War - The Harmonious Blend of Music and Culture (A Pol Special) [1970-2014] (30 x CDs)

WAR

War - The Harmonious Blend of Music and Culture (A Pol Special) [1970-2014] (30 x CDs)

Pol Inate is a regular contributor to the My Compilations series and has offered up a terrific box of 30 CDs all by the band WAR in all its guises.

War - The Harmonious Blend of Music and Culture (A Pol Special) [1970-2014] 

Hailing from the vibrant city of Long Beach, California, War is not just a band, but a musical revolution that has left an indelible mark on the world of music. Their inception in 1969 marked the birth of a sound that was a harmonious blend of funk, rock, soul, and Latin styles, a sound that defied categorization and transcended the boundaries of traditional musical genres.

The seeds of War were sown in a high school R&B group named The Creators, formed in 1962 by Harold Brown and Harold E. Scott. The band evolved over time, with Leroy “Lonnie” Jordan being the only constant, a testament to the band’s resilience and adaptability.

The brainchild of record producer Jerry Goldstein and Eric Burdon, the former frontman of the British band The Animals, War initially performed under the moniker Eric Burdon and War, before simplifying it to the powerful and evocative name, War.

War’s music is a rich tapestry of diverse styles. Their innovative fusion of rock, funk, jazz, Latin, rhythm and blues, psychedelia, and reggae set them apart from their peers, and their ability to appeal to a broad audience is a testament to their universal appeal.

War’s multi-ethnic line-up was a mirror to their eclectic music. They broke down racial and cultural barriers, embodying a spirit of unity and harmony that was reflected in their music. Their lyrics often echoed the social consciousness of the times, providing a voice to the realities and struggles of their era.

War’s discography boasts several hit songs, including the unforgettable “Spill the Wine”, “The World Is a Ghetto”, “The Cisco Kid”, “Why Can’t We Be Friends?”, “Low Rider”, and “Summer”. Their album “The World Is a Ghetto” topped the Billboard charts in 1973, a testament to their widespread popularity and success.

Despite the passage of time and numerous challenges, War’s music continues to resonate and inspire. Their pioneering fusion of styles has left a lasting legacy in the music industry and continues to influence musicians today.

In essence, War is more than a band; they are a symphony of unity and diversity. Their music bridges divides, uniting people through a shared love of rhythm and melody. As we reflect on their legacy, we are reminded of the power of music to inspire, challenge, and unite. War’s music is a true embodiment of their name, not as a symbol of conflict, but as a rallying cry for unity, diversity, and harmony amidst adversity.

In this presentation, files are organized by sections and are presented in 8 parts as follows:

01 WarBurdon

The first are the two main albums recorded with Eric Burdon and a later 1976 album of unreleased tracks from 69-70.

02 Classic War

This is basically the first five studio albums from 1971's War, and then All Day Music, The World Is A Ghetto, Deliver The Word and Why Can't We Be Friends. This group of albums has most of the big hits that you still hear today. Don't overlook the non-hits however as some great songs are hidden in between. Also be aware that the album versions typically were of different length than the single versions. Some people prefer to hear the original album versions and some the multiple edited versions that many times made it to the Anthologies and Best Of' sets. Listen to both and decide for yourself.

03 War Music Band

The third Section starts off with the 1976 album Platinum Funk, also released as Platinum Jazz. The differences are plenty. They had just released a Greatest Hits album and a new single on it, Summer, was doing well. They wanted to release a new album on a new related label (Blue Note) with more Jazzy music on it, but had a few issues. The old label changed their mind so all the already released material was reedited to shorter versions. The new stuff was mostly focused on Instrumental music. That album and Galaxy as well as the eventual leaving of their bassist and vocalist BB Dickerson led them to almost change their name to The Music Band. Instead they had a few albums named that instead. MCA expanded the series after they left it, with an album of leftovers and a best of.

