An open and suspiciously familiar letter (MP3)

Griffen's Paraders featuring Arthur Sterling - "An Open Letter To My Teenage Son" (MP3)

Yes, it's a remake of the classic Victor Lundberg Libertarian rap from the 1960s (as heard on Ken's classic comp The Happy Listener's Guide To Mind Control) by somebodies or somethings calling themselves Griffen's Paraders featuring Arthur Sterling. Sadly, the rest of the album is merely a selection of public domain patriotic tunes; there are no other speech-song remakes. You don't get, say, a retelling of Jarrel McCracken's "Game of Life", Byron MacGregor's "Americans" or even a remake of a beloved Jack Van Impe sermon. But it was worth getting just to prove to you, the WFMU listener, that someone actually thought it was a good idea to do a remake of "An Open Letter To My Teenage Son". I can only hope that the 9/11 remix is in the works.

Comments

[andrew]

Libertarian?! Victor Lundberg?

[jima]

Sorry, I was just using Ken's terminology, when he called Lundberg's album "1960's Libertarian recitations."

[BenT]

Victor Lundberg was a spokesman for the Libertarian Party in the 1960s.

His entire album "An Open Letter" is available at my blog
"These Records are BenT!"
here's a permalink URL:

http://bentrecords.blogspot.com/2006/04/victor-lundberg-open-letter.html#comments

[David]

Here's another version, from a cheapie cover song album, "Twelve Top Hits," that also featured covers such as Daydream Believer and 98.6. I like this one cause the guy ("Bobby Sims")sounds like Elvis.

http://home.pacbell.net/davidmin/bobbysims.mp3

David

[andrew]

I used to have this record, had no idea he was involved with the Libertarian party; he just sounds like an exceptionally stupid Republican.

[Brenda]

I knew who Victor Lundberg was...I used the term 'Senator' sarcastically in my e-mail to Ken, BTW. One thing escapes me, though: if he was such a hardhat, why did he give his son his blessing to grow his hair? Didn't he realize that it didn't have the same meaning as during the Revolutionary or Civil Wars?

[James]

LUNDBURG A LIBERTARIAN? NOT TRUE.

Above it is claimed that Lundburg was "a spokesman for the Libertarian Party in the 1960s." IMPOSSIBLE.

1) The Libertarian Party was founded in 1971, so Lundburg could hardly have been it's "spokesman," as claimed above, unless he had access to a time machine.

2.) Libertarians vehemently oppose the draft. Lundburg's pro-draft position is no more libertarian than laissez faire capitalism is a core tenet of Marxism.

Lundburg's bizarre works express a conservative, reactionary, right wing view. But not a libertarian (or Libertarian) one.

James W. Harris