Categories:
Cart 0

Your cart is empty

War|Why Can't We Be Friends?

Why Can't We Be Friends?

War

Available in
16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo

Unlimited Streaming

Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps

Start my trial period and start listening to this album

Enjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription

Subscribe

Enjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription

Digital Download

Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.

Cut from the same cloth as the band's 1973 Deliver the Word LP, War's 1975 Why Can't We Be Friends? is a masterpiece in its scope and breadth. And, emerging as the last work the band would do for its longtime label, United Artists, it became a fitting swansong, powering up the charts and giving War its fourth and final number one hit. In recent years, the album has been overshadowed by the monstrously popular bass-beating and bright brass of its singular hit, "Low Rider." Indeed, the song would become the band's signature theme, as the Latino street-cruiser jam quickly became a live set staple and, much later, was reinvigorated through sampling on songs by the Beastie Boys, Stereo MC's, and Offspring. However, that one track, iconographic as it is, is by no means the only treat onboard Why Can't We Be Friends? There are far more interesting and superb treats roiling in the wake of "Low Rider." The snappy title track, which poses the question of the decade and, oddly, closes the album, is a feel-good thumper. Its bright brass punctuation and rakish vocals are wonderfully combined with an absolutely contagious reggae beat. Then, add the doesn't-get-much-better-than-that medley "Leroy's Latin Lament." Divided into four "songs," the music swings from the smart vocal opening "Lonnie Dreams" to the effervescent Latin jam of "La Fiesta." And, of course, where there's War, there's funk -- this time on the seven-plus minute"Heartbeat." Wrap it all up with the poignant ballad "Lotus Blossom," and the result is pretty much perfection. Why Can't We Be Friends? remains one of War's truly outstanding efforts, and has become an integral part of the funk genre's landscape. It also remains the nightcap of their finest hour. War's ill-timed move to MCA changed the energy and focus of the band forever.

© Amy Hanson /TiVo

More info

Why Can't We Be Friends?

War

launch qobuz app I already downloaded Qobuz for Windows / MacOS Open

download qobuz app I have not downloaded Qobuz for Windows / MacOS yet Download the Qobuz app

You are currently listening to samples.

Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.

Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.

From $10.83/month

1
Don't Let No One Get You Down
00:04:00

Lee Oskar, Percussion, Vocals, Writer, Harmonica - Harold Brown, Drums, Percussion, Vocals, Writer - Howard Scott, Guitar, Percussion, Vocals, Writer - "Papa" Dee Allen, Percussion, Vocals - B.B. Dickerson, Percussion, Vocals, Writer, Bass - Lonnie Jordan, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Vocals, Writer - War, MainArtist - Charles Miller, Percussion, Vocals, Writer, Woodwind - Eric Burdon, Percussion, Vocals, Performance - Dee Allen, Writer

© 1975 Far Out Productions, Inc under exclusive license to Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1992 Far Out Productions, Inc under exclusive license to Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company

2
Lotus Blossom
00:04:04

Nelson, Writer - War, Writer, MainArtist

© 1975 Far Out Productions, Inc under exclusive license to Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1992 Far Out Productions, Inc under exclusive license to Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company

3
Heartbeat
00:07:25

Lee Oskar, Percussion, Vocals, Writer, Harmonica - Harold Brown, Drums, Percussion, Vocals, Writer - Howard Scott, Guitar, Percussion, Vocals, Writer - "Papa" Dee Allen, Percussion, Vocals - B.B. Dickerson, Percussion, Vocals, Writer, Bass - Lonnie Jordan, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Vocals, Writer - War, MainArtist - Charles Miller, Percussion, Vocals, Writer, Woodwind - Eric Burdon, Percussion, Vocals, Performance - Dee Allen, Writer

© 1975 Far Out Productions, Inc under exclusive license to Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1992 Far Out Productions, Inc under exclusive license to Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company

4
Leroy's Latin Lament: Lonnie Dreams/The Way We Feel/ La Fiesta/Lament
00:06:44

War, Writer, MainArtist

© 1975 Far Out Productions, Inc under exclusive license to Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1992 Far Out Productions, Inc under exclusive license to Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company

5
Smile Happy
00:07:26

JERRY GOLDSTEIN, Producer, Writer - Lee Oskar, Percussion, Vocals, Writer, Harmonica - Harold Brown, Drums, Percussion, Vocals, Writer - Howard Scott, Guitar, Percussion, Vocals, Writer - Bill Inglot, Digital Remasterer - Ed Barton, Engineer - "Papa" Dee Allen, Percussion, Vocals, Congas - B.B. Dickerson, Percussion, Vocals, Writer, Bass - Lonnie Jordan, Keyboards, Percussion, Vocals, Writer - War, MainArtist - Charles Miller, Clarinet, Flute, Percussion, Saxophone, Vocals, Writer - Ken Perry, Digital Remasterer - Chris Huston, Engineer - Dee Allen, Writer

© 1975 Far Out Productions, Inc under exclusive license to Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1992 Far Out Productions, Inc under exclusive license to Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company

