The Top Ten Patriotic Oldies

With the United States at war on at least two fronts and a populace badly divided by ideology, this July 4th becomes an important occasion on which to discuss what America means, and what it stands for -- not just as a nation of ideas, but a symbol of personal freedom, a physical landscape, and a consumer's paradise. These songs from the Fifties, Sixties, and Seventies present a full portrait of what it means (or certainly what it once meant) to be an American. If you're so inclined, you can purchase these songs right here through About.com, too, for the lowest possible price.