Bruce riffs on the seventh studio album by War entitled “Why Can't We Be Friends?” from June of 1975 (Why Can't We Be Friends? / Heartbeat / Don't Let No One Get You Down / Low Rider). ENTERTAINMENT TRACK: Main Theme for the motion picture “Jaws” STAFF PICKS: “Welcome to My Nightmare” by Alice Cooper — Wayne. “Take Me In Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While)” by the Doobie Brothers — Rob. “Sister Golden Hair” by America — Brian. “Magic” by Pilot — Bruce. NOVELTY TRACK: “You Never Even Called Me By My Name” - David Allen Coe. **(NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.)
Defining a genre for the group War is a difficult process. There are elements of Latin, R&B, funk, soul, and rock mixed in. Some call it progressive soul. War came from Long Beach, California in 1969, and began as a backing band for Deacon Jones. The band was originally led by Eric Burden of the Animals and were known as Eric Burden and War for their first tow albums, then as War after Burden left the group.
Their seventh studio album, Why Can't We Be Friends? would continue a tradition of successful albums for the band, going to number 8 on the US charts, number 1 on the R&B sharts, and two singles would be nominated for the Grammy awards in 1976.
War had a large number of musicians, and much of their personnel rotated in and out of the group. For this album the group was Howard Scott on guitar, B.B. Dickerson on bass, Lonnie Jordan on organ, Papa Dee Allen on conga and bongos, Charles Miller on clarinet and sax, and Lee Oskar on harmonica. All members are also listed on percussion and vocals.
War was a band with a purpose. The goal of the band from the beginning was to spread a message of brotherhood and harmony, and to speak out against racism, hunger, gangs, and crimes.
Bruce brings us this funky fusion band for discussion..
Why Can't We Be Friends?
The title track reached number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. Each band member gets their own verse to sing. The title is sung 44 times. It was played in outer space during the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project. Smash Mouth did a cover in 1998 as the second single from their debut album.
Heartbeat
This is a deeper cut with a lot of funk. You could easily hear George Clinton and Parliament doing this piece. The lyrics are about not worrying about things, but being in the present. "Ain't no need a-worryin' about the future. Ain't no need a-worryin'."
Don't Let No One Get You Down
Leading off the album, this song is a piece of encouragement, letting the listener know they will always be lifted up by the singer. "Don't let no one get you down, cause if they do, if they do, I'll be around."
Low Rider
The big hit off the album would become iconic over time. The song is about a car and a culture in Southern California. A low rider is a car modified with hydraulic lifts so the wheels can be lowered and make the car bounce. The band maintains that the references are not to drug culture, although the song did make it into a couple of Cheech and Chong movies..
ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:
Main Theme to the motion picture "Jaws"
This movie was keeping everyone out of the water in the summer of 1975.
STAFF PICKS:
Welcome to My Nightmare by Alice Cooper
Wayne starts off the staff picks with the title song from a concept album that chronicles a journey through the nightmares of a child named Steven. Cooper would later perform this song on "The Muppet Show." It peaked at number 45 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Take Me In Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While) by The Doobie Brothers
Rob brings us a cover from Motown. Holland-Dozier-Holland wrote this one, originally performed by Kim Weston in 1964. While the original version peaked at number 50 on the Billboard Hot 100, the Doobie Brothers version was more successful, peaking at number 11.
Sister Golden Hair by America
Brian features a track that went to number 1 on the charts. This is a relationship song according to Gerry Beckley, and it was made as a demo before America recorded their fourth album. It didn't make the cut for that album, and so was included in their next album.
Magic by Pilot
Bruce's staff pick is the first hit single from short-lived Scottish pop rock band pilot. The inspiration for this song is a sunrise on Blackford Hill in Edinburgh. Lead singer David Paton also worked with the original lineup of The Alan Parson's Project, and worked with Kate Bush, Camel, and Rick Wakeman. The band had a couple of other hits before splitting in 1977.
NOVELTY TRACK:
You Never Even Called Me By My Name by David Allen Coe
The perfect country and western song was released in 1975, and reached number 8 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.