''☮'' is an album by
War
War is an intense armed conflict between states, governments, societies, or paramilitary groups such