Vietnam: 50 Years On
The Vietnam War ended on April 29th 1975. In the west we know it as the Vietnam War but in Vietnam
they know it as the American War due to the fact that this was just the latest in a long history of military struggles. It was the first war to be viewed from armchairs all over the world, including Bob Lawrence’s armchair. Bob has spent his whole adult life working in broadcasting. He’s also had a lifetime’s interest in that particular conflict.
​“I have a very clear memory of watching the black and white tv news and seeing a crouched down reporter talking to camera as explosions were going off around him. And then the camera went all over the place. The camera man had been hit. That was truly shocking and it’s stayed with me forever”.
It’s likely that this incident was the starting point of Bob Lawrence’s lifelong obsession with the Vietnam War. “In my early teens … my formative years … it was always on the news; radio and tv. I could understand ‘the troubles’ in Northern Ireland but Vietnam was never quite as clear to me. I kept hearing the phrase ‘fighting communism’ but my immature brain was never too sure what that meant. As I grew up I read more and more to the point where I have to admit, I am slightly obsessed”.
Fifty years after the war ended, Bob went to Vietnam with an audio recorder to see how the country has flourished under a communist regime and to make a radio programme. It was nothing like he expected.
He visited some of the sites he’d last seen on tv news
reports, including Khe Sanh airforce base … “I had a brother at Khe Sanh, fighting off the Viet Cong, they’re still there, he’s all gone”: Bruce Springsteen, Born In The USA.
Vietnam: 50 Years On is a three hour radio programme, crammed full of music, recording Bob’s journey from Hanoi in the north to Ho Chi Min City (Saigon) in the south, remembering the past but very much acknowledging the current. By mixing genuine news reports from the time with music from a diverse pool such as Johnny Cash, Pink, The Who, Chris Rea, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas … even Bing Crosby and The Police, Bob has recorded his thoughts and feelings and created a true “Must Listen” radio programme.
Vietnam: 50 Years On is available for all community radio stations to broadcast free of charge. Click below to hear an edited “promo” of how the show sounds.
Playlist
Bold tracks = Full Play.
Other tracks = Clips/Production.
Part One
Pink Floyd – Shine On You Crazy Diamond
Bing Crosby – White Christmas
Country Joe & The Fish – Feel Like I’m Fixing To Die Rag
1 - Pham Quynh Anh – Hello Vietnam
Bettye Lavette – Things Have Changed
2 - Big Amos – Going To Viet Nam
3 - Roger McGuinn – Hanoi Hannah
Pink – My Vietnam
Kraftwerk – Autobahn
Kaleidoscope - Kaleidoscope
4 - Faces – Pool Hall Richard
Police – Every Breath You Take
5 - Harry Chapin – Changes
Jimi Hendrix – Crosstown Traffic
6 - Colin Blunstone – How Wrong Can One Man Be
Crosby Stills Nash & Young – American Dream
7 - Who – Magic Bus
8 - Strypes – You Can’t Judge A Book By Its Cover
Free – Travelin’ in Style
9 - Allman Brothers Band – Southbound
10 - Camel – Elke
Part Two
1- Bruce Springsteen – Born In The USA
Carole King – Being At War With Each Other
Jimi Hendrix – Fire
2 - Billy Joel – Goodnight Saigon
3 - Curtis Mayfield – Underground
4 - Joe Tex - I Believe I’m Gonna Make It
5 - Janis Joplin – Mercedes Benz
Daniel Cane Orchestra – China Beach Theme
6 - Ray Davies – Working Man’s Cafe
7 - Chris Rea – On The Beach
Joe Perkins – The Train To Bratislava
Free – Over The Green Hills
Golden Earring – Vanilla Queen
8 - Arlo Guthrie – Agent Orange
9 - Lou Reed – Christmas In February
Buffalo Springfield – Expecting To Fly
Vangelis – Mare Tranquilitatis
Part Three
1 - Jimmy Reed – Bright Lights, Big City
2 - Richard & Linda Thompson – Bright Lights Tonight
John Fogerty – I Saw It On TV
Jimi Hendrix – Star Spangled Banner
Doors – The End
3 - Charlie Daniels Band – Still In Saigon
Doors – The Unknown Soldier
Rod McKuen – Soldiers Who Want To Be Heroes
Elton John – Funeral For A Friend
Billy Joel – Goodnight Saigon
Sensational Alex Harvey Band – Dance To Your Daddy
Doors – The Unknown Soldier
Billy Cobham - Stratus
Bruce Springsteen – Born In The USA
4 - Martha Reeves & The Vandellas – I Should Be Proud
Sensational Alex Harvey Band – Dance To Your Daddy
5 - Bad Company – Movin’ On
6 - Stevie Wonder – A Place In The Sun
7 - Country Joe McDonald – Vietnam Veteran Still Alive
Marvin Gaye – What’s Happening Brother
8 - Al Kooper – Sam Stone
Marvin Gaye – What’s Happening Brother
9 - Johnny Cash – Drive On
Pink Floyd – The Great Gig In The Sky
10 - Jamie O’Hara – 50,000 Names
Bruce Springsteen - War
The show is free for your community station
Run the show in a three hour block or over a three week period around the 50th anniversary date, April 29th. For all enquiries regarding this show, please email Bob directly.
Please note: The show is three broadcast hours long. Each segment lasts for 57’20”. Assuming your station carries a two minute news, that allows 40 seconds for station IDs and advertising.