04 Post War

In the 80's they lost some members, got some new ones. I included albums from after The Music Band. One did better than others here. Outlaw had a couple of "hits" , but the other two albums from 1985 weren't terrible. They took a break from recording but released one new album in 1994 and one in 2014. Actually, the latter is half new and half Greatest Hits.

05 War Live

They officially released three live albums during this time. One in 1973. One in 1980 during the Music Band era and the last one in 2008. All have their high spots and are worth checking out. 

06 War Other Soundtrack

This is just their 1978 soundtrack for Youngblood and an old album of of session tracks that purportedly includes a few of the members plus Bobby Womack on some instrumental tracks from 1974. If you just like the hits, skip it, but if you like them jamming, definitely check these two out.

07 War Total Best

This is my choice of the best of all the Anthologies and Greatest hits. I tried to use full album cuts for most of these instead of the single versions. It even has a couple of bonus tracks, including a Christmas song by them. If you listen to nothing else, get this one. It covers everything from 1970 on.

08 War Rest Of The Best

This includes all the other versions and tracks from all the different compilations. Most had a lot of duplication. I only added it in here if it appeared on one of those compilations AND it was a different version or song from the Total Best pick in section seven. I did add four complete compilations because they were substantially different. The first is Platinum Jazz (with both the CD versions and the original versions they were not allowed to release). The second is the Best Of The Music Band, because most anthologies use the title track and that's about that. It's not the best song and this covers some cool songs generally ignored by all the other anthologies. The Third is a late 90's compilation aimed at their Latin fans. It has some cool versions in Spanish that aren't normally used on the mainstream collections.

I also included my War Family pick which has solo tracks from Eric Burdon, Lee Oskar (harmonica), Lonnie Jordan (vocals, keyboards). This will give you a nice perspective of the band from the outside. Lots of tracks here that have that War feel. 

The last folder is the Rest Of The Bests. If you didn't like one or the other versions I used, this compiles all the other versions from their official compilations. Mostly shorter edited versions, but whatever you like.

I hope you enjoy discovering and rediscovering this great band.

