
Paint It Black – The Rolling Stones
Paperback Writer – The Beatles
Poor Side of Town – Johnny Rivers
Psychotic Reaction – The Count Five
Rainy Day Women – Bob Dylan
Reach Out I’ll Be There – The Four Tops
Secret Agent Man – Johnny Rivers
See You In September – The Happenings
She’s Just My Style – Gary Lewis and the Playboys
Sloop John B – The Beach Boys
Somewhere, My Love – The Ray Conniff Singers
Sounds Of Silence – Simon & Garfunkel
Stangers In the Night – Frank Sinatra
Stranger in the Night – Frank Sinatra
Summer In The City – The Lovin’ Spoonful
Sunny – Bobby Hebb
Sunshine Superman – Donovan

1967

A Whiter Shade Of Pale – Procol Harum
(We Ain’t Got) Nothin’ Yet – Blue Magoos
(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher And Higher – Jackie Wilson
A Whiter Shade Of Pale – Procol Harum
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
All Along the Watchtower – Jimi Hendrix (Bob Dylan)
All You Need Is Love – Beatles
Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie – Jay and The Techniques
Baby, I Love You – Aretha Franklin
Baby, I Need Your Lovin’ – Johnny Rivers
Bernadette – Four Tops
Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison
California Nights – Lesley Gore
Can’t Take My Eyes Off You – Frankie Valli
Close Your Eyes – Peaches and Herb
Cold Sweat – James Brown and The Famous Flames
Daydream Believer – The Monkees
Don’t Sleep In the Subway – Petula Clark
Don’t You Care – Buckinghams
Everlasting Love – Robert Knight
Expressway To Your Heart – Soul Survivors
For What It’s Worth – Buffalo Springfield
Friday On My Mind – The Easybeats
Funky Broadway – Wilson Pickett
Georgy Girl – Seekers
Get On Up – Esquires
Gimme Little Sign – Brenton Wood
Gimme Some Lovin’ – The Spencer Davis Group
Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon – Neil Diamond
Green, Green Grass of Home – Tom Jones
Groovin – The Young Rascals
Groovin’ – Booker T and The MG’s
Happy Together – The Turtles
Here Comes My Baby – Tremeloes
Here We Go Again – Ray Charles
How Can I Be Sure – Young Rascals
I Can See For Miles – The Who
I Dig Rock and Roll Music – Peter, Paul and Mary
I Had Too Much to Dream (Last Night) – Electric Prunes
I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You) – Aretha Franklin
I Take It Back – Sandy Posey
I Think We’re Alone Now – Tommy James and The Shondells
I Was Made to Love Her – Stevie Wonder
I’m A Believer – The Monkees
I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-to-Die – Country Joe and the Fish
Incense and Peppermint – Strawberry Alarm Clock
It Must Be Him – Vicki Carr
Jimmy Mack – Martha and The Vandella
Kind of a Drag – Buckinghams
Let It Out (Let It All Hang Out) – Hombres
Let’s Live For Today – The Grass Roots
Light My Fire – The Doors
Litle Ole Man (Uptight-Everything’s Alright) – Bill Cosby
Little Bit O’ Soul – Music Explosion
Love Is Her and Now You’re Gone – The Supremes
Magical Mystery Tour – The Beatles
Mercy, Mercy, Mercy – Buckinghams
Mirage – Tommy James and The Shondells
My Cup Runneth Over – Ed Ames
Never My Love – Association
No Place To Run – Martha and the Vandellas
Ode To Billie Joe – Bobbie Gentry
On a Carousel – Hollies
Penny Lane – The Beatles
Pleasant Valley Sunday – The Monkees
Please Love Me Forever – Bobby Vinton
Purple Haze – Jimi Hendrix
Reflections – Diana Ross and The Supremes
Release Me (And Let Me Love Again) – Engelbert Humperdinck
Respect – Aretha Franklin
Ruby Tuesday – The Rolling Stones
San Francisco – Scott Mckenzie
She’d Rather Be With Me – The Turtles
Snoopy Vs. The Red Baron – Royal Guardsmen
Society’s Child – Janis Ian
Somebody to Love – Jefferson Airplane
Somethin’ Stupid – Nancy Sinatra and Frank Sinatra
Soul Finger – Bar-Kays
Soul Man – Sam and Dave
Sweet Soul Music – Arthur Conley
Tell it Like it Is – Aaron Neville
Thank the Lord for the Night Time – Neil Diamond
The Beat Goes On – Sonny & Cher
The End – The Doors
The Happening – Supremes
The Letter – The Box Tops
The Rain, the Park and Other Things – Cowsills
Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye – Casinos
To Sir With Love – Lulu
Waist Deep in the Big Muddy – Pete Seeger
White Rabbit – Jefferson Airplane
Windy – The Association
Your Precious Love – Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell

