Untitled Document






Ambushed By A Old School California Funk/Jazz/R&B/Latin Band Called War
by - Mz Rissy
Funny thing happened while I was waiting to see Ohio Players in Concert last Saturday! I was ambushed by a old school California Funk/Jazz/R&B/Latin band called War.

It was a scorching 102-105 degree day in Cali. I had my pop-up 10 x10 shade tent up. Ice chest was full of whatever, had my blanket, chairs, good friends and was ready for the day at the park. (Actually it was at the local city college) It was a nice crowd, kids, teenagers, families, mom's, dads, old school pimp wannabee's dressed for the part, you name it and it was represented. It reminded me of the good old days back in Pasadena when it was all fun, family and friends and all day concerts at the park. Back in the day we had what is now commonly referred to as "Real Music". I would go to the Rose Bowl for the Kool Jazz festival and see Stevie Wonder, Grover Washington, Andre Crouch, The Whispers, man it's just too many to name. It was always like a big all-day family reunion event and they were Cheap, not like many of today's shows for the younger generation. Crowded in buildings, people all cramped, no live bands, no sense of family, just drama at the shows. I am so happy to see the "Old School" performers are coming out of the woodwork to bring back "Real Music". It's also great to see Black Unity/Family Unity/ Community Days in the park are coming back strong! Whets even better the young folk are going to the shows.

It was about 5 pm and the announcer said are you ready for Lonnie Jordan and War and started rambling off some War tunes. I started having memories of the old days and started to smile. The group came on and started tuning up. Lonnie said ok yall let us get this right for yall as they continued to get it all together. It took about 5 minutes and he talked to us as they
were getting it ready still saying he wanted the sound right. I was getting a lil excited as it was starting to sound Right! Lonnie gave a lil intro and it was on! The band started playing, the music was perfect, sound was clear and just perfect. As they got into the set I couldn't help but remark to my friend.."Damn I forgot how Funky War was" War has that
distinctive "Sound". Once a song comes on of theirs you know who it is even if you never heard THAT particular song before. That is one of the things that separates average bands from good bands and good bands from great bands. You know the style but the music doesn't all sound the same!

They did all the songs from back in the day... some I had forgotten about. I don't remember the order of the set was I was just chillin and enjoying the vibes. Here is a list of some of the songs I remember.

1. Summer ( cause it's summer, summer time is here, yes its summer my time
of year) That's what I'm talking bout !
2. Low Rider
3. Cisco Kid
4. Slippin Into Darkness (that took me back and it was FUNKY) That had me
saying .. oh snap
5. Me And Baby Brother ( I forgot bout that song) we was partying to it for
a minute or two.. heyyyy
6. Galaxy (I kinda remembered that one)
7. Spill The Wine (my uncle's favorite song. He sang that ALL the time.....)
8. All Day Music
9. Why Can't We be friends

The set was long but nobody cared, people were singing and dancing and having a good time. Somewhere into the show Lonnie said yall gonna be on the CD. He stated this was for a new War Live CD so naturally people got louder so they could be heard. He then said thing is.. do yall believe me? and laughed. But it was a long set considering they were not the headliners. And
there was plenty of dialog.

War put on a great show, actually they stole the show. The Ohio Players were up next.I'll give a review of the Ohio Players after I see them in San Jose California July 22 2006 because I was not impressed with their performance. Maybe it was a bad day for them. People were mumbling as we left the concert.. but it always ended with, well for $10.00 bucks you can't
beat it or complain. We got two live bands and lots of Fireworks and a great day out for $10.00. I love Summer in California.


Mz Rissy
www.cdawsongifts.com


A Few Random Thoughts on WAR
by - John Book
As you know, I am definitely a fan of the group. My parents had lived in California during my early years, so since War was a Cali band, it was all I heard. It's hard to say what hooked me, but I liked the fact that there could be a band with more than 4 people and it worked beautifully, like a family thing. You got congas, you got the keyboards and organs, the guitar, and of course Lee Oskar's harmonica playing, they went out to be different. Even though Oskar is white, they never made that the groups focal point. He
was one of the brothers, hair and all (j/k).
I am always in a dispute with my favorite War album, but DELIVER THE WORD wins out in the end. "Gypsy Man" always ends up being a sad song for me, just listen to that solo by Oskar at the end. "H2 Overture", "Southern Part Of Texas"... yeah. Then there's THE WORLD IS A GHETTO, another untouchable album. When these albums were recently released on CD, I was shocked that DELIVER THE WORD didn't do as well as THE WORLD IS A GHETTO.
Then of course you have songs like "Smile Happy", "Why Can't We Be Friends", "Low Rider", "All Day Music", and the classic "Spill The Wine". To me, they seemed like the kind of band your dad would join during a good party, to jam until the early morning.
I'm not sure they made a social impact, since huge groups were part of the norm in the 70's. I know they made an impact on a lot of bands today, looking back at a music that was truly happy music. I think Sly & The Family Stone made more of an impact with their integrated band. Other than "Low Rider", War never made it to that pop level that Earth, Wind & Fire did, possibly why more people have sampled them in recent years
And look at their name. They said themselves that when they came out, everybody had hippie dippie names, and they wanted attention. So they busted out with War, and the contradiction worked.
It would be nice if someone could come with a tour package featuring War, Tower Of Power, P-Funk, and someone like Fishbone. Oh well

