One of the most popular funk groups to come out of the ’70s, War is also one of the most eclectic – freely melding soul, Latin, jazz, blues, reggae, and rock influences into an effortlessly funky whole. In 1969, they entered the studio and recorded their first album, 1970’s Eric Burdon Declares War. The spaced-out daydream of “Spill the Wine” was a smash hit, climbing to number three. A second album, The Black Man’s Burdon, was released before the year’s end, and over the course of two records it documented the group’s increasingly long improvisations. The album, All Day Music, which spawned their first Top 40 hits in “All Day Music” and “Slippin’ Into Darkness” sold a million copies and was a top 20 hit. War really hit their stride on the follow-up album, 1972’s The World Is a Ghetto. Boosted by a sense of multicultural harmony, it topped the charts and sold over three million copies, making it the best-selling album of 1973. Released in 1975, Why Can’t We Be Friends returned to the sound of The World Is a Ghetto with considerable success. The bright, anthemic title track hit the Top Ten, as did “Low Rider,” an irresistible slice of Latin funk that became the group’s first R&B chart-topper, and still stands as their best-known tune. 1976 brought the release of a greatest-hits package featuring the new song, “Summer,” which was another Top Ten hit. War remains a very popular act and continues to tour.