1968

(Sittin On) The Dock of the Bay – Otis Redding
1,2,3 Red Light – 1910 Fruitgum Company
A Beautiful Morning – Rascals
Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing – Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
Baby Now That I’ve Found You – Foundations
Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde – Georgie Fame
Bend Me Shape Me – American Breed
Born To Be Wild – Steppenwolf
Bottle Of Wine – Fireballs
Cab Driver – The Mills Brothers
Classical Gas – Mason Williams
Dance To The Music – Sly & Family Stone
Delilah – Tom Jones
Do You Know the Way to San Jose – Dionne Warwick
Draft Morning – The Byrds
Elenore – Turtles
Fire – Crazy World Of Arthur Brown
Girl Watcher – O’Kaysions
Going Out of My Head – The Lettermen
Grazing in the Grass – Hugh Masekela
Green Tambourine – The Lemon Pipers
Happiness Is a Warm Gun – The Beatles
Harper Valley P.T.A. – Jeannie C. Riley
Hello, I Love You – The Doors
Here Comes The Judge – Shorty Long
Hey Jude – The Beatles
Hey, Western Union Man – Jerry Butler
Hold Me Tight – Johnny Nash
Honey – Bobby Goldsboro
I Got The Feelin’ – James Brown and The Famous Flames
I Heard it Through the Grapevine – Marvin Gaye
I Love You – People
I Say a Little Prayer – Aretha Franklin
I Thank You – Sam and Dave
I Wonder What She’s Doing Tonight – Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
If You Can Want – Smokey Robinson and The Miracles
Indian Lake – The Cowsills
I’ve Gotta Get A Message To You – Bee Gees
Journey to the Center of the Mind – Amboy Dukes
Judy in Disguise (With Glasses) – John Fred and His Playboy Band
Jumpin’ Jack Flash – The Rolling Stones
La La Means I Love You – Delfonics
Lady Madonna – The Beatles
Light My Fire – Jose Feliciano
Love Child – Diana Ross and The Supremes
Love Is All Around – Troggs
Love is Blue – Paul Mauriat
MacArthur Park – Richard Harris
Magic Carpet Ride – Steppenwolf
Midnight Confessions – The Grass Roots
Mony, Mony – Tommy James and The Shondells
Mrs. Robinson – Simon and Garfunkel
Never Gonna Give You Up – Jerry Butler
Nobody But Me – Human Beinz
On the Road Again – Canned Heat
Over You – Gary Puckett and The Union Gap
People Got to Be Free – Rascals
Pictures of Matchstick Men – Status Quo
Piece Of My Heart – Janis Joplin
Piece Of My Heart – Big Brother and The Holding Company
Playboy – Gene and Debbe
Reach Out Of The Darkness – Friend and Lover
Revolution – The Beatles
Say It Loud (I’m Black and I’m Proud) – James Brown
Scarborough Fair – Simon and Garfunkel
Sealed With a Kiss – Gary Lewis and The Playboys
Shoo-Bee-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day – Stevie Wonder
Simon Says – 1910 Fruitgum Company
Since You’ve Been Gone – Aretha Franklin
Sky Pilot – Eric Burdon and The Animals
Slip Away – Clarence Carter
Soul Serenade – Willie Mitchell
Stay In My Corner – Dells
Street Fighting Man – The Rolling Stones
Summertime Blues – Blue Cheer
Sunshine Of Your Love – Cream
Suzie Q – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Sweet Inspiration – Sweet Inspirations
Take Time to Know Her – Percy Sledge
The Fool On the Hill – Sergio Mendes and Brasil ’66
The Good, The Bad and the Ugly – Hugo Montenegro
The Horse – Cliff Nobles and Co.
The Mighty Quinn – Manfred Mann
The Unicorn – The Irish Rovers
The Unknown Soldier – The Doors
The War Is Over – Phil Ochs
Theme from “Valley of the Dolls” – Dionne Warwick
Think – Aretha Franklin
This Guy’s in Love with You – Herb Alpert
Tighten Up – Archie Bell & the Drells
Time Has Come Today – The Chambers Brothers
White Room – Cream
Woman, Woman – Gary Puckett and The Union Gap
You Keep Me Hangin’ On – Vanilla Fudge
Young Girl – Gary Puckett and The Union Gap
You’re All I Need To Get By – Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
Yummy, Yummy, Yummy – Ohio Express

