“Kickin’ Hitler’s Butt: Vintage Anti-Fascist Songs 1940-1944” – An Annotated Playlist (Introduction)
Welcome!
Welcome back to the blog, comrades! I’m trying something new that I hope will be of interest to many of you—my first annotated playlist! This introduction is being published simultaneously with Part 1 of this 10-part series. If I’m feeling ambitious once I’ve finished, I may try to consolidate it all into a single mega-post. But for now, I’ll be posting weekly through the new few months. So be sure to check back regularly.
Due to a lack of availability, I have recreated this album as a playlist on YouTube, collecting the highest-quality videos from verified sources. All of the songs except ‘Hitler Song’—credited to Josh White and Lead Belly—are included (more on that later). For increased ease of access, I’ve linked the playlist via TuneMyMusic, which lets you stream a playlist on your platform of choice. That said, I recommend listening on YouTube, as track availability on other platforms will vary. If you happen to give my page a follow while you’re there, I’d be much obliged : )
About the Album
The Release
This album was released in the UK on May 13, 2007. Three companies were involved in the production, manufacturing, and distribution of the album: Buzzola, Chrome Dreams, and Gonzo Distributed. This release may have been limited, as the album is not currently widely available. I don’t currently own a copy myself, but I hope to track one down eventually and get a look at that sweet “full-colour booklet.” (PS I don’t give money to Amazon.)
Product details list the album as having a single disc, which is a little surprising. With 18 songs included, I assumed it would be a two-disc set, primarily to avoid loss of audio quality due to compression. Unfortunately, without having the physical album or even a streamable version available, I’m unable to compare the sound quality of this “remastered” release to other releases of the same recordings.
The Title
“Kickin’ Hitler’s Butt” is a fun title, right? I was surprised to see the term ‘Anti-Fascist’ in the subtitle, as I tend to think of it as a more modern term (its shortened form ‘antifa’ certainly is). So it was interesting to see it in reference to songs from the early 40s. Then again, this compilation was released in 2007. Nowadays, the idea of ‘anti-fascism’ has been somewhat compromised by the mischaracterization of ‘antifa’ as not just a socio-political organization, but a domestic terrorist organization. In reality, this is the result of a deliberate misunderstanding; nothing more than a right-wing pipe dream invented to provoke a fear-driven political base—people unable to wrap their heads around this simple concept: to condemn anti-fascism is to condone fascism.
The Art
The cover art is clearly inspired by pulp comics and American dime novels of the ear. I love how literally the art (designed by Jon Storey) takes the album’s title. Front and center, we have a woman with her knee in a nazi’s back, but it’s clear she’s threatening more than “kickin’ butt.” She’s smothering him with her left hand, and that’s definitely a dagger in her right—with a point that seems destined for that nazi punk’s windpipe. In the background, two more badass women brandish rifles, and a man fires a machine gun at an SS officer; all while, in the upper-right-hand corner, the floating head of der Führer looks towards his anti-fascist attackers with an ‘oh shit’ look on his face.
Are these depictions of bodice-ripped beauties a bit gratuitous? Sure. Entirely unnecessary? Definitely. Do they help to grab your attention? Yep. I asked my wife how she felt about the art, and she said that, yes, on one hand, it’s gratuitous, but on the other…she would buy a calendar of pin-up girls kicking nazi ass. So there you go.
The Music
Genres and Styles on the album are impressively varied, including: Jazz, Blues, Brass & Military, Folk, Country, Easy Listening, Big Band Swing, and Acapella Vocal. And there are some big names on this album, including tracks by Lead Belly and Woody Guthrie (two major contenders for Protest Song GOAT), Pete Seeger (with folk supergroups The Almanac Singers and Union Boys), and Josh White, who outdoes them all with his stunning ‘Führer’ (Track 9). Not to mention the most popular track on the album, the zany ‘Der Fuehrer’s Face’ (Track 14), a Walt Disney-produced lampooning of Hitler and the nazi ideal of “der master race” by Spike Jones & His City Slickers.
That’s all I’ll say about the music for now. Come back for the next ten posts for MUCH more on that.
My Approach
First and foremost, although I am a writer and musician, I’m approaching this project as a music fan and, of course, a huge fan of anti-fascism. I came upon this album during a deep dive into American Protest Music, beginning with the protest songs of Lead Belly, which seemed as good a starting point as any. This research will also inform other posts, such as my upcoming ‘How to Write a Protest Song’ series.
What I’m not is any kind of authority on music, WWII, or history in general. Many of you will likely be more educated than I am on some of these topics. Nor am I aiming to write a typical review. Rather, I’ll approach each track as an exploration and a conversation. At times, I may ask questions that I don’t immediately have answers to. You may even be able to help me solve a few mysteries along the way. I encourage feedback and am always open to suggestions. So please, I’d love to hear your thoughts and ideas. All are welcome here!
Links
“Kickin’ Hitler’s Butt” Playlist – YouTube
“Kickin’ Hitler’s Butt” Album Page – Discogs
“Kickin’ Hitler’s Butt” Album Lyrics – Genius
Special Thanks Go To:
- Genius user AndyMeister, who seems to have supplied the lyrics for every track on the album.
- Reddit user geshchichtsklitterung from the /blues sub for research assistance.
Disclaimer
~Content was created without the use of A.I.~
~Media content may be subject to copyright~
~Original content © Adam Astra 2026~
Adam Astra 