-John Book



War - The Low Riders
by Jose Munoz

War evolved from a Los Angeles band called The Creators. They were a r&b cover band created in 1962 by Howard Scott ( guitar & vocals) and Harold Brown (percussion & vocals), and included Lonnie Jordan (keyboards & vocals), B.B. Dickerson (bass & vocals) and Charles Miller (flute & saxophone). They broke up when Howard Scott was drafted and briefly reunited when Scott was discharged two years later. A new band called Night Shift was formed in 1968 by Scott, Brown, Jordan and Miller, and added new bassist Peter Rosen. B.B. Dickerson returned when Peter Rosen died of a drug overdose, and Papa Dee Allen (keyboards & vocals) also joined the band. They ended up becoming backup band for football player Deacon Jones in his brief musical career. The band was heard rehearsing by Jerry Goldstein, a producer and songwriter. He introduced them to Eric Burdon (formerly of The Animals), and would go on to produce with War. Burdon brought Lee Oskar (harmonica, percussion & vocals) to the band and toured with War in 1969. In 1970, "Eric Burdon Declares War" was released and went gold. The single "Spill The Wine" became a hit and went to #3 on the pop charts. War recorded two more albums with Burdon, "Black Man's Burdon" and "Love Is All Around" which wasn't released until 1976. In 1971 during the middle of a European tour, Eric Burdon quit touring claiming that he was burned out. War completed the tour without him to sell-out crowds, much to their delight. War permanently split with Burdon and signed a record deal with UA. In 1971, they released "All Day Music" and followed with albums "The World Is A Ghetto", "Deliver The Word", "War Live", and "Why Cant We Be Friends?" which made them a mainstay in the '70"s.




War had a unique sound, a combination of funk, r&b, gospel and latin jazz (not to mention the harmonica of Lee Oskar and saxophone of Charles Miller) that had wide appeal that crossed racial lines. Their music addressed the issues in many urban communities and also had positive messages which were inspirational to many. "All Day Music" was the first album that I heard by War. "Slippin' Into Darkness" was my favorite with it's hypnotic rhythm and vocals. It became their first hit on their own. " All Day Music " and "Nappy Head" were also popular among fans. War's next album "The World Is A Ghetto" became a huge success. The title song painted a picture of despair and hope found in the inner city, and that "...peace and love are the cure...". It meant to me that problems that faced minorities in urban areas were global, and basically the same as those in many communities around the world (hunger, poverty, political oppression,etc.). "Four Cornered Room", "Beetles In The Bog" and "City, Country, City" were favorites with their blues, gospel and jazz feel to them. "The Cisco Kid" was a funky song aimed at its latino audience that made its way to black radio (as were "Low Rider" and "Cinco de Mayo"). The album "Deliver The Word" brought us "Me & Baby Brother .wav file 30 K", one of their funkiest songs, which was influenced by Sly & The Family Stone. "Deliver The Word" was a soulful ballad that is among my favorites. Their next album, "Why Can't We Be Friends?" brought two hits. It produced their classic "Low Rider" , and the title song which questioned racial separatism and called for unity among the races. War went on to make more albums and hits including "Galaxy" and "Peace Sign" from their last album.

-- Jose Munoz




WAR Selected Discography & Downloads

 

Eric Burdon & War : Eric Burdon Declares War - 1970

1. Dedication

2. Roll on Kirk

3. Tobacco Road

4. I Have a Dream

5. Tobacco Road

6. Spill the Wine

7. Birth

8. Mother Earth

9. Mr. Charlie

10. Danish Pastry

11. Mother Earth

 

Eric Burdon : Black-Man's Burdon - 1971

1. Paint It Black Medley

2. Spirit

3. Beautiful New Born Child

4. Nights in White Satin I

5. Bird & The Squirrel

6. Nuts, Seeds & Life

7. Out of Nowhere

8. Nights in White Satin Ii

9. Sun/Moon

10. Pretty Colors

11. Gun

12. Jimbo

13. Bare Back Ride

14. Home Cookin'

15. They Can't Take Away Our Music

 

War: War -1971

1. Peace Sign

2. East L. A.

3. Wild Rodriquez

4. I'm the One (Who Understands)

5. Da Roof

6. Smuggler,the (The Light in the Window)

7. U B O.K.

8. Let Em Tell You

9. Smile for Me

10. What If

11. Angel

12. Homeless Hero

 

War : All Day Music - 1971

1.All Day Music

2. Get Down

3. That's What Love Will Do

4. There Must Be a Reason

5. Nappy Head (Theme from Ghetto Man)

6. Baby Brother

 

