War

Profile:
Funk group that started life in the early 1970s in Southern California. They formed out of the ashes of an earlier R&B covers group, The Creators (6) (who also recorded as The Romeos and Señor Soul), initially naming themselves Nightshift before producer Jerry Goldstein discovered them and gave them a more distinctive name.

Their initial recordings were collaborations with Eric Burdon of English group The Animals, notably their first album 'Eric Burdon Declares "War"'. They later signed to United Artists and began releasing material on their own. Their first album was not a big success but their popularity was growing and later albums were very successful. They peaked commercially in the mid-70s with their Number 1 hit 'Low Rider'. Four members of the classic lineup from the 1970s have formed a new band (for legal reasons) called Lowrider Band.

Things started to go downhill for the group in the late 70s when bassist B.B. Dickerson left and another member, Charles Miller, was murdered. Various line-up changes followed but the original magic was lost and the group were not as successful, eventually becoming just a touring act.

A new generation has since discovered the music of War as they have been heavily sampled by hip-hop artists. The band continues to tour, although with only one of the original members.

The other original members now play as the "Lowrider Band " however due to legal restrictions they are not even allowed to advertise themselves as former members of the band.
Sites:
Aliases:
Members:
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Artist

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Albums

UAS5546, UAS-5546 All Day Music — War War All Day Music (Album) United Artists Records, Far Out, United Artists Records, Far Out UAS5546, UAS-5546 US 1971 Sell This Version
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LBG 83478 War — War War War (Album) United Artists Records, Far Out LBG 83478 Denmark 1971 Sell This Version
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UAS-5652 The World Is A Ghetto — War War The World Is A Ghetto (Album) United Artists Records, Far Out UAS-5652 US 1972 Sell This Version
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UAS5546, UAS-5546 All Day Music / Peter & The Wolf: A Contemporary Version In A New Translation — War War / Rob Reiner War / Rob Reiner - All Day Music / Peter & The Wolf: A Contemporary Version In A New Translation(LP, Album, MP) United Artists Records, Far Out, United Artists Records, Far Out UAS5546, UAS-5546 US 1972 Sell This Version
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L 128 Deliver The Word — War War Deliver The Word (Album) United Artists Records, Far Out, United Artists Records, Far Out L 128 Australia 1973 Sell This Version
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LLP-93125B War Live — War War War Live (Album) United Artists Records LLP-93125B Japan 1972 Sell This Version
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CH 60037 The First Annual Benefit Concert For The Congressional Black Caucus — War War / Curtis Mayfield / Kool And The Gang* / Gladys Knight And The Pips / Jimmy Witherspoon War / Curtis Mayfield / Kool And The Gang* / Gladys Knight And The Pips / Jimmy Witherspoon - The First Annual Benefit Concert For The Congressional Black Caucus (Album) Chess CH 60037 US 1975 Sell This Version
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UA-LA441-G Why Can't We Be Friends? — War War Why Can't We Be Friends? (Album) United Artists Records UA-LA441-G US 1975 Sell This Version
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none Platinum Jazz A Story Of War - A Radio Special — War War Platinum Jazz A Story Of War - A Radio Special(2xLP, Transcription) Burns Media Consultants, Inc. none US 1976 Sell This Version
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MCAT2-7000, MCAT2 7000 Platinum Jazz — War War Platinum Jazz (Album, Comp) Blue Note, Far Out MCAT2-7000, MCAT2 7000 Canada 1977 Sell This Version
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MCA 3030 Galaxy — War War Galaxy (Album) MCA Records MCA 3030 Singapore, Malaysia & Hong Kong 1977 Sell This Version
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ZCI 9507 Platinum Funk — War War Platinum Funk (Album) Island Records ZCI 9507 UK 1977 Sell This Version
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TC-MCG 3526, 0C 264 - 60 540 Different Moods Of Me — War War Presents Lonnie Jordan War Presents Lonnie Jordan - Different Moods Of Me (Album) MCA Records TC-MCG 3526, 0C 264 - 60 540 UK 1978 Sell This Version
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TC MCF 2864, 0C 062 - 61 980 Youngblood (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) — War War Youngblood (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (Album) United Artists Records TC MCF 2864, 0C 062 - 61 980 UK 1978 Sell This Version
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MCA-3085 The Music Band — War War The Music Band (Album) MCA Records, Far Out MCA-3085 US 1979 Sell This Version
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MCAC-3193 The Music Band 2 — War War The Music Band 2 (Album) MCA Records MCAC-3193 US 1979 Sell This Version
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MCA 5156 The Music Band Live — War War The Music Band Live (Album) MCA Records MCA 5156 El Salvador 1980 Sell This Version
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BC-81-3 Budweiser Concert Of The Month — War War / Bar-Kays War / Bar-Kays - Budweiser Concert Of The Month(LP, Transcription) Westwood One BC-81-3 US 1981 Sell This Version
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PK 14208 Outlaw — War War Outlaw (Album) RCA PK 14208 Italy 1982 Sell This Version
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MCA 4183 The Music Band Jazz — War War The Music Band Jazz (Album) MCA Records MCA 4183 Italy 1983 Sell This Version
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PL 14598 Life (Is So Strange) — War War Life (Is So Strange) (Album) RCA Victor PL 14598 Italy 1983 Sell This Version
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CCP 5238 Where There's Smoke — War War Where There's Smoke (Album) Coco Plum CCP 5238 US 1985 Sell This Version
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THBL 1.041 The Other Side Of War Warms Your Heart — War War The Other Side Of War Warms Your Heart (Album) Soufflé Records THBL 1.041 UK 1987 Sell This Version
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R2 71260 Live At The Watts Jazz Festival - Volume 1 — War Willie Bobo / LAPD (2) / Jimmy Witherspoon / Gene Ammons, War Willie Bobo / LAPD (2) / Jimmy Witherspoon / Gene Ammons, War - Live At The Watts Jazz Festival - Volume 1 (Album) Avenue Jazz R2 71260 US 1993 Sell This Version
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R4 71706 Peace Sign — War War Peace Sign (Album) Avenue Records R4 71706 US 1994 Sell This Version

Add Review

funkynial

funkynial

September 8, 2022
"Deliver The Word' has been remastered and reissued for 2022. I'm not sure why it's not showing on the master page for that title. https://www.discogs.com/release/24424799-War-Deliver-The-Word .
ahwathen

ahwathen

February 28, 2022
Bio doesn't mention Nightshift. This Chicago Sun Times article describes them as the front band for Deacon Jones (the football player) in 1969 going by "Nightshift" https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/ct-war-ott-0805-20160802-story.html
sandwich71

sandwich71

June 4, 2015
incorrect order for the first two albums.
1. War
2. All Day Music
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