Edwin Starr » Tracks » War

Edwin Starr – War (3:20)

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About This Track

“War” is a soul song written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong for the Motown label in 1969. Whitfield first produced the song — a blatant anti-Vietnam War protest — with The Temptations as the original vocalists. After Motown began receiving repeated requests to release “War” as a single, Whitfield re-recorded the song with Edwin Starr as the vocalist, deciding to withhold the Temptations’ version so as not to alienate their more conservative fans. Starr’s version of “War” was a number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1970, and is not only the most successful and well-known record of his career, but is also one of the most popular protest songs ever recorded.

Edwin Starr, who had become a Motown artist in 1968 after his former label, Ric-Tic, was purchased by Motown founder Berry Gordy, Jr., became “War’s” new vocalist. Considered among Motown’s “second-string” acts, Starr had only one major hit, 1968’s number-six hit “Twenty-Five Miles”, to his name by this time.

He heard about the conflict surrounding the debate of whether or not to release “War,” and volunteered to re-record it. Whitfield re-created the song to match Starr’s James Brown-influenced soul shout: the single version of “War” was dramatic and intense, depicting the general anger and distaste the antiwar movement felt towards the war in Vietnam. Unlike the Temptations’ original, Starr’s “War” was a full-scale Whitfield production, with prominent electric guitar lines, clavinets, a heavily syncopated rhythm accented by a horn section, and with Whitfield’s new act The Undisputed Truth on backing vocals.
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Albums featuring this track

  • War & Peace
    Edwin Starr Play
    Buy
  • Motown 50
    The Velvelettes Play
    Buy
  • The Very Best Of Edwin Starr
    Edwin Starr Play
    Buy
  • Edwin Star Collection
    Edwin Starr Play
    Buy
See all 206 albums

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  • silversurfer250

    Steel town music...Nuff said.

    last week

  • B-AIRLINE

    DETROIT MOTOWN MUSIC, THIS IS IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    last week

  • MikesDmusic

    Still current. Sad

    17 days ago

  • funkbrothersfan

    he was awesome live

    last month

  • paisleybabee

    listen to this guy!

    last month

  • Pusteblumme

    ♥ ♥ ♥

    last month

  • gungh0

    War! What is it good for ? America's "defense" industry. [4]

    last month

  • prime1128

    This reminds me of one of the later Boston Legal episodes.

    last month

  • deadmau5_123

    Love this songgggggg !

    last month

  • oldiesfanjohn

    Say it again!

    last month

  • Angel5th

    Can't listen to this without thinking of rush Hour. :)

    February 2012

  • linzi76

    ♥ Լ☮Ɣ€ it ♥

    February 2012

  • Liloucat

    good :))))))))))))

    February 2012

  • happy2befree

    FRIEND ONLY TO THE UNDERTAKER

    January 2012

  • maccadoo13

    Blind Soul comes out and joins the unguided fools to be cool. Can you dig it?

    January 2012

  • BJHaire

    Gotcha sucka!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    January 2012

  • abdul-wali

    THE BEST OF THING ARE NEVER OUT DATED

    December 2011

  • malyfyx

    ABSOLUTELY NOTHIN

    December 2011

  • bojay

    Stands the test of time....

    November 2011

  • Kriztone

    Rush hour

    November 2011
See all 395 shouts

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