War : Deliver the Word - 1973

1. H2 Overture

2. In Your Eyes

3. Gypsy Man

4. Me & Baby Brother .wav file 30 K

5. Deliver the Word

6. Southern Part Of Texas

7. Blisters

 

War : War Live - 1973

1. Introduction by E Rodney Jones of radio station WVON Chicago .wav file 15 K

2. Sun Oh Sun

3. The Cisco Kid

4. Slippin' into Darkness

5. Slippin' Part 2

6. All Day Music

7. Ballero

8. Lonely Feelin'

9. Get Down

 

War : Why Can't We Be Friends - 1975

1. Don't Let No One Get You Down

2. Lotus Blossom

3. Heartbeat

4. Leroy's Latin Lament (Medley) (I): Lonnie Dreams

5. Leroy's Latin Lament (Medley) - (II): The Way We Feel

6. Leroy's Latin Lament (Medley) - (III): La Fiesta

7. Leroy's Latin Lament (Medley) - (IV): Lament

8. Smile Happy

9. So

10. Low Rider

11. In Mazatlan

12. Why Can't We Be Friends

 

War : World Is a Ghetto -1972

1. Cisco Kid

2. Where Was You At

3. City, Country, City

4. Four Cornered Room

5. The World is a Ghetto

6. Beetles in the Bog

 

War : Greatest Hits -1976

1. All Day Music

2. Slippin' into Darkness

3. World is a Ghetto

4. Cisco Kid

5. Gypsy Man

6. Me and Baby Brother

7. Southern Part of Texas

8. Why Can't We Be Friends

9. Low Rider

10. Summer

 

Eric Burdon & War : Love Is All Around -1976

1. Love is All Around

2. Tobacco Road

3. Home Dream

4. Magic Mountain

5. Day in the Life

6. Black on Black in Black / Paint It Black

 

War : Galaxy - 1977

1. Galaxy

2. Baby Face (She Said Do Do Do Do)

3. Sweet Fighting Lady

4. Hey Senorita

5. Seven Tin Soldiers

 

War : Platinum Jazz - 1977

1. War Is Coming! War Is Coming

2. Slowly We Walk Together

3. Platinum Jazz

4. I Got You

5. L.A Sunshine

6. River Niger

7. H2 Overture

8. City-Country-City

9. Smile Happy

10. Deliver The Word / Nappy Head

11. Four Cornered Room

 

War : Youngblood (Soundtrack)- 1978

1. Youngblood (Livin' In The Streets)

2. Sing A Happy Song

3. Keep On Doin'

4. The Kingsmen Sign

5. Walking To War

6. This Funky Music Makes You Feel Good

7. Junk Yard

8. Super Dude

9. Youngblood & Sybil

10. Flying Machine (The Chase)

11. Searching For Youngblood & Rommel

12. Youngblood (Livin' In The Streets)

 

War : Outlaw - 1982

1. You Got the Power

2. Outlaw

3. Jungle

4. Beware It's a Jungle out There

5. Streets of Walls

6. Streets of Lights

7. Streets of Now

8. Just Because

9. Baby It's Cold Outside

10. I'm About Somebody

11. Cinco De Mayo

 

War : Life (Is So Strange) - 1983

1. Life is So Strange

2. Happiness

3. W W Iii

4. Dawning of Night

5. Waiting at the Church

6. When the Nightmare Comes

7. Shakin' It Down

8. Summer Dreams

9. U 2

10. Automatic Eyes

11. U 2 Part 2

12. U 2 Part 3

 

War : Best of War & More - 1991

1. Livin' In The Red

2. Low Rider

3. Cisco Kid

4. Slippin' into Darkness

5. Me and Baby Brother

6. Galaxy

7. Spill The Wine

8. All Day Music

9. Why Can't We Be Friends

10. Summer

11. City, Country, City

12. Whose Cadillac Is That ?

13. Low Rider (Remix)

 

War : Peace Sign - 1994

1. Peace Sign

2. Smile for Me

3. East L.A.

4. Homeless Hero

5. U B O.K.

6. Let Me Tell You

7. What If

8. Roof

9. Angel

10. Wild Rodgriguez

11. Smuggler

12. I'm the One (Who Understands)

13. Africa

 

War: Anthology - 1994

1. Tobacco Road

2. Spill The Wine

3. They Can't Take Away Our Music

4. Sun Oh Son

5. Lonely Feelin'

6. All Day Music

7. Get Down

8. Slippin' Into Darkness

9. The Cisco Kid

10. The World Is A Ghetto

11. City Country City

12. Where Was You At

13. Gypsy Man

14. Me And Baby Brother

15. Deliver The Word

16. Ballero

17. Why Can't We Be Friends?

18. Low Rider

19. Don't Let No One Get You Down

20. Summer

21. L.A. Sunshine

22. River Niger

23. Galaxy

24. Youngblood (Livin' In The Streets)

25. This Funky Music Makes You Feel Good

26. The Music Band

27. Outlaw

28. You Got The Power

29. Cinco De Mayo

30. Life (Is So Strange)

31. Don't Let No One Get You Down

32. Peace Sign


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