The 50th anniversary of War is being celebrated with Rhino Records’ Oct. 29, 2021 release of Greatest Hits 2.0, a new, career-spanning collection, available on 2-LPs and 2-CDs, that expands on War’s platinum-certified 1976 greatest hits album.
According to a press release, “It began on July 16 when War’s 2007 concert at the Grove in Anaheim was streamed in its entirety. During the event, Lonnie Jordan (a founding and current member of War) and War co-founder/producer/songwriter Jerry Goldstein shared their memories of the concert and answered fans’ questions in the chat section.”
A new animated video, “Behind the Hits,” has been released, narrated by War Jordan and Goldstein. Together, they recount the origins behind hits like “Slippin’ Into Darkness,” “The World is a Ghetto,” “Cisco Kid,” “Don’t Let No One Get You Down,” “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” and “Low Rider.”
The CD version has 24 tracks recorded between 1970 and 1994, including the gold-certified singles “Spill the Wine,” “Slipping Into Darkness,” “The World Is a Ghetto,” “The Cisco Kid” and “Summer.” Another gold single, “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” stayed on the charts for 31 weeks and became the soundtrack to the U.S.-Soviet space mission where astronauts and cosmonauts linked up in the spirit of friendship. In the modern era, it has been streamed more than 100 million times.
Watch the original music video for “Why Can’t We Be Friends?,” newly remastered from the original 16mm film reels
Also included is the #1 R&B smash “Low Rider,” which was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2014. (See below for the track listing.)
Listen to “Spill the Wine”
Related: Our interview with Eric Burdon, who co-founded War
War was created in the late-1960s by producer/songwriter Jerry Goldstein and British singer Eric Burdon, who was then living in Los Angeles and eager to seek out new collaborators after several years with the Animals. Originally billed as Eric Burdon and War, the group recorded three albums together before Burdon left in 1971.
CD Track Listing
Disc One
1. “Spill The Wine” – Eric Burdon & WAR
2. “Tobacco Road” – Eric Burdon & WAR
3. “All Day Music”
4. “Get Down”
5. “Slippin’ Into Darkness”
6. “The World Is A Ghetto”
7. “The Cisco Kid”
8. “Gypsy Man”
9. “Me And Baby Brother”
10. “Why Can’t We Be Friends?”
11. “Don’t Let No One Get You Down”
12. “Heartbeat”
Disc Two
1. “Low Rider”
2. “So”
3. “Smile Happy”
4. “Summer”
5. “L.A. Sunshine”
6. “Galaxy”
7. “Youngblood (Livin’ In The Streets)”
8. “Good, Good Feelin’”
9. “Cinco De Mayo”
10. “You Got The Power”
11. “Outlaw”
12. “Peace Sign”
1 Comment so far
Jump into a conversationAbsolutely one of the coolest bands to come out of the 70s. Sadly, they were celebrated by larger audiences mostly for their hits, when they were so much more.. A War live performance was not to be missed.