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Bring the Boys Home
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Wikipedia article
'"Bring the Boys Home"' is a song recorded by rhythm and blues singer Freda Payne in 1971 during the Vietnam War era. It was an anti-war song that was aimed at the sending of troops to fight in an increasingly unpopular war.
Background
The song was produced by Greg Perry and released on the Invictus label. It was backed with "I Shall Not Be Moved".'Billboard', May 15, 1971 - [https://books.google.com/books?id=-AgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA46&dq=%22Bring+The+Boys+Home%22I+Shall+Not+Be+Moved%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjcl6PZwIHXAhWCHpQKHZXKCD8Q6AEIPTAE#v=onepage&q=%22Bring%20The%20Boys%20Home%22I%20Shall%20Not%20Be%20Moved%22&f=false Page 46 TOP 60 POP SPOTLIGHT] The song came out at a time when soldiers were returning to America dead and in body bags. A higher than normal amount of the soldiers were black. The soldiers were only boys at the age of 20, which was the average age that many of them were killed.Elsewhere.co.nz, Jul 17, 2014 - [https://www.elsewhere.co.nz/fromthevaults/6444/freda-payne-bring-the-boys-home-1971/ Freda Payne: Bring the Boys Home (1971) - Graham Reid] In spite of the healthy amount of airplay it received in the US, the US Command from the American Forces Network banned it. The reason given was that it would be of benefit to the enemy. 50,000 copies of the album 'Contact' were pressed before it was added to the album after it became a hit.Song Facts - [http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=3292 Bring The Boys Home by Freda Payne] It replaced "He's In My Life" which was the first track on side 1.Discogs - [https://www.discogs.com/Freda-Payne-Contact/release/1682925 Freda Payne Contact]Discogs - [https://www.discogs.com/Freda-Payne-Contact/release/2526027 Freda Payne Contact]
The Soul Source section of the May 22 issue of 'Billboard' named it the best new record of the week.'Billboard', May 22, 1971 - [https://books.google.com/books?id=9wgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA47-IA1&dq=%22Bring+The+Boys+Home%22Billboard&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwijyemaxYHXAhXCUZQKHRggCI44ChDoAQgpMAE#v=onepage&q=%22Bring%20The%20Boys%20Home%22Billboard&f=false Page 32 Soul, Soul Sauce BEST NEW RECORD OF THE WEEK: "Bring the Boys Home" FREDA PAYNE (Invictus) By ED OCHS]
Weekly charts
By July 10, the single had reached number four on the 'Billboard' soul singles chart.'Billboard', July 10, 1971 - [https://books.google.com/books?id=tggEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA24&dq=Freda+Payne+Bring+The+Boys+Home+Invictus+Is+9092&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiv6rSqvoHXAhUJF5QKHSsCCmYQ6AEIKzAB#v=onepage&q=Freda%20Payne%20Bring%20The%20Boys%20Home%20Invictus%20Is%209092&f=false 0Page 24 Soul, Best Selling Soul Singles] The song spent 13 weeks on the Hot 100, peaking at No. 12.Billboard - [https://www.billboard.com/artist/freda-payne/chart-history/hsi/ Bring The Boys Home, Freda Payne]
Chart performance
Certifications
References
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