It seemed like a unique genesis when WAR came into existence: a black American ensemble devised by a white British singer. Perhaps, the Californians could have hit the big time even without Eric Burdon, although their debut single would hardly be as successful as “Spill The Wine” was back in the 1970, but his easily recognizable vocals helped propel the band to public attention. Anyway, after two full-length records the former Animal split from his friends, and they soldiered on – and do so to this day, at first trying to regain momentum and then flying higher and higher before the group’s third post-Burdon platter “The World Is A Ghetto” topped U.S. charts at the end of 1972 and became the best-selling album of 1973, which makes 2023 the classic’s jubilee year that will see the opus’ deluxe reissue.
At the moment set for release on November 24th, Record Store Day Black Friday, as a limited-quantity 5LP box set “The World Is A Ghetto: 50th Anniversary Collector’s Edition – The Complete Sessions” has been prepared by producer Jerry Goldstein, Eric’s original co-conspirator behind the group’s advent, with their founding member, ivories master Lonnie Jordan and comprises the album per se, freshly remastered, a smattering of outtakes and a slew of “the making of” tracks that demonstrate the development of each of the platter’s numbers. If anybody harbors doubts as to whether to grab the CD version which is sure to follow, listen to the previously unheard take on “War Is Coming” below.
LP 1 – Original Album
Side One:
1. The Cisco Kid
2. City, Country, City
3. Four-Cornered Room
Side Two:
1. Where Was You At?
2. Beetles In The Bog
3. The World Is A Ghetto
LP 2 – Bonus Tracks
Side One:
1. L.A. Sunshine – Original Jam *
2. War Is Coming – Original Jam *
Side Two:
1. Lonnie’s Wednesday Night Jam *
2. Lee’s Latin Jam *
3. Blues For Papa Dee *
4. This Is My Song Milton James *
LP 3 – Making of the Tracks
Side One:
The Making Of The Cisco Kid
Side Two:
The Making Of Where Was You At? *
LP 4 – Making of the Tracks
Side One:
The Making Of City, Country City *
Side Two:
The Making Of Four-Cornered Room *
LP 5 – Making of the Tracks
Side One:
The Making Of The World Is A Ghetto *
Side Two:
The Making Of Beetles In The Bog *
* previously unreleased