Having previously tackled the music and sounds of The Vietnam War on a comprehensive box set, the Bear Family label has turned its attention to chronicling another conflict.  Battleground Korea: Songs and Sounds of America's Forgotten War, arriving from the label in the U.S on March 23, is a lavish 4-CD anthology from the historically-minded musical specialists, bringing into the sharp focus the soundtrack of the Korean War.

Over 121 tracks, the Bear team brings together songs in the various genres that informed American life in the 1950s, including country, pop, blues, bluegrass, folk, and gospel.  Battleground Korea offers selections from a wide range of artists such as Gene Autry, Ernest Tubb, Tex Ritter, Red Foley, John Lee Hooker, Lightnin' Hopkins, Fats Domino, Lloyd Price, The Louvin Brothers, and Sister Rosetta Tharpe (among others, of course).

The set is organized in more or less chronological fashion by theme.  Disc One is built around Going to War, while the second disc is entitled In Korea.  The third, On the Homefront, takes a stateside view, and the fourth, Peace and Its Legacies, considers the impact of the War.  Several song cycles in miniature populate this collection.  The On the Homefront CD has Jean Shepard and Ferlin Husky's "A Dear John Letter," followed by Pete Lane and Bernice Stabile's "John's Reply," Jack Cardwell's "Dear Joan" and Shepard and Husky's "Forgive Me John." Another mini-suite goes from Skeets McDonald's "Please Daddy, Don't Go to War" to George Simerly and His Tennesseans' "Why Does the Army Need My Daddy," Cecil Gant's "God Bless My Daddy" and The Oklahoma Sweethearts' "Don't Steal Daddy's Medal."  The Peace and its Legacies disc promises to emotionally revisit the return home from Korea with a group of songs beginning with Soldier Boy Houston's "Leavin' Korea" and ending with Jimmy Witherspoon's "Back Home."  Clearly, the label wasn't content to rest on its laurels for obvious tune selections or a revisit of the day's hit parade.

As with other of Bear Family's previous box sets, there is also non-musical material to better conjure the period.  Sound clips are present from General Douglas MacArthur, portions o speeches from Presidents Harry Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower (also represented with The Promenade Band's rendition of Irving Berlin's showtune "I Like Ike"), and PSAs from entertainers like Vic Damone and even the popular children's marionette. Howdy Doody.

In true Bear Family style, the set is packaged with a hardcover book - totaling 160 pages and including liner notes from Hugo A. Keesing with historical background on each song and artist.  It's illustrated with photographs, advertisements, album and single artwork, and period memorabilia.  Country singer Frankie Miller shares his memories of serving in Korea in one segment, while others focus on the history of the war, and Marilyn Monroe's fabled overseas visit with the American troops.

Battleground Korea looks to be not only a time capsule for those who were there, but a historical document for others to learn more about The Forgotten War in an engrossing and entertaining fashion.  Look for it on March 23 in the U.S. from Bear Family Records.  You'll find the track listing and pre-order links below!

Various Artists, Battleground Korea: Songs and Sounds of America's Forgotten War (Bear Family, 2018) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada TBD)

CD 1: Going To War Again

1. War starts in Korea [War starts....]
2. Lightnin' Hopkins: War News Blues
3. Sunshine Boys Quartet: God Please Protect America
4. Wally Fowler and His Oakridge Quartet: Pray, Pray Pray (For The U.S.A.)
5. President Truman speaks on war in Korea
6. Hank Harral and His Palamino Cowhands: When They Raised The U.N. Flag In South Korea
7. The Four Barons: Got To Go Back Again
8. Sunnyland Slim and His Trio: Back To Korea Blues
9. Harry Choates and His Fiddle: Korea, Here We Come
10. Vince Mondi: Goodbye - Maria ('I'm Off To Korea')
11. Paul Mims: My New Career Is In Korea
12. Vance Brothers: Draftboard Blues
13. Ray Anderson and Tennessee Mountaineers: Draft Board Blues
14. Arkie Shibley and His Mountain Dew Boys: Uncle Sam Has Called My Number
15. Smilin' Eddie Vernado and the Delta Ranch Hands: I'm A Soldier Boy Again
16. Harvey Stone: Here We Go Again
17. Fats Domino: Korea Blues
18. Clifford Blivens with the Johnny Otis Band: Korea Blues
19. Willie Brown: Korea Blues
20. Max Bailey: Sorry Girl Blues
21. B.B. King: Questionnaire Blues
22. John Lee Hooker (Johnny Williams): Questionnaire Blues
23. Sonny Thompson: Uncle Sam Blues
24. Lloyd Price and His Orchestra: Mailman Blues
25. Big Boy Crudup: Mr. So And So
26. Tani Allen and His Tennessee Pals: I'm Back In The Army
27. Cactus Pryor and His Pricklypears: (In Again, Out Again) Packing Up My Barracks Bags Blues
28. Montana Slim (Wilf Carter, The Singing Cowboy): The K.P. Blues
29. Bob Newman: Greetings
30. Vic Damone: Message From Vic Damone
31. The Rockets and Hugo Winterhalter and His Orchestra: The Girls Are Marching