1969

A Boy Named Sue – Johnny Cash
Aquarius/Let The Sunshinshine In – The Fifth Dimension
Atlantis – Donovan
Baby I Love You – Andy Kim
Baby It’s You – Smith
Baby, Baby Don’t Cry – Smokey Robinson and The Miracles
Bad Moon Rising – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Ball of Confusion – The Temptation
Black Pearl – Sonny Charles and The Checkmates – Ltd.
Build Me Up Buttercup – Foundations
Can I Change My Mind – Tyrone Davis
Color Him Father – The Winstons
Come Together” / “Something – The Beatles
Crimson & Clover – Tommy James & Shondels
Crystal Blue Persuasion – Tommy James and The Shondells
Dizzy – Tommy Roe
Do Your Thing – The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band
Easy to Be Hard – Three Dog Night
Everybody’s Talkin’ – Nilsson
Everyday People – Sly and The Family Stone
Fortunate Son – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Galveston – Glen Campbell
Games People Play – Joe South
Get Back – The Beatles
Get Together – The Youngbloods
Gimme Shelter – The Rolling Stone
Gitarzan – Ray Stevens
Give Peace a Chance – John Lennon
Going In Circles – Friends Of Distinction
Good Morning Starshine – Oliver
Grazing In the Grass – Friends Of Distinction
Green River – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Hair – The Cowsills
Hawaii Five-O – Ventures
Honky Tonk Woman – The Rolling Stones
Hot Fun In the Summertime – Sly and The Family Stone
Hurt so Bad – Lettermen
I Can’t Get Next to You – Temptations
I’d Wait a Million Years – The Grass Roots
I’m Gonna Make You Mine – Lou Christie
In the Ghetto – Elvis Presley
In the Year 2525 – Zager and Evans
Indian Giver – 1910 Fruitgum Company
It Looks Like I’ll Never Fall In Love Again – Tom Jones
It’s Getting Better – Mama Cass Elliot
It’s Your Thing – Isley Brothers
I’ve Gotta Be Me – Sammy Davis Jr.
Jean – Oliver
Lay Lady Lay – Bob Dylan
Leaving on a Jet Plane – Peter, Paul & Mary
Little Woman – Bobby Sherman
Love Can Make You Happy – Mercy
Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet – Henry Mancini
More Today Than Yesterday – Spiral Starecase
Mother Popcorn Pt. 1 – James Brown
My Cherie Amour – Stevie Wonder
Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye – Steam
One – Three Dog Night
Only the Strong Survive – Jerry Butler
Polk Salad Annie – Tony Joe White
Proud Mary – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Put a Little Love In Your Heart – Jackie DeShannon
Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man – The Bob Seger System
Reflections of My Life – The Marmalade
Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town – Kenny Rogers and The First Edition
Run Away Child Running Wild – Temptations
Smile a Little Smile for Me – Flying Machine
Someday We’ll Be Together – Diana Ross & the Supremes
Spinning Wheel – Blood, Sweat and Tears
Sugar, Sugar – The Archies
Suspicious Minds – Elvis Presley
Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond
That’s the Way Love Is – Marvin Gaye
The Chokin’ Kind – Joe Simon
The Worst That Could Happen – Brooklyn Bridge
These Eyes – The Guess Who
Things I’d Like To Say – New Colony Six
This Girl’s In Love With You – Dionne Warwick
This Magic Moment – Jay and The Americans
Time Is Tight – Booker T and The MG’s
Time of the Season – Zombies
Too Busy Thinking About My Baby – Marvin Gaye
Touch Me – The Doors
Traces – Dennis Yost and The Classics IV
Twenty Five Miles – Edwin Starr
Wedding Bell Blues – The 5th Dimension
What Does It Take To Win Your Love – Jr. Walker and The All Stars
When I Die – Motherlode
You’ve Made Me So Very Happy – Blood, Sweat and Tears

