Save the Country
"Save the Country" is a song written by Laura Nyro, first released by her as a single in 1968.[1] Nyro released another version of the song on her 1969 album New York Tendaberry.
| "Save the Country" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by The 5th Dimension | ||||
| from the album Portrait | ||||
| B-side | "Dimension 5ive" | |||
| Released | June 1970 | |||
| Genre | Soul | |||
| Length | 2:39 | |||
| Label | Bell Records 895 | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Laura Nyro | |||
| Producer(s) | Bones Howe | |||
| The 5th Dimension singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Background
Nyro was inspired to write the song after the June 5, 1968 assassination of Robert Kennedy.[2]
5th Dimension recording
The most successful version was performed by The 5th Dimension. It reached #10 on the U.S. adult contemporary chart, #24 in Canada, #27 on the Billboard Hot 100, and #79 in Australia in 1970.[3] It was featured on their 1970 album Portrait.[4] The song was produced by Bones Howe and arranged by Bill Holman, Bob Alcivar, and Howe.[5]
Other versions
- Julie Driscoll with Brian Auger and the Trinity released a version of the song on their 1969 album Streetnoise.
- Canadian band The Sugar Shoppe, which included actor and singer Victor Garber, released a version of the song in 1969.
- Paul Revere & The Raiders (under the shortened name Raiders) made the song the opening track of their 1970 album Collage.
- Thelma Houston released a version of the song in 1970 that reached #73 in Canada[6] and #74 on the Billboard Hot 100.[7]
- Rosanne Cash released a version of the song on the 1997 Nyro tribute album Time and Love: The Music of Laura Nyro.
- Roberta Flack performed her version of the song in a live broadcast from KCET in the 1970s.[8]
- Nyro's version was sampled by Kanye West on his song "The Glory" off his third studio album Graduation.
References
- Laura Nyro, "Save the Country" single release Retrieved January 20, 2015
- Kort, Michelle. It references both the death of Senator Kennedy and his brother, President John F. Kennedy, in the third verse: "Come on people! Sons and mothers, Keep the dream of the two young brothers, Gonna take that dream and ride that dove." Soul Picnic: The Music and Passion of Laura Nyro. New York: St. Martin's Press, p. 65.
- The 5th Dimension, "Save the Country" Chart Positions Retrieved January 19, 2015
- The 5th Dimension, Portrait Retrieved January 19, 2015
- The 5th Dimension, "Save the Country" single release Retrieved January 19, 2015
- Thelma Houston, "Save the Country" Canadian Chart Position Retrieved January 19, 2015
- Thelma Houston, "Save the Country" U.S. Chart Position Retrieved January 19, 2015
- Roberta Flack, "Artbound Presents Studio A" Retrieved June 30, 2015
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