Anthology (1970-1994)

Performer: War
Artist: Eric Burdon; Hispanic M.C.'S
Distributor: WEA (Distributor)

Notes: War: Lonnie Jordan (vocals, guitar, piano, organ, synthesizer, timbales, percussion); Howard Scott (vocals, guitar, percussion); Lee Oskar (vocals, harmonica, percussion); Charles Miller (vocals, saxophone, flute, clarinet, percussion); B.B. Dickerson (vocals, bass, percussion); Harold Brown, Ronnie Hammon (vocals, drums, percussion); Papa Dee Allen (vocals, congas, bongos, percussion). Additional personnel: Alice Tweed Smith (vocals, percussion); Tetsuya "Tex" Nakamura (harmonica); Pat Rizzo (flute, saxophone, background vocals); Charles Green (flute, saxophone); Kerry Campbell, William Bergman, James Coile, Greg Smith (saxophone); John Berry, Lee Thornburg (trumpet); Rae Valentine (organ, percussion, programming, background vocals); Luther Rabb (bass, background vocals); Sal Rodriguez (drums, percussion, background vocals); Moses Wheelock (congas, background vocals); Milton "James" Myrick, Sharone Scott, Debbie Moman (background vocals). Producers include: Jerry Goldstein, Chris Huston, War, Lonnie Jordan, Howard Scott. Compilation producer: Jerry Goldstein. Engineers include: Chris Huston, Ed Barton, Richard Moore. Includes liner notes by Barry Alfonso. Personnel: Lonnie Jordan (vocals, guitar, piano, organ, synthesizer, timbales, percussion); Howard Scott (vocals, guitar, percussion); Charles Miller (vocals, flute, clarinet, saxophone, percussion); Pat Rizzo (vocals, flute, saxophone); Lee Oskar (vocals, harmonica, percussion); Ron Hammond, Harold Brown (vocals, drums, percussion); Papa Dee Allen (vocals, bongos, percussion); Eric Burdon, Alice Tweed Smith, B.B. Dickerson (vocals, percussion); Luther Rabb (vocals); Charles Green (flute, saxophone, horns); Tetsuya Nakamura (harmonica, background vocals); William Bergman, James Coile, Greg Smith , Kerry Campbell (saxophone); John Berry , Lee Thornburg, John Berry, Jr. (trumpet); Rae Valentine (organ, percussion, programming, background vocals); Sal Rodriguez (drums, percussion, background vocals); Moses Wheelock (congas, background vocals); Debbie Moman, Milton Myrick, Sharon Scott (background vocals). Audio Remasterer: Dave & Ansel Collins . Liner Note Author: Barry Alfonso. Recording information: 08/08/1969-05/??/1994. For some reason, there still isn't a truly comprehensive single-disc War collection on the market. Rhino's Grooves and Messages easily comes the closest, although its unnecessary remix disc kicks up the price a bit (and one could argue about a couple of omissions in favor of latter-day tracks). That makes Rhino's own double-disc Anthology (1970-1994) even more valuable -- it might be too much for casual fans who just want War's biggest hits, but there's absolutely nothing missing here. All the hits are included, of course, as well as some overlooked singles and fine album tracks; plus, Anthology does fans a service by gathering the highlights from their uneven later work, which is more disco-tinged and less distinctive. A concise overview this is not; what Anthology illustrates instead is the full scope of War's versatility, and their loping, easygoing way with a groove. War's eclectic, Latin-spiked sound was tremendously distinctive, and if a few tracks get a little too mellow and start to drift, the band's interplay usually redeems the extended jams. Anthology's extensiveness does illustrate that, aside from their big singles, War was often more about musicianship than tight songwriting; thus, two discs' worth will probably be most enjoyable for funk aficionados looking for a different, lighter sort of groove to get lost in. Casual fans are better off with Grooves and Messages, but Anthology is a definitive War package, containing everything most fans will ever need. ~ Steve Huey

Entertainment Weekly (12/16/94, p.70) - "...War's timeless hits remain shining examples of racial and musical unity..." - Rating: A- Vibe (12/99, p.156) - Included in Vibe's 100 Essential Albums of the 20th Century Jazziz (6/95, p.100) - "...Most of WAR ANTHOLOGY: 1970-1994 puts homogenized '90s R&B to shame....this anthology is essential listening..." Q (Magazine) (p.124) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "[T]heir best known tunes espoused a lifestyle of good vibes to all men..." Mojo (Publisher) (p.121) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "The jams produced potent raw material thanks to blistering ensemble playing....Excellent stuff."

First as a backing band for Eric Burdon, and then on its own, multi-cultural band War played true "world music" years before the term was coined. The group pioneered a blend of soul, R&B, funk, Latin, jazz and African music, and even managed to have several hit singles along the way. Harmonica player Lee Oskar recorded several notable solo albums as well.

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