Ken
Burke
Review:
December,
2001

Since the events surrounding September 11th, I guess we’ve all been experiencing a heightened sense of patriotism - even a venerable corporate enterprise like Capitol Records. The sticker on the cover says it all, "100% of Capitol Records’ net profits from the sale of this CD will be donated to the American Red Cross Liberty Disaster Relief Fund."

Musically, this 14-song compilation reflects the melting pot that is America. Patriotic anthems by Country artists Lee Greenwood ("God Bless The U.S.A."), Chris LeDoux ("I Believe In America") and Glen Campbell ("God Must Have Blessed America") are mingled with r&b/soul paeans by the Persuasions ("Lean On Me"), The Brotherhood Of Man ("United We Stand"), Al Green ("Amazing Grace"), and The O’Jays ("I Love America").

Rock fans should be appeased by tracks from the Beach Boys ("4th Of July") and spirited live performances from George Thorogood ("Let’s Work Together") and Joe Cocker ("With A Little Help From My Friends").

The two songs that raise the most memories for this writer are John Lennon’s "Imagine" and Woody Guthrie’s "This Land Is Your Land." I distinctly recall being told in grade school that Guthrie’s song would no longer be sung at assemblies because he was politically controversial. Likewise, my high school graduating class was forced to abandon Lennon’s most-famous solo hit as our class song because of the "no religion too" line. Folks, this took place was in the enlightened suburbs of Detroit! Now, these songs gleam with purpose on the same CD, saying in effect that we are strong enough to tolerate well-meaning dissent in pursuit of a common goal.

Indeed, times have changed. As a young telephone prankster, I used to call up radio station request lines and beg them to play the "Star Spangled Banner," claiming that it was the song that my girlfriend and I fell in love to. I was always refused and as I sputtered mock rage at the hapless DJ, I was nearly always informed that the station didn’t have a copy of our nation’s anthem readily available. Well, now they do. George Adams’ sax instrumental version of the national anthem is genuinely moving and artful. In fact, the whole disc hangs together so well, that I not only recommend it, but wouldn’t mind hearing a potential Volume Two.

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