"War" is a counterculture era soul song written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong for the Motown label in 1969. The song was included as a track on the March 1970 Psychedelic Shack album, which featured the title track as its only single. was an anti-Vietnam War protest song, written by Norman Whitfield and recorded by Whitfield and the Temptations in 1969. Instead they had the lesser known Starr record his version and it became a massive hit and influential anti-war protest tune. The thought of war blows my mind. Springsteen brought the song back for six performances on his 2003 Rising Tour before and in the early days of the Iraq War. Several lines of spoken dialogue were added to the Temptations/Edwin Starr version of the song. BACKSTORY: On the day that Edwin Starr’s “War” was released in June 1970, two Detroiters in their twenties were jailed for five years for ransacking a Chicago draft board office and burning its … SONGWRITERS: Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield. It reached #3 on the US pop charts and #2 on the US R&B charts. The Temptations during a 1969 performance on the Ed Sullivan Show. Absolutely Nothin'. Versions of both "Two Tribes" and "War" would later appear on the group's 1984 debut album Welcome to the Pleasuredome as well as numerous Frankie Goes to Hollywood and ZTT Records compilation albums. War (The Temptations song) is similar to these songs: Smiling Faces Sometimes, Hum Along and Dance, I Heard It Through the Grapevine and more. Born in Germany, Barrie translated and subversively quoted Adolf Hitler from his failed 1924 putsch trial, in the first new lines added to the song.[19]. Temptations' version and release debate [edit | edit source]. Springsteen released the September 30, 1985 performance as a part of his 1986 box set, Live/1975–85. What is a good for? The label decided not to release "War" as a single, a decision that Whitfield fought until the label came up with a compromise: "War" would be released, but it would have to be re-recorded with a different act. The Temptations are an American vocal group from Detroit, Michigan, who released a series of successful singles and albums with Motown Records during the 1960s and 1970s. War is an enemy to all mankind. He was the lead voice on such famous songs as "My Girl" and "Ain't Too Proud to Beg. It peaked at number 21 on the UK Singles Chart in March 2007. Upon its release in June 1970, Starr's "War" became a runaway hit, and held the No. After Motown began receiving repeated requests to release "War" as a single, Whitfield re-recorded the song with Edwin Starr as the vocalist, with the label deciding to withhold the Temptations' version from single release so as not to alienate their more conservative fans. The song was released by the Stop the War Coalition and credited to Ugly Rumours, with the band being fronted by a lookalike of Blair. It appeared on their 1970 album, Psychedelic Shack. He then retired it for 11 years until a one-off guest spot by Edwin Starr during the Reunion Tour. War (What is it good for?) Considered among Motown's "second-string" acts, Starr had only one major hit, 1968's No. With the help of freedom fighter Evan Kurst, Wa's former protégée, they start a civil war that spreads across the galaxy. Photograph: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images War. For the release "War" was promoted as a double-A-side with the "Carnage" mix of "Two Tribes" on the reverse. The Temptations – War. The percussion gives the song the military vibe, but the guitar is less pronounced than in Starr’s version. The 12-inch double-A-side single was released in standard and picture disc versions, both with the ZTT Records catalog number WARTZ 3. The song wasn’t released as a single or performed live because the group were worried that the message might be too direct, but it was a popular radio request. The song examines the broken penal system and the need for prison reforms. Whitfield had produced much of the soul group’s early work, and his relationship with the Temptations made them a natural fit for “War.” The Temptations would include their version of the song on Psychedelic Shack, their LP released in March of 1970. Listen to War by The Temptations, 4,937 Shazams, featuring on The Temptations Essentials, and Janelle Monáe: Influences Apple Music playlists. Billboard ranked the record as the #24 song of 1970. He joined them as a lead singer in 1968 at a time when the group was starting to become more edgier and psychedelic with their music. The Temptations’ original version starts a little milder, the grunts less forceful. David Ruffin, Melvin Franklin, Paul Williams, Otis Williams and Eddie Kendricks of the Temptations pose for a portrait in 1965. Springsteen taped the words of the song to his arm, prefaced the song with a spoken admonition not to blindly trust the government, leaders or anything else, and then he and the band performed a rock rendition. Sadly it is still relevant. A RETROSPECTIVE: IN BRIEF The Temptations’ story is an epic journey of courage, struggle, triumphs, setbacks, and ultimately, international superstardom.The genesis and magnitude of their greatness is one of the most extraordinary stories of the 20 th and 21 st Centuries. "War" is a counterculture era soul song written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong for the Motown label in 1969. The Temptations’ dancing was essential to their allure. After Motown began receiving repeated requests to release "War" as a single, Whitfield re-recorded the song with Edwin Starras the vocalist, with the label deciding to withhold the Temptations' version from single release so as not to alienate their more conservative fans. No Comments; 0 Tags; Oh no-there's got to be a better way Say it again There's got to be a better way-yeah What is it good for? Whitfield first produced the song – an obvious anti-Vietnam War statement – with The Temptations as the original vocalists. Songs similar to or like War (The Temptations song) Counterculture era soul song written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong for the Motown label in 1969.