Eric Burdon And War - Eric Burdon Declares War (1970)

Eric Burdon Declares "War" is the first of two original albums by funk band Eric Burdon and War, released on MGM Records in April 1970. 

It peaked at number 18 on record charts in the USA, number 50 in the UK, and number 7 in Australia. 

The back cover includes this declaration: "We the People, have declared War against the People, for the right to love each other". 

The album received a gold record award.

The debut effort by Eric Burdon and War was an erratic effort that hinted at more potential than it actually delivered. 

Three of the five tunes are meandering blues-jazz-psychedelic jams, two of which, "Tobacco Road" and "Blues for Memphis Slim," chug along for nearly 15 minutes. 

These showcase the then-unknown War's funky fusion, and Burdon's still-impressive vocals, but suffer from a lack of focus and substance. "Spill the Wine," on the other hand, is inarguably the greatest moment of the Burdon-fronted lineup. 

Not only was this goofy funk, shaggy-dog story one of the most truly inspired off-the-wall hit singles of all time, it was War's first smash -- and Eric Burdon's last. 

The odd closing track, a short piece of avant-garde sentimentality called "You're No Stranger," was deleted from re-releases of this album for years. 

All tracks written by War (Papa Dee Allen, Harold Brown, Eric Burdon, B.B. Dickerson, Lonnie Jordan, Charles Miller, Lee Oskar, Howard E. Scott) except where noted. Note: Memphis Slim composed music under the name of Peter Chatman which was actually his father's name; on the original album the composer credit is misprinted as "P. Chapman".

 

Side one

1. "The Vision of Rassan" - 7:40
   1. "Dedication"" – 2:33
   2. "Roll on Kirk" – 5:07
2. "Tobacco Road" - 14:24
1. "Tobacco Road"  (John D. Loudermilk) – 3:47
2. "I Have a Dream" – 6:39
3. "Tobacco Road"  (Loudermilk) – 3:58

Side two

1. "Spill the Wine" – 4:38
2. "Blues for Memphis Slim" - 13:08
   1. "Birth" – 1:31
   2. "Mother Earth"   (Peter Chatman) – 2:46
   3. "Mr. Charlie" – 3:05
   4. "Danish Pastry" – 3:18
   5. "Mother Earth"  (Chatman) – 2:28
3. "You're No Stranger"  (Thomas C Carter) – 1:55

Personnel

• Eric Burdon – lead vocals
• Lee Oskar – harmonica
• Charles Miller – tenor saxophone, flute
• Howard Scott – guitar, backing vocals
• Lonnie Jordan – organ, piano
• Bee Bee Dickerson – bass, backing vocals
• Harold Brown – drums
• Dee Allen – conga, percussion

Production

• Jerry Goldstein – producer
• Chris Huston – engineer

Companies, etc.

• Record Company – Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc.
• Produced For – Far Out Productions
• Pressed By – H.V. Waddell Co.
• Printed By – Far Out Productions, Inc.
• Published By – Far Out Music, Inc.
• Published By – Cedarwood Music
• Published By – Arc Music
• Manufactured By – Far Out Productions, Inc.
• Manufactured By – MGM Records Division

Credits

• Art Direction – Bob Gordon 
• Composed By – John D. Loudermilk (tracks: A3, A5), P. Chapman (tracks: B3, B6), War (tracks: A1, A2, A4, B1, B2, B4, B5, B7)
• Design – The Visual Thing
• Drums – Harold Brown
• Engineer – Chris Huston
• Photography By – George Meyzunger
• Producer – Jerry Goldstein

Notes

Released:  April 1970 

Recorded:  January 2–4, 1970 at Wally Heider Studios, San Francisco, California 

Genre:  Funk rock, psychedelia

Length:  41:45 

Label - MGM Records