"WAR (what is it good for)"
Written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong (Motown) and first recorded by the Temptations on their album 'Psychedelic Shack' in 1970. Released again in 1970 as a single by Edwin Star. Re-released in 1986 by Bruce Springsteen in his CD box set 'Live 1975-1985.' |
War War War War War has shattered many young men's dreams War War |
'WAR' was one of the first Motown songs to make a political statement. The label had always been focused on making hit songs, but around this time Motown artists like The Temptations and Marvin Gaye started releasing songs with social commentary. "'War' was originally recorded by the Temptations," recalled Edwin Star. "It was buried on one of their albums (Psychedelic Shack). But then a lot of mail came in, mostly from students, asking why they didn't release it on a 45 as a single. Well, that was a touchy time, and that song had some implications. It was a message record, an opinion record, and stepped beyond being sheer entertainment. It could become a smash record, and that was fine, but if it went the other way, it could kill the career of whoever the artist was." Apparently, the Temptations were afraid of the song, and so it was given to Starr who released it as a single. Edwin Starr (Charles Hatcher) was born in Nashville, Tennessee and served in the U.S. army for three years before embarking on a career in music. He began his career recording for Ric-Tic Records, a Detroit label that was a rival to Motown. In 1968, Motown bought Ric-Tic, which gave Starr access to their writers and producers. |
| "Nobody really understood what we were talking about on that song," Star continued. "It wasn't about Vietnam. It never once mentioned the war in Vietnam. It just so happened that, at the time, the war was going on, and the words just lent themselves to the occasion. Actually, we were talking about a war of people -- the war people wage against each other on a day-to-day basis. All the words are applicable to neighbors who fight with each other, you know, 'War, what is it good for?' That's what the song was about, at least for me." "War" became a political anthem in 1970 and soared to number one during the long, hot summer. It sold more than three million copies and earned a Grammy Award nomination for best Male Rhythm and Blues Vocal Performance. Starr died of a heart attack in 2003. He was 61. |
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Edwin Star in 1968