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01 War Burdon

02 War Classics 

03 War Music Band

04 War Post

05 War Live

06 War Other Soundtrack

07 War Total Best

08 War Rest Of The Best

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Track lists

01 War Burdon

1970 Eric Burdon Declares War

01 Eric Burdon and War - The Vision Of Rassan

02 Eric Burdon and War - Tobacco Road

03 Eric Burdon and War - Spill The Wine

04 Eric Burdon and War - Blues For Memphis Slim

05 Eric Burdon and War - You're No Stranger

1970 The Black Man's Burdon

01 Eric Burdon and War - Paint It Black Medley

02 Eric Burdon and War - Spirit

03 Eric Burdon and War - Beautiful New Born Child

04 Eric Burdon and War - Nights In White Satin I

05 Eric Burdon and War - The Bird & The Squirrel

06 Eric Burdon and War - Nuts, Seeds & Life

07 Eric Burdon and War - Out Of Nowhere

08 Eric Burdon and War - Nights In White Satin II

09 Eric Burdon and War - Sun-Moon

10 Eric Burdon and War - Pretty Colours

11 Eric Burdon and War - Gun

12 Eric Burdon and War - Jimbo

13 Eric Burdon and War - Bare Back Ride

14 Eric Burdon and War - Home Cookin'

15 Eric Burdon and War - They Can't Take Away Our Music

1976 Love Is All Around

01 Eric Burdon and War - Love is All Around

02 Eric Burdon and War - Tobacco Road

03 Eric Burdon and War - Home Dream

04 Eric Burdon and War - Magic Mountain

05 Eric Burdon and War - A Day in the Life

06 Eric Burdon and War - Paint it Black Medley

02 War Classics 

1971 War

01 War - Sun Oh Son

02 War - Lonely Feelin'

03 War - Back Home

04 War - War Drums

05 War - Vibeka

06 War - Fidel's Fantasy

1971 All Day Music

01 War - All Day Music

02 War - Get Down

03 War - That's What Love Will Do

04 War - There Must Be A Reason

05 War - Nappy Head (Theme From Ghetto Man) (Original Version)

06 War - Slippin' Into Darkness

07 War - Baby Brother

1972 The World Is A Ghetto

01 War - The Cisco Kid

02 War - Where Was You At

03 War - City, Country, City

04 War - Four Cornered Room

05 War - The World Is A Ghetto

06 War - Beetles In The Bog

07 War - Freight Train Jam

08 War - 58 Blues

09 War - War Is Coming

10 War - The World Is A Ghetto (Bonus Version)

1973 Deliver The Word

01 War - H2Overture

02 War - In Your Eyes

03 War - Gypsy Man

04 War - Me And Baby Brother

05 War - Deliver The Word

06 War - Southern Part Of Texas

07 War - Blisters

1975 Why Can't We Be Friends

01 War - Don't Let No One Get You Down

02 War - Lotus Blossom

03 War - Heartbeat

04 War - Leroy's Latin Lament (Medley) Lonnie Dreams, The Way We Feel, La Fiesta, Lament

05 War - Smile Happy

06 War - So

07 War - Low Rider

08 War - In Mazatlan

09 War - Why Can't We Be Friends

03 War Music Band

1976 Platinum Funk

01 War - War Is Coming! War Is Coming!

02 War - I Got You

03 War - L.A. Sunshine (CD Version)

04 War - River Niger

05 War - Slowly We Walk Together

06 War - Platinum Jazz

1977 Galaxy

01 War - Galaxy

02 War - Baby Face (She Said Do Do Do Do)

03 War - Sweet Fighting Lady

04 War - Hey Senorita

05 War - The Seven Tin Soldiers

1979 The Music Band 1

01 War - The Music Band

02 War - Corns & Callouses (Hey Dr Shoals)

03 War - I'm The One Who Understands

04 War - Good Good Feeling (Original)

05 War - Millionaire

06 War - All Around The World

1979 The Music Band 2

01 War - Don't Take It Away

02 War - I'll Be Around

03 War - I'll Take Care Of You

04 War - Night People

05 War - The World Is A Ghetto

06 War - The Music Band 2 (We Are The Music Band)

1983 The Music Band Jazz

01 War - Five Spot

02 War - Half Note

03 War - E.R.A.

04 War - Koronos-Sometimes I Wonder (Is It For Real)-A Pattern Of Time

04 War Post

1982 Outlaw

01 War - Cinco De Mayo

02 War - Outlaw

03 War - The Jungle

04 War - Just Because

05 War - Baby It's Cold Outside

06 War - I'm About Somebody

07 War - You Got The Power

08 War - Cinco De Mayo

1985 Life (Is So Strange)

01 War - Life (Is So Strange)

02 War - Happiness

03 War - W.W. III (Medley)

04 War - Shake It Down

05 War - Summer Dreams

06 War - U-2 (Medley)

1985 Where There's Smoke

01 War - Still In Love

