"51st State" is a single by New Model Army, which appeared on their 1986 album The Ghost of Cain.[1] The lyrics to the song stated that the UK was the 51st state of the United States[2] and were believed to be behind a ban by the American Musician's Union on the band, which prevented them touring the Ghost of Cain album in the United States.[1]
"51st State" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by New Model Army | ||||
from the album The Ghost of Cain | ||||
B-side | "Ten Commandments" "A Liberal Education" (live) "No Rest" (live) "No Man's Land" (live) | |||
Released | September 1986 | |||
Genre | Post-punk | |||
Label | EMI | |||
Songwriter(s) | Ashley Cartwright, New Model Army | |||
Producer(s) | Glyn Johns | |||
New Model Army singles chronology | ||||
|
The track was released as a single through EMI and reached number 71 on the UK Singles Chart,[3] spending just two weeks in the listing. It was the band's fourth appearance on that chart.
Originally this song was written by Ashley Cartwright and performed by his band called The Shakes, from whom New Model Army took the song after The Shakes broke up in 1983.[4]
Formats and track listing
edit- UK 7" single (NMA 4)
- "51st State" (Ashley Cartwright, New Model Army)
- "Ten Commandments" (Justin Sullivan)
- UK 12" single (12 NMAS 4)
- "51st State"
- "Ten Commandments"
- "A Liberal Education" (live) (Sullivan, Stuart Morrow)
- "No Rest" (live) (Sullivan, Morrow, Robert Heaton)
- "No Man's Land" (live) (Sullivan)
- UK 12" single doublepack (12 NMA 4D)
- Disc one
- "51st State"
- "Ten Commandments"
- Disc two (PSLP 348)
- "A Liberal Education" (live)
- "No Rest" (live)
- "No Man's Land" (live)
- Holland 12" single (2018046)
- "51st State"
- "Ten Commandments"
- "A Liberal Education" (live)
- "No Rest" (live)
References
edit- ^ a b Perrone, Pierre (2011-10-09). "Robert Heaton obituary: Drummer/songwriter with New Model Army". independent.co.uk. The Independent. Archived from the original on 2012-10-15.
- ^ Cartwright, Ashley (1986). "51st State". newmodelarmy.org. New Model Army. Archived from the original on 2020-09-22.
Here in the land of opportunity, watch us revel in our liberty. You can say what you like but it doesn't change anything, because the corridors of power are an ocean away. We're the 51st state of America
- ^ "51st State Chart History". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
- ^ "Ashley Cartwright". newmodelarmy.org. Retrieved 2024-03-27.