CD 2: In Korea

1. Armada to Korea
2. The Gospel Pilgrims: Korea (Fightin' In The Foreign Land)
3. Bill Cason: Foxhole In Korea
4. Steve Rogers: Inchon
5. Sonny Osborne: A Brother In Korea
6. John Carpino: The Ballad Of Chosin
7. Oscar Brand & Short Arms: We're Moving On
8. Jimmie Osborne: Thank God For Victory In Korea
9. Robert Pierpoint Under fire in Korea
10. Delmore Brothers: Heartbreak Ridge
11. Ernest Tubb: A Heartsick Soldier On Heartbreak Ridge
12. The Four Lads with Narration by Edward R. Murrow: Where The Need Is
13. Elton Britt: Korean Mud
14. Howdy Doody: Request for blood donations
15. Sherman 'Blues' Johnson & His Clouds of Joy: Lost In Korea
16. The Louvin Brothers: From Mother's Arms To Korea
17. Jack Powers: From A Foxhole
18. William Cook Accompanied by The Marshall Brothers: A Soldier's Prayer
19. Rocky Porter: Please Say A Prayer (For The Boys Over There)
20. Slim Rhodes: Red White And Blue
21. J.B. Lenoir: I'm In Korea
22. Lightnin' Hopkins: Sad News From Korea
23. Elton Britt: Rotation Blues
24. Billy Mize: Pusan
25. Tommy (Weepin' and Cryin') Brown: No News From Home
26. Carl Sauceman and The Green Valley Boys: Wrap My Body In Old Glory
27. Jim Eanes: A Prisoner Of War
28. Kay Kellum and His Dixie Ramblers: When I Get Back
29. The Kalvin Brothers: Somewhere In Korea

CD 3: On The Homefront

1. A GI Writes to His Kids - a Posthumous Letter
2. Tiny Hill: Two Letters
3. Red Foley: Dear Little Girls
4. Tex Ritter: Daddy's Last Letter
5. Jackie Doll and His Pickled Peppers: When They Drop The Atomic Bomb
6. The Truman-MacArthur dispute that led the President to fire the General
7. R.D. Henden with The Western Jamboree Cowboys: Oh! Mr. President
8. General Of The Army Douglas MacArthur Reports To Congress
9. Gene Autry: Old Soldiers Never Die
10. Jimmie Short and the Silver Saddle Ranch Boys: (Old Generals Never Die) They Just Fade Away
11. Ray Snead: Fade Away Baby
12. Rep. James E. Van Zandt supports the use of the Atomic Bomb in Korea
13. 'Skeets' McDonald: Please Daddy, Don't Go To War
14. George Simerly and His Tennesseans: Why Does The Army Need My Daddy
15. Cecil Gant: God Bless My Daddy
16. Oklahoma Sweethearts: Don't Steal Daddy's Medal
17. Jimmie Heap and The Melody Masters: God Is On Our Side
18. The Dixie Ramblers: I'll Be Glad When It's Over (Over There)
19. Roscoe Hankins: I'm Prayin' For The Day (When Peace Will Come)
20. Edna McGriff: Heavenly Father
21. Gene Autry: At Mail Call Today
22. Jean Shepard with Recitation by Ferlin Husky: A Dear John Letter
23. Pete Lane and Bernice Stabile: John's Reply
24. Jack Cardwell: Dear Joan
25. Jean Shepard with Recitation by Ferlin Husky: Forgive Me John
26. Emitt Slay Trio: Male Call
27. Hank Penny: A Letter From Home
28. The Promenade Band with Male Chorus: I Like Ike
29. 'I shall go to Korea...'
30. 'Little Maxie': Drive Soldier Drive
31. Eddie Kirk: Five Star President

CD 4: Peace and Its Legacies

1. President Eisenhower announces an armistice in Korea...
2. Sister Rosetta Tharpe: There's Peace In Korea
3. The Revelers: Ike
4. Jimmie Osborne: The Korean Story
5. Arthur 'Big Boy' Crudup: The War Is Over
6. Lightning Hopkins: The War Is Over
7. Soldier Boy Houston: Leavin' Korea
8. Jimmie Dale: Hello Maria
9. King Perry Orchestra with Vocal by Dell St. John: Welcome Home Baby
10. Rose Brown and Jimmie Harris with Bubbles and His Band: Back From Korea
11. Dave Bartholomew: No More Black Nights
12. Jimmy Witherspoon: Back Home
13. Margie Collie: His New War Bride
14. Harry Holt brings Korean war orphans to Portland, Oregon
15. Kwan Li: The Legend Of Harry Holt
16. Don Windle with Band: The Iron Curtain Has Parted
17. Ernest Tubb: Missing In Action
18. Smilin' Jim Eanes and His Shenandoah Valley Boys: Returned From Missing In Action
19. Billy Strange: I'm Still A Prisoner
20. Merle Travis: Re-Enlistment Blues
21. Red River Dave: The Red Deck Of Cards
22. Eddie Hill: I've Changed My Mind (And I'll Go Home Again)
23. Jim & Jesse and The Virginia Boys: Purple Heart
24. Don 'Red' Barry: White Cross In Korea
25. Marvin Rainwater: Korea's Mountain Northland
26. Carl Sauceman with the Green Valley Boys: A White Cross Marks The Grave
27. Elton Britt: The Unknown Soldier
28. Red River Dave: Searching For You, Buddy
29. Don Reno, Red Smiley and the Tennessee Cutups: Forgotten Men
30. Dick Curless: China Nights (Shina No Yuro)