02 War - Cutest Girl

03 War - No Need To Worry

04 War - Take It To The Bank

05 War - Bad Mutha Trucka

06 War - War's Song

07 War - Day II

08 War - Groovin'

1994 Peace Sign

01 War - Peace Sign

02 War - East L.A.

03 War - Wild Rodriguez

04 War - I'm The One Who Understands

05 War - Da Roof

06 War - The Smuggler (The Light In The Window)

07 War - U B O.K.

08 War - Let Me Tell You

09 War - Smile For Me

10 War - What If

11 War - Angel

12 War - Homeless Hero

2014 Evolutionary

01 War - That L.A. Sunshine

02 War - Mamacita

03 War - It's Our Right-Funky Tonk

04 War - Just Like Us

05 War - Inspiration

06 War - Scream Stream

07 War - This Funky Music

08 War - Outer Space

09 War - War,War After War (A Soldier's Story)

10 War - Bounce

11 War - Everything

12 War - It's My Life

13 War featuring Cheech & Chong - That L.A. Sunshine

05 War Live

1973 War Live

01 War - Introduction By E. Rodney Jones of Radio Station WVON, Chicago, IL

02 War - Sun Oh Son

03 War - The Cisco Kid

04 War - Slippin' Into Darkness

05 War - Slippin' Part 2

06 War - All Day Music

07 War - Ballero

08 War - Lonely Feelin'

09 War - Get Down

1980 Music Band Live

01 Councilman David Cunningham - Intro (Live)

02 War - Spill The Wine (Live)

03 War - All Day Music (Live)

04 War - Slippin' Into Darkness (Live)

05 War - Low Rider (Live)

06 War - Cisco Kid (Live)

07 War - All Night Long (Live)

08 War - Gypsy Man (Live)

09 War - Why (Live)

2008 Greatest Hits Live

01 War - The World Is A Ghetto-Get Down (Live)

02 War - City, Country, City (Live)

03 War - Slippin' Into Darkness (Live)

04 War - Spill The Wine (Live)

05 War - Galaxy (Live)

06 War - All Day Music (Live)

07 War - Ballero (Live)

08 War - So (Live)

09 War - Gypsy Man (Live)

10 War - The Cisco Kid (Live)

11 War - Me And Baby Brother (Live)

12 War - We Wrote This Song (Live)

13 War - Why Can't We Be Friends (Live)

14 War - Low Rider Medley (Live)

06 War Other Soundtrack

1974 Other Side Of War Warms The Heart

01 War - La Chanson (The Song)

02 War - Toujours, Toujours (Always, Always)

03 War - Loving Memories

04 War - Sweet Ca'line

05 War - Blushing Tears

06 War - Moving Along

07 War - Time is Tight

08 War - California Spring

09 War - August Love

10 War - Italian Lover

11 War - La Vie C'est La Vie(The Life That is the Life)

12 War - Precious Memories

13 War - Spanish Love Call

14 War - On Fire

15 War - Roses are Blue

16 War - Ripe Bananas

17 War - Exodus

18 War - Churchin' On

19 War - Nothing You Can Do

20 War - A Cup of Soul

21 War - Afro Cuban-Opus No.1

22 War - God is Love

23 War - Gloriosa Superba (The Poison Plant)

24 War - The Bamboche (Haitian Open Air Dance)

25 War - Cuando Calienta El Sol (Love Me with All Your Heart)

1978 Youngblood

01 War - Youngblood (Livin In The Streets)

02 War - Sing A Happy Song

03 War - Keep On Doin

04 War - The Kingsmen Sign

05 War - Walking To War

06 War - This Funky Music Makes You Feel Good

07 War - Junk Yard

08 War - Superdude

09 War - Youngblood and Sybil

10 War - Flying Machine (The Chase)

11 War - Searching For Youngblood and Rommel

12 War - Youngblood (Livin In The Streets) (Reprise)

07 War Total Best

01 War - Slippin' Into Darkness

02 War - The World Is A Ghetto

03 War - Why Can't We Be Friends

04 War - Summer

05 War - All Day Music

06 War - L.A. Sunshine (Original)

07 War - Youngblood (Livin' In The Streets)

08 War - Me And Baby Brother

09 War - Southern Part Of Texas

10 Eric Burdon & War - Spill The Wine

11 War - Gypsy Man

12 War - Outlaw

13 War - Cinco De Mayo

14 War - Low Rider

15 War - The Cisco Kid

16 War - Livin' In The Red

17 War - This Funky Music Makes You Feel Good

18 Eric Burdon & War - Tobacco Road

19 War - River Niger

20 War - Don't Let No One Get You Down

21 War - Junk Yard

22 War - Galaxy

23 War - You Got The Power

24 War - City, Country, City

25 War - Whose Cadillac Is That

26 War - Flying Machine

27 War - Ballero

28 War - Peace Sign

29 War - Deliver The Word

30 War - The Music Band

31 War - Get Down

32 War - In Mazatlan

Bonus Bests

War - (Yes It’s) Christmas

War - Low Rider (Remix)

