Very Best Of War CD

Recorded between 1972 & 1994. Includes liner notes by Barry Alfonso.

Often overshadowed by Sly & the Family Stone when mention of racially integrated groups arises, War nonetheless left quite a mark, thanks to their mix of socially conscious messages and irresistible grooves. Between Lee Oskar's unorthodox harmonica playing and the percussion triumvirate of Papa Dee Allen, Harold Brown and B. B. Dickerson, War was a formidable funk machine, be it in the studio or on stage. Although the 2-CD collection THE VERY BEST OF WAR reprises plenty of material that came out on the 1994 double-disc set ANTHOLOGY (1970-1994), the track selection includes new edits along with songs from PEACE SIGN, the band's last studio effort. All of the band's hits can be found here, including "Spill the Wine," its breakout smash with Eric Burdon, and other radio favorites like the goofy-yet-lovable "Why Can't We Be Friends," ultra-catchy Chicano anthem "Low Rider," and the haunting "Slippin' Into Darkness." Other lesser known, but equally worthy, fare includes the Star Wars-inspired "Galaxy," mellow-but-tasty "All Day Music," and the stomper "Me and Baby Brother." THE VERY BEST OF WAR is a solid primer for one of the 1970's best, and often overlooked, groups.

34 signature tracks totaling over 2 1/2 hours of music, includes classics from Eric Burdon & War plus all-time War hits 'Low Rider', 'The Cisco Kid', 'The World Is A Ghetto', 'Summer' and more. Slipcase. Rhino. 2003.

Additional personnel inlcudes: John Berry, Lee Thornburg (trumpet); Moses Wheelock (congas, background vocals); Sharone Scott, Milton "James" Myrick, Debbie Moman (background vocals).

Producers: Jerry Goldstein, Lonnie Jordan, Howard Scott.

Compilation producers: Jerry Goldstein, David McLees.

Personnel: Lonnie Jordan (vocals, guitar, piano, organ, synthesizer, timbales, percussion); Howard H. Scott (vocals, guitar, percussion); José Feliciano (vocals, acoustic guitar); Charles Miller (vocals, flute, clarinet, saxophone, percussion); Pat Rizzo (vocals, flute, saxophone); Lee Oskar (vocals, harmonica, percussion); Ron Hammon, Harold Brown (vocals, drums, percussion); Papa Dee Allen (vocals, congas, bongos, percussion); Eric Burdon, Alice Tweed Smith, B.B. Dickerson , Luther Rabb (vocals, percussion); Tetsuya Nakamura (harmonica); Jim Coile, William Bergman, Greg "Frosty" Smith, Kerry Campbell, Charles Green (saxophone); Lee Thornburg, John Berry, Jr. (trumpet); Sal Rodriguez (drums, percussion, background vocals); Moses Wheelock (congas, background vocals); Jerry Goldstein (percussion); Rae Valentine (programming, background vocals); Matt Hyde (programming); Debbie Moman, Milton Myrick, Sharon Scott, The Waters (background vocals).

Audio Mixer: Larry Goetz.

Audio Remasterers: Dan Hersch; Bill Inglot.

Liner Note Author: Barry Alfonso.

Photographers: Jeffrey Mayer; Mitchell Haddad; Alan Bergman.

War: Lonnie Jordan (vocals, guitar, piano, snythesizer, timabals, percussion); Howard Scott (vocals, guitar, percussion); Charles Miller (vocals, flute, clarinet, saxophone); Pat Rizzo (vocals, flute, saxophone); Harold Brown, Ron Hammon (vocals, drums, percussion); Lee Oskar (vocals, harmonica, percussion); Luther Rabb (vocals, bass); Papa Dee Allen (vocals, conga, bongos, percussion); Eric Burdon, Alice Tweed Smith (vocals, percussion); Tetsuya "Tex" Nakamura (harmonica); Kerry Cambell, Charles Green (saxophone); Sal Rodriguez (drums, percussion, background vocals).

Uncut (p.136) - 4 stars out of 5 - "War defined the '70s southern Californian musical landscape as vividly as Dr. Dre would two decades later....[With] killer singles..."