51st_State_(song)
51st State (song)
1986 single by New Model Army
"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]
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 was a song written by Ashley Cartwright and performed by his band called The Shakes, from who New Model Army took the song after they broke up.[4]