In December 2023, Goldmine presented a sneak peek into WAR’s newly released 50th-anniversary collector’s edition of The World Is a Ghetto — a 5-LP box set commemorating the massive achievements garnered by the band, their producer and the original album, having been crowned Billboard’s top-selling album for 1973 [although the album was officially released in November 1972]. If you were not privy to the sneak peek we provided, then let’s recap, and continue where we left off.
One might ponder, What could they possibly have included in this box set that warranted five full albums worth of music and material? That would be a very valid query. Nevertheless, when you finally come to experience what this massive box set entails, you will be consumed with gratitude that the masterminds behind this 50th-anniversary commemoration had the intuition and the insight to find a way that allowed fans of WAR the ability to live what the band lived and breathe what the band breathed over the 29 days in the studio that it took to bring The World Is a Ghetto to life.
WAR, the legendary jazz, funk and soul collective, originated in the late 1960s, from Los Angeles. After making a local name for themselves, the band were essentially “officially discovered” through the leadership and influence of iconic music industry veteran — writer, producer, arranger and recording artist Jerry Goldstein. Happening more quickly than one would imagine, the marrying of Goldstein with WAR, in what seemed to be a divinely orchestrated partnership, commenced. The band, with unexpected progress, witnessed themselves excel to a place of international recognition. Their debut and sophomore album releases were a direct musical partnership with Eric Burdon, formerly of The Animals, and WAR’s early touring successes with Burdon became the wick and flame that would ignite WAR (after Burdon’s early departure) into a state of recognition that would bring the band to a stand-alone debut album.
The band’s heightened reputation and their growing worldwide following naturally led to their sophomore studio effort, All Day Music. This new album would come out of the gate showing extreme promise for the band outside of their earlier involvement with Burdon, all due to the visions and multi-collaborative efforts between Goldstein and WAR. All Day Music would connect with fans, the media and the industry, infusing their audience with hit songs such as “Nappy Head,” “Slippin’ Into Darkness” and the title track.
But when outside influences
