War (War album)

War

Studio album by War

Released

April 1971

Recorded

1971 at Wally Heider Studios, San Francisco, California & Los Angeles, California

Genre

Soul, funk

Length

40:08

Label

United Artists

Producer

Jerry Goldstein

War chronology

The Black-Man's Burdon
(1970)

War
(1971)

All Day Music
(1971)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic

War is the third album by funk group War, or their first following the departure of singer Eric Burdon and the group's name change from the original: Eric Burdon and War. It was released in April 1971 on United Artists Records, their first for the label.

The album did not gain much attention upon release, but sales and critical acclaim picked up after their subsequent hit albums throughout the 1970s, the next appearing later in 1971. One single was taken from the album: "Lonely Feelin'" backed with "Sun Oh Son", which did not chart. Of the other songs, "War Drums" includes a chant of the band's name and appears to be an attempt at a group theme song; and "Fidel's Fantasy" generated some controversy over its spoken word monologue criticizing Fidel Castro.

The cover painting depicts many disembodied arms giving a three finger salute, a concept also used on the group's first album with Eric Burdon: Eric Burdon Declares "War". There are actually eight arms in the picture, but only seven people in the group, revealing that the artwork was commissioned when Burdon was still with them, confirmed by the cover notes which credit him for the concept. The cover art is by Norman Seeff. The back cover shows the same picture, mirror reversed. The original edition was printed on a linen textured cover slick, and has an inner gatefold photo of the band.

All tracks composed by War (Papa Dee Allen, Harold Brown, B.B. Dickerson, Lonnie Jordan, Charles Miller, Lee Oskar, Howard E. Scott). The album notes also mention that Hilton Valentine (of The Animals) helped with the lyrics to "Back Home".

...
Wikipedia