6
So
00:04:59

JERRY GOLDSTEIN, Writer - Lee Oskar, Percussion, Vocals, Writer, Harmonica - Harold Brown, Drums, Percussion, Vocals, Writer - Howard Scott, Guitar, Percussion, Vocals, Writer - "Papa" Dee Allen, Percussion, Vocals - B.B. Dickerson, Percussion, Vocals, Writer, Bass - Lonnie Jordan, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Vocals, Writer - War, MainArtist - Charles Miller, Percussion, Vocals, Writer, Woodwind - Eric Burdon, Percussion, Vocals, Performance - Dee Allen, Writer

© 1975 Far Out Productions, Inc under exclusive license to Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1992 Far Out Productions, Inc under exclusive license to Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company

7
Low Rider
00:03:10

J. Goldstein, Composer - JERRY GOLDSTEIN, Composer - M. Dickerson, Composer - L. Oskar, Composer - C. Miller, Composer - H. Brown, Composer - H. Scott, Composer - Lee Oskar, Composer, Percussion, Vocals, Harmonica - Sylvester Allen, Composer - Harold Brown, Composer, Drums, Percussion, Vocals - Morris Dickerson, Composer - Howard Scott, Composer, Guitar, Percussion, Vocals - Leroy Jordan, Composer - Molina, Composer - "Papa" Dee Allen, Percussion, Vocals - B.B. Dickerson, Percussion, Vocals, Bass - Lonnie Jordan, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Vocals - War, MainArtist - Charles Miller, Composer, Percussion, Vocals, Woodwind - L. Jordan, Composer - Reyes, Composer - Eric Burdon, Percussion, Vocals, Performance - SARA ALLEN, Composer - Trivette, Composer

© 1975 Far Out Productions, Inc under exclusive license to Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1975 Far Out Productions, Inc under exclusive license to Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company

8
In Mazatlan
00:02:51

War, Writer, MainArtist

© 1975 Far Out Productions, Inc under exclusive license to Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1992 Far Out Productions, Inc under exclusive license to Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company

9
Why Can't We Be Friends
00:03:50

JERRY GOLDSTEIN, Writer - Lee Oskar, Percussion, Vocals, Writer, Harmonica - Harold Brown, Drums, Percussion, Vocals, Writer - Morris Dickerson, Writer - Howard Scott, Guitar, Percussion, Vocals - Leroy Jordan, Writer - Gerald Goldstein, Writer - "Papa" Dee Allen, Percussion, Vocals - B.B. Dickerson, Percussion, Vocals, Writer, Bass - Lonnie Jordan, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Vocals, Writer - War, MainArtist - Charles Miller, Percussion, Vocals, Writer, Woodwind - Eric Burdon, Percussion, Vocals, Performance - Howard E. Scott, Writer - Thomas S. Allen, Writer - Dee Allen, Writer

© 1975 Far Out Productions, Inc under exclusive license to Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1975 Far Out Productions, Inc under exclusive license to Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company

Album review

Cut from the same cloth as the band's 1973 Deliver the Word LP, War's 1975 Why Can't We Be Friends? is a masterpiece in its scope and breadth. And, emerging as the last work the band would do for its longtime label, United Artists, it became a fitting swansong, powering up the charts and giving War its fourth and final number one hit. In recent years, the album has been overshadowed by the monstrously popular bass-beating and bright brass of its singular hit, "Low Rider." Indeed, the song would become the band's signature theme, as the Latino street-cruiser jam quickly became a live set staple and, much later, was reinvigorated through sampling on songs by the Beastie Boys, Stereo MC's, and Offspring. However, that one track, iconographic as it is, is by no means the only treat onboard Why Can't We Be Friends? There are far more interesting and superb treats roiling in the wake of "Low Rider." The snappy title track, which poses the question of the decade and, oddly, closes the album, is a feel-good thumper. Its bright brass punctuation and rakish vocals are wonderfully combined with an absolutely contagious reggae beat. Then, add the doesn't-get-much-better-than-that medley "Leroy's Latin Lament." Divided into four "songs," the music swings from the smart vocal opening "Lonnie Dreams" to the effervescent Latin jam of "La Fiesta." And, of course, where there's War, there's funk -- this time on the seven-plus minute"Heartbeat." Wrap it all up with the poignant ballad "Lotus Blossom," and the result is pretty much perfection. Why Can't We Be Friends? remains one of War's truly outstanding efforts, and has become an integral part of the funk genre's landscape. It also remains the nightcap of their finest hour. War's ill-timed move to MCA changed the energy and focus of the band forever.

© Amy Hanson /TiVo

About the album

Improve album information

Qobuz logo Why buy on Qobuz?

On sale now...

Keep Your Courage

Natalie Merchant

Keep Your Courage Natalie Merchant

The Köln Concert (Live at the Opera, Köln, 1975)

Keith Jarrett

You're the One

Rhiannon Giddens

You're the One Rhiannon Giddens

Owl Song

Ambrose Akinmusire

Owl Song Ambrose Akinmusire
More on Qobuz
By War

FUCK WITH ME

War

All Day Music

War

Edena EP

War

Edena EP War

The World is a Ghetto

War

Greatest Hits 2.0

War

You may also like...

After Hours (Explicit)

The Weeknd

Nameless

Dominique Fils-Aimé

Nameless Dominique Fils-Aimé

Starboy (Explicit Version)

The Weeknd

Qobuz Sessions at SXSW

Yazmin Lacey

Qobuz Sessions at SXSW Yazmin Lacey

The Age of Pleasure

Janelle Monáe

The Age of Pleasure Janelle Monáe