08 War Rest Of The Best

1976 Platinum Jazz

01 War - H2 Overture

02 War - City, Country, City

03 War - Smile Happy

04 War - Deliver The Word

05 War - Nappy Head

06 War - Four Cornered Room

07 War - H2Overture (Original Version)

08 War - City, Country, City (Original Version)

09 War - Smile Happy (Original Version)

10 War - Deliver The Word (Original Version)

11 War - Nappy Head (Theme From Ghetto Man) (Original Version)

12 War - Four Cornered Room (Original Version)

1982 Best Of The Music Band

01 War - Corns & Callouses (Hey Dr Shoals)

02 War - I'm The One Who Understands

03 War - Baby Face (She Said Do Do Do Do)

04 War - Hey Senorita

05 War - I'll Take Care Of You

06 War - Galaxy

07 War - The World Is A Ghetto

08 War - Good Good Feeling

09 War - Don't Take It Away

1997 Coleccion Latina

01 War - Low Rider (Espanol)

02 War - East L.A.

03 War - All Day Music

04 War - Me And Baby Brother

05 War - Smile Happy

06 War - The Cisco Kid

07 War - Gypsy Man

08 War - Hey Senorita

09 War - Angel

10 War - Ballero

11 War - Don't Let No One Get You Down

12 War - Cinco De Mayo

13 War - Salsa

14 War - Low Rider (Mijangos Progressive Mix)

War Family Pick

01 Lee Oskar - BLT

02 Lonnie Jordan - Never Can Say Goodbye

03 Eric Burdon and War - Tobacco Road

04 Eric Burdon and the Animals - San Franciscan Nights

05 Lonnie Jordan - Get Down

06 Lee Oskar - Before The Rain

07 Lee Oskar - Feeling Happy

08 Animals - Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood

09 Lee Oskar - Sunshine Keri

10 Lonnie Jordan - Grey Rainy Days

11 Lee Oskar - My Road

12 Lonnie Jordan - Fine Foxy Lady

13 Animals - House of the Rising Sun

14 Eric Burdon and War - Spill The Wine

15 Eric Burdon - When I Was Young

16 Lonnie Jordan - Junkie To My Music

Best Of The Rest

01 War - Tobacco Road (Soundprops Remix)

02 War - Low Rider (Ganja Kru Remix)

03 War - Life (Is So Strange)

04 War - River Niger

05 War - The World Is A Ghetto (La Pozze Latina Remix)

06 Eric Burdon & War - Tobacco Road

07 War - Heartbeat

08 War - Where Was You At

09 War - Slippin' Into Darkness

10 War - Why Can't We Be Friends (Hithunter Remix)

11 War - I'm The One Who Understands

12 War - Smile Happy

13 War featuring Hispanic M.C.'s - Don't Let No One Get You Down ('92 Version)

14 War - L.A. Sunshine

15 War - Summer

16 War - East L.A.

17 War & Jose Feliciano - East L.A.

18 War - Four Cornered Room

19 War - Southern Part Of Texas

20 War - Galaxy 2000

21 War - Nappy Head

22 War - Galaxy

23 War - Galaxy

24 War - Lonely Feelin'

25 War - Galaxy 2000 (Plump Djs Remix)

26 War - You Got The Power (Peter Reis Remix)

27 War - Outlaw (Orinoko Remix)

28 War - Slippin' Into Darkness (Armand Van Helden Remix)

29 War - They Can't Take Away Our Music

30 War - Cinco De Mayo

31 War - Baby It's Cold Outside

32 War - The Cisco Kid

33 War - The Music Band

34 War - So

35 War - Sun Oh Son

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