1970

(They Long to Be) Close to You – Carpenters
25 or 6 to 4 – Chicago
ABC – The Jackson 5
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Diana Ross
All Right Now – Free
American Woman – The Guess Who
Are You Ready – Pacific Gas and Electric
Arizona – Mark Lindsay
Ball of Confusion (That’s What the World Is Today) – Temptations
Band of Gold – Freda Payne
Bridge Over Troubled Water – Simon & Garfunkel
Call Me – Aretha Franklin
Candida – Dawn
Cecelia – Simon and Garfunkel
Child in Time – Deep Purple
Come and Get It – Badfinger
Come Saturday Morning – Sandpipers
Cracklin’ Rosie – Neil Diamond
Didn’t I Blow Your Mind This Time – Delfonics
Easy Come Easy Go – Bobby Sherman
Everything is Beautiful – Ray Stevens
Evil Ways – Santana
Express Yourself – Charles Wright and The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band
Fire and Rain – James Taylor
For the Love of Him – Bobbi Martin
Get Ready – Rare Earth
Gimme Dat Ding – Pipkins
Give Me Just a Little More Time – Chairmen Of The Board
Green-Eyed Lady – Sugarloaf
Groovy Situation – Gene Chandler
He Ain’t Heavy He’s My Brother – Hollies
Hey There Lonely Girl – Eddie Holman
Hitchin’ a Ride – Vanity Fair
House Of The Rising Sun – Frijid Pink
I Just Can’t Help Believing – B.J. Thomas
I Know I’m Losing You – Rare Earth
I Should Be Proud – Martha & The Vandellas
I Think I Love You – The Partridge Family
I Want to Take You Higher – Ike and Tina Turner
I Want You Back – The Jackson 5
I’m Your Captain (Closer to Home) – Grand Funk Railroad
If You Let Me Make Love To You – Ronnie Dyson
I’ll Be There – The Jackson 5
I’ll Never Fall In Love Again – Dionne Warwick
In the Summertime – Mungo Jerry
Indiana Wants Me – R. Dean Taylor
Instant Karma – John Lennon
It’s a Shame – Spinners
It’s Only Make Believe – Glen Campbell
Julie, Do Ya Love Me – Bobby Sherman
Lay A Little Lovin’ On Me – Robin Mcnamara
Lay Down (Candles In The Rain) – Melanie and The Edwin Hawkins Singers
Let It Be – The Beatles
Lola – Kinks
Long As I Can See the Light/Looking Out My Back Door – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Look What They’ve Done to My Song – New Seekers
Lookin’ Out My Back Door – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Love Grows Where My Rosemary Goes – Edison Lighthouse
Love Land – Charles Wright and The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band
Love On a Two Way Street – Moments
Love Or Let Me Be Lonely – Friends Of Distinction
Ma Belle Amie – Tee Set
Machine Gun – Jimi Hendrix
Make It With You – Bread
Make Me Smile – Chicago
Mama Told Me (Not to Come) – Three Dog Night
Mississippi Queen – Mountain
My Baby Loves Lovin’ – White Plains
My Sweet Lord” / “Isn’t It a Pity – George Harrison
No Time – The Guess Who
Ohio – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
O-O-H Child – Five Stairsteps
Patches – Clarence Carter
Psychedelic Shack – Temptations
Question – The Moody Blues
Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head – B.J. Thomas
Rainy Night In Georgia – Brook Benton
Reflections of My Life – Marmalade
Ride Captain Ride – Blues Image
Run Through The Jungle – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Signed Sealed Delivered I’m Yours – Stevie Wonder
Snowbird – Anne Murray
Somebody’s Been Sleeping – 100 Proof and Aged In Soul
Something’s Burning – Kenny Rogers and The First Edition
Spill the Wine – Eric Burdon and War
Spirit in the Sky – Norman Greenbaum
Still Water – Four Tops
Thank You – Everybody Is A Star – Sly & Family Stone
The Bells – Originals
The Guess Who
The Letter – Joe Cocker
The Long And Winding Road/For You Blue – The Beatles
The Love You Save – The Jackson 5
The Rapper – Jaggerz
The Tears of a Clown – Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
The Thrill Is Gone – B.B. King
The Wonder of You/Mama Liked the Roses – Elvis Presley
They Long to Be Close to You – Carpenters
Tighter Tighter – Alive N Kicking
Travelin’ Band/Who’ll Stop the Rain – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Turn Back the Hands of Time – Tyrone Davis
United We Stand – Brotherhood Of Man
Up Around the Bend/Run Through the Jungle – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Up the Ladder to the Roof – Supremes
Vehicle – Ides Of March
Venus – Shocking Blue
Walk A Mile In My Shoes – Joe South
War – Edwin Starr
We’ve Only Just Begun – Carpenters
Which Way You Goin’ Billy – Poppy Family
Who’ll Stop The Rain – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Without Love – Tom Jones
Woodstock – Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
Yellow River – Christie

