51st State (song)

This article is about a song. For idea of a 51st state of the US, see 51st state. For the film, see The 51st State.

"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
Format	7", 12"
Genre	Rock, Post-punk
Label	EMI
Writer(s)	Ashley Cartwright, New Model Army
Producer	Glyn Johns
New Model Army singles chronology
"Brave New World" (1985) "51st State" (1986) Adrenalin EP (1986)

"51st State" is a song performed by New Model Army, which appeared on their 1986 album The Ghost Of Cain. It protests against what it claimed was the obedience of the United Kingdom under Margaret Thatcher to United States interests. Its lyrics were written by Ashley Cartwright of The Shakes.

The track was released as a single, on EMI and reached number 71 in the UK Singles Chart, spending just two weeks in the listing. It was the band's fourth hit appearance in that chart.

"Heartland" a song written by Matt Johnson of The The is another strong protest against the Americanisation of the UK. Known more by its chorus 'this is the 51st state of the USA' than its actual title, it was released as a single in 1986 but banned by BBC Radio 1 because of its use of the word piss in the lyric 'past the piss-stinking shopping centers in the new side of town'.

Formats and track listing

UK 7" single (NMA 4)

1. "51st State" (Ashley Cartwright, New Model Army)
2. "Ten Commandments" (Justin Sullivan)

UK 12" single (12 NMAS 4)

1. "51st State" (Cartwright, New Model Army)
2. "Ten Commandments" (Sullivan)
3. "A Liberal Education" (live) (Sullivan, Stuart Morrow)
4. "No Rest" (live) (Sullivan, Morrow, Robert Heaton)
5. "No Man's Land" (live) (Sullivan)

UK 12" single doublepack (12 NMA 4D)

Disc one

1. "51st State" (Cartwright, New Model Army)
2. "Ten Commandments" (Sullivan)

Disc two (PSLP 348)

1. "A Liberal Education" (live) (Sullivan, Morrow)
2. "No Rest" (live) (Sullivan, Morrow, Heaton)
3. "No Man's Land" (live) (Sullivan)

Holland 12" single (2018046)

1. "51st State" (Cartwright, New Model Army)
2. "Ten Commandments" (Sullivan)
3. "A Liberal Education" (live) (Sullivan, Morrow)
4. "No Rest" (live) (Sullivan, Morrow, Heaton)