Ballads Of The Green Berets - SSGT BARRY SADLER*

The Ballad Of The Green Berets/I’m A Lucky One/Letter From Vietnam/Badge Of Courage/Saigon/Salute To The Nurses/I’m Watching The Raindrops Fall/Garet Trooper/The Soldier Has Come Home/Lullaby/Trooper’s Lament/Bamiba

Not all Americans opposed the Vietnam war as this album by Staff Sergeant Barry Sadler testifies. Ballads Of The Green Berets topped the US album chart, and the title track achieved the same feat on the US singles chart. This curious album comes rather too close to glorifying warfare, fighting and militarism. (US:1)

"Staff Sergeant Barry Sadler‘s The Ballad Of The Green Berets, is a definitive piece of Vietnam War music. In contrast to the growing volume of popular protest songs, it instilled pride in the soldiers, commended their bravery, and commended the bravery of their families. The song also speaks of the sacrifice made by the men and their families, but that it is for a worthwhile cause and we should persevere. The tune itself has a very regimental beat, which adds to its patriotic feel."

"Between the hippies and Hollywood, I had forgotten that not all American soldiers in Vietnam were drafted. Some of these guys actually liked war. I do not believe they would put it that way, but the fact is some guys volunteer to kill. Those are the guys Sadler is singing for. The type who, when not in battle, listen to songs about battle."

"Ballads Of The Green Berets at its best is a mediocre country and western music. At its worst it is propaganda. There is no death or violence on the record, just a recruiting advertisement. Sadler's biggest problem with the military are the type of soldiers who are all talk, who have never seen any combat, like the ones he sings about on Garet Trooper. But, Sadler is a soldier first and an entertainer second; on those grounds, these songs about loyal buddies, unquestioned bravery and longing for home, have a little more poignancy."

"It's difficult rating this album since it is rather unique and is tied to the time period in which it was released. Sadler served in Vietnam as a Green Beret in a special unit. Returning to the USA he heard much anti-war and anti-Vietnam talk and music. Wanting to give a different view he wrote The Ballad Of The Green Berets. A spoken word 'song' with music in the background. It was a big hit at the time but has received little airplay since. The rest of the album is just filler with little to recommend it."