1971

Brand New Key – Melanie
Aint No Sunshine – Bill Withers
Amazing Grace – Judy Collins
Amos Moses – Jerry Reed
Another Day/Oh Woman Oh Why – Paul McCartney
Beginnings/Color My World – Chicago
Bridge Over Troubled Water – Aretha Franklin
Bring The Boys Home – Freda Payne
Brown Sugar – The Rolling Stones
Cat Stevens – Peace Train
Chick-A-Boom – Daddy Dewdrop
Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep – Mac and Katie Kissoon
Do You Know What I Mean – Lee Michaels
Doesn’t Somebody Want to Be Wanted – Partridge Family
Don’t Knock My Love Pt. 1 – Wilson Pickett
Don’t Pull Your Love – Hamilton Joe Frank and Reynolds
Draggin’ the Line – Tommy James
Easy Loving – Freddy Hart
Family Affair – Sly and the Family Stone
For All We Know – Carpenters
Funky Nassau – Beginning Of The End
Go Away Little Girl – Donny Osmond
Groove Me – King Floyd
Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves – Cher
Have You Ever Seen the Rain? – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Help Me Make It Through the Night – Sammi Smith
Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling Again – Fortunes
Here Comes the Sun – Richie Havens
How Can You Mend a Broken Heart – Bee Gees
I Am I Said – Neil Diamond
I Don’t Know How to Love Him – Helen Reddy
I Found Someone Of My Own – Free Movement
I Hear You Knocking – Dave Edmunds
I Just Want to Celebrate – Rare Earth
I Love You for All Seasons – Fuzz
I Woke Up In Love This Morning – Partridge Family
If I Were Your Woman – Gladys Knight and The Pips
If Not For You – Olivia Newton-John
If You Could Read My Mind – Gordon Lightfoot
If You Really Love Me – Stevie Wonder
If – Bread
Imagine – John Lennon
Indian Reservation – Raiders
It Don’t Come Easy – Ringo Starr
It’s Impossible – Perry Como
It’s Too Late / I Feel the Earth Move – Carole King
Joy to the World – Three Dog Night
Just My Imagination Running Away With Me – Temptations
Knock Three Times – Dawn
Liar – Three Dog Night
Lonely Days – Bee Gees
Love Her Madly – The Doors
Love Story – Andy Williams
Maggie May/ Reason to Believe – Rod Stewart
Mama’s Pearl – Jackson 5
Man in Black – Johnny Cash
Me & Bobby Mcgee – Janis Joplin
Me and You and a Dog Named Boo – Lobo
Mercy Mercy Me – Marvin Gaye
Mr. Big Stuff – Jean Knight
Mr. Bojangles – Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
My Sweet Lord/Isn’t it a Pity – George Harrison
Never Can Say Goodbye – Jackson 5
Never Ending Song of Love – Delaney and Bonnie and Friends
One Bad Apple – Osmonds
One Less Bell to Answer – Fifth Dimension
One Toke Over The Line – Brewer and Shipley
Proud Mary – Ike and Tina Turner
Put Your in the Hand – Ocean
Rainy Days and Mondays – Carpenters
