IN REVIEW
The Very Best of Eric Burdon and WAR
"This collection highlights the foundation WAR laid in the early seventies and revisits a partnership that continues to hold its own place in the band’s story."
Avenue/Rhino return to one of the most distinctive partnerships in late-sixties and early-seventies music with The Very Best of Eric Burdon and WAR, arriving this Record Store Day Black Friday. Presented as a two-disc CD set alongside a 2LP exclusive, the collection forms part of the ongoing anniversary series marking more than fifty years of WAR’s catalogue.
Eric Burdon, already established as one of the defining voices of the British Invasion through his work with The Animals, went looking for something new at the end of the decade. That search led him to Long Beach and to WAR, whose mix of funk, rock, Latin, jazz, and soul gave Burdon the creative shift he was after. Their earliest recordings together are the focus here, bringing material from Eric Burdon Declares “War” and The Black-Man’s Burdon into one place, all remastered by Bernie Grundman.
Key moments like Spill the Wine appear with both the original version and an unedited remix, while deeper cuts such as Magic Mountain, Mother Earth and They Can’t Take Away Our Music reflect how wide-ranging the sessions were. The inclusion of three previously unheard recordings from the Avenue vaults adds something genuinely new for collectors, offering insight into the early studio chemistry between Burdon and the band.
The release also helps place this period of Burdon’s career in clearer context.
His departure from The Animals left him without a set path, and these recordings show how quickly he connected with WAR’s approach. Much of the material was captured in a short burst of time, yet the sessions produced enough work for two substantial albums and several alternate takes that have only recently been revisited. The remastering brings out details that were less noticeable on earlier issues, giving longtime listeners a fuller picture of how the arrangements actually sat in the room.
Packaging has been given the same level of attention, with new artwork and a presentation that suits the archival nature of the release. The liner notes outline the timeline of the recordings, the personnel involved, and the role Avenue and Rhino have played in maintaining the catalogue. As WAR prepare to celebrate their 55th anniversary, this collection arrives at the right moment. It highlights the foundation they laid in the early seventies and revisits a partnership that continues to hold its own place in the band’s story.
The Very Best of Eric Burdon and WAR
Track List
CD 1
1. Magic Mountain
2. Spill The Wine
3. Tobacco Road
4. Nights In White Satin
5. Spirit
6. Love Is All Around
7. Home Dream
8. Bare Back Ride
9. Mother Earth
10. Beautiful Newborn Child
11. A Day In The Life
DISC 2
1. Paint It Black
2. Gun
3. Pretty Colors
4. Home Cookin'
5. They Can't Take Away Our Music
6. The King
7. Train Thing
A) Mystery Train
B) Solo Rider
C) Baby Let Me Ride
8. Spill The Wine (Unedited Remix)
9. Paint It Black (Live)
The Very Best of Eric Burdon and WAR is available to pre-order here
https://Rhino.lnk.to/TVBOEBW
Eric Burdon, already established as one of the defining voices of the British Invasion through his work with The Animals, went looking for something new at the end of the decade. That search led him to Long Beach and to WAR, whose mix of funk, rock, Latin, jazz, and soul gave Burdon the creative shift he was after. Their earliest recordings together are the focus here, bringing material from Eric Burdon Declares “War” and The Black-Man’s Burdon into one place, all remastered by Bernie Grundman.
Key moments like Spill the Wine appear with both the original version and an unedited remix, while deeper cuts such as Magic Mountain, Mother Earth and They Can’t Take Away Our Music reflect how wide-ranging the sessions were. The inclusion of three previously unheard recordings from the Avenue vaults adds something genuinely new for collectors, offering insight into the early studio chemistry between Burdon and the band.
The release also helps place this period of Burdon’s career in clearer context.
His departure from The Animals left him without a set path, and these recordings show how quickly he connected with WAR’s approach. Much of the material was captured in a short burst of time, yet the sessions produced enough work for two substantial albums and several alternate takes that have only recently been revisited. The remastering brings out details that were less noticeable on earlier issues, giving longtime listeners a fuller picture of how the arrangements actually sat in the room.
Packaging has been given the same level of attention, with new artwork and a presentation that suits the archival nature of the release. The liner notes outline the timeline of the recordings, the personnel involved, and the role Avenue and Rhino have played in maintaining the catalogue. As WAR prepare to celebrate their 55th anniversary, this collection arrives at the right moment. It highlights the foundation they laid in the early seventies and revisits a partnership that continues to hold its own place in the band’s story.
The Very Best of Eric Burdon and WAR
Track List
CD 1
1. Magic Mountain
2. Spill The Wine
3. Tobacco Road
4. Nights In White Satin
5. Spirit
6. Love Is All Around
7. Home Dream
8. Bare Back Ride
9. Mother Earth
10. Beautiful Newborn Child
11. A Day In The Life
DISC 2
1. Paint It Black
2. Gun
3. Pretty Colors
4. Home Cookin'
5. They Can't Take Away Our Music
6. The King
7. Train Thing
A) Mystery Train
B) Solo Rider
C) Baby Let Me Ride
8. Spill The Wine (Unedited Remix)
9. Paint It Black (Live)
The Very Best of Eric Burdon and WAR is available to pre-order here
https://Rhino.lnk.to/TVBOEBW
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