Day 6 - "The Dawn of Correction" by The Spokesmen

Imagine the scene. You’re a right wing politician tasked with reaching out to disaffected youth culture. Everywhere you look you see signs of the cultural appeal of the Left, whether in the cynical hawk-baiting of Kubrick’s Dr Strangelove or the growling anger of Dylan’s protest songs. Suddenly, it comes to you. If you want to appeal to America's youth, then you’re going to need to speak their language. You’re going to need to communicate on a level that they will understand. You’re going to need your very own political folk rockers.  

Now, you know that a number of disaffected young people equate your position with fascism and authoritarianism. You’re aware of the fact that you project an overly harsh and stilted image. The first impression your new group provides is therefore absolutely crucial. How should they pose on the album cover? Shaking hands in friendly-yet-professional mode? Gathered in a smiling, manly huddle? Holding puppies in a garden?  No, no, and no again. The correct answer is that your new group should pose with arms crossed, dressed all in black, glowering at the record buyer in such a way that suggests that they know exactly what you’ve done, and the FBI will round shortly to arrest you. Communist. It's hard to deny that there is something gloriously surreal about the cover for The Spokesmen's only album - the band look like they were all auditioning  for roles in The Prisoner - but there is something unsettling about it as well. After all, nothing dispels an authoritarian image like matching black clothing, a threatening, suspicious stare and the use of the word “Correction” in your album title.

The idea of Conservative folk was not new. This was a trick which had initially been tried in Barry Goldwater’s disastrous 1964 presidential campaign. “The Goldwaters” followed the Republican Presidential candidate on the campaign trail, singing “hits” from their only album “The Goldwaters Sing Songs to Bug the Liberals” (no, really). This didn’t generally make much an impact on the country as a whole; although they did enjoy some limited success in Republican circles (you can read an interview with a former member here). I suppose there wasn't much cause to sing songs like "Win in '64" after the 486 electoral college votes to 52 landslide victory for Lyndon Johnson.

“The Spokesmen” represent a toned down version of “The Goldwaters” template. Made up of Ray Gilmore, Johnny Madara, and Dave White, the group’s sole album (recorded for Decca in 1965) included covers of recent hits, such as “Down in the Boondocks” (which did, after all, talked about bettering oneself and getting the girl) and the Conservative masterpiece that also served to name the record – “Dawn of Correction”. Despite sounding uncomfortably like the title of a Victorian morality sermon or questionable speciality film, “Dawn”, was basically a line-by-line refutation of McGuire’s “Eve of Destruction”. The song is notable for its right wing optimism and ballsy defence of its political philosophy. Each line is a perfectly crafted gem, answering the points raised by McGuire’s song on issues such as Communism, the Draft, and the nuclear deterrent. It’s hard to know where to begin when picking out choice lyrics. The spirited defence of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) designed “to ensure negotiation/ so don’t be afraid, boy, it’s our only salvation” is a contender. As it the rather frank admission that the writers simply don’t get the counter-culture movement’s problem with America: “I don’t understand the cause of your aggravation!”. But the winner, for me, has to be the final verse, in which the writers list (seemingly at random) all of the things that McGuire should have been thankful for. Clearly unable to fit it in anywhere else, the band simply decided to dump in their last cause for optimism, almost as an afterthought: “What about the Peace Corps organization? Don’t forget the work of the United Nations!” I find it impossible to dislike a song which is so naïve; simultaneously borderline offensive, of its time and hopelessly optimistic about the future. It is a rare ray of sunshine in the apocalyptic gloom, but one which serves the traditional role of an "apocalyptic" text for right wing listeners. 

The term "apocalyptic" doesn't necessarily refer to "the end of the world". It simply means an "unveiling" or "revelation". In ancient literature, such texts were often written by persecuted groups, with the "unveiling" showing them that God was in control of a seemingly random world. Despite setbacks now", the apocalyptic text reminded its readers, your cause will be vindicated in the end. "The Dawn of Correction" does a similar thing - written for right wingers who felt that their nation was slipping into anarchy, it serves to remind them to keep on the path of "truth"; that despite seeming reverses at present, all will turn out well. Its apocalypse, without destruction. But don't worry - things will be taking a horrific turn tomorrow...

The Dawn of Correction (Gilmora-Madara-White, 1965)

 

The western world has a common dedication

To keep free people from Red domination.
Maybe you can’t vote, boy, but man your battle station

For there’ll be no need for votin’ in future generations.

Chorus: So over and over again, you keep saying it’s the end,

But I say you’re wrong, we’re just on the dawn of correction.

There are buttons to push in too many nations,

But who’s crazy enough to risk annihilation?

The buttons are there to ensure negotiation,

So don’t be afraid, boy, it’s our only salvation.

Chorus

You tell me that marches won’t bring integration,

But look what it’s done for the voter registration.

Be thankful our country allows demonstrations,

Instead of condemning, make some recommendations.

I don’t understand the cause of your aggravation.

You mean to tell me, boy, it’s not a better situation?.

Chorus

You missed all the good in your evaluation,

What about the things that deserve commendation?

Where there once was no cure, there’s vaccination.

Where there once was a desert, there’s vegetation.

Self-government’s replacing colonization.

What about the Peace Corps organization?

Don’t forget the work of the United Nations.

Chorus

Listen on Spotify: Apopalypse: Apocalyptic Advent Calendar

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Buy:  http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Dawn-of-Correction/dp/B00475SMYU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1354781867&sr=8-2