51st State (song)

"51st State" is a single by New Model Army, which appeared on their 1986 album The Ghost of Cain. The lyrics to the song stated that the UK was the 51st state of the United States 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.

The track was released as a single through EMI and reached number 71 on the UK Singles Chart, 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.

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"
 * 2) "Ten Commandments"
 * 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
 * "51st State"
 * "Ten Commandments"


 * Disc two (PSLP 348)
 * "A Liberal Education" (live)
 * "No Rest" (live)
 * "No Man's Land" (live)


 * Holland 12" single (2018046)
 * 1) "51st State"
 * 2) "Ten Commandments"
 * 3) "A Liberal Education" (live)
 * 4) "No Rest" (live)