Riders On the Storm – The Doors
Right On the Tip of My Tongue – Brenda and The Tabulations
Rose Garden – Lynn Anderson
Sam Stone – John Prine
She’s a Lady – Tom Jones
She’s Not Just Another Woman – 8th Day
Signs – The Five Man Electrical Band
Singin’ The Vietnam Talkin’ Blues – Johnny Cash
Smiling Faces Sometimes – Undisputed Truth
Spanish Harlem – Aretha Franklin
Stay Awhile – Bells
Stick-up – Honey Cone
Superstar – Carpenters
Sweet and Innocent – Donny Osmond
Sweet City Woman – Stampeders
Sweet Mary – Wadsworth Mansion
Take Me Home Country Roads – John Denver
Temptation Eyes – The Grass Roots
That’s the Way I’ve Always Heard It Should Be – Carly Simon
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down – Joan Baez
Theme from Shaft – Isaac Hayes
Timothy – Buoys
Tired of Being Alone – Al Green
Trapped By a Thing Called Love – Denise Lasalle
Treat Her Like a Lady – Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose
Uncle Albert Admiral Halsey – Paul McCartney
Want Ads – The Honey Cone
War Pigs – Black Sabbath
Watching Scotty Grow – Bobby Goldsboro
Wedding Song – Paul Stookey
What’s Going On? – Marvin Gaye
Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get – Dramatics
When You’re Hot You’re Hot – Jerry Reed
Wild World – Cat Stevens
Won’t Get Fooled Again – The Who
Woodstock – Matthews’ Southern Comfort
Your Flag Decal Won’t Get You Into Heaven Anymore – John Prine
You’ve Got a Friend – James Taylor
Yo-Yo – Osmonds

If you would like to read more about the music during the Vietnam War, my brother in arms and Vietnam Veteran, Bob Staranowicz, wrote a few articles in 2012 about the music of the times. In addition to Vietnam, the first article also includes favorites from World War II and Korea.

http://m.burlingtoncountytimes.com/blogs/veteran-voices/music-during-the-wars/article_4a908e7a-2043-52e7-8b38-905c09bd475c.html

Bob met with Adrian Cronauer and wrote about it here:

http://m.theintell.com/blogs/veteran-voices/good-morning-vietnam-inspiration/article_ac869772-da82-5851-9381-0a03b28ef236.html

Bob’s last article is about Barry Sandler’s album: “Songs of Our Fighting Men – The Green Berets”-

http://m.theintell.com/blogs/veteran-voices/more-music-of-the-vietnam-war-era/article_958d89df-ddfc-5a7e-85a8-09b99c903095.html

If you still haven’t had enough, you may also be interested in visiting another page of mine showing 40+ Vietnam War Videos with background music of the time.  Click here to be redirected:

https://cherrieswriter.wordpress.com/category/categories/videos-film-music-and-movies-about-vn-war/

Which songs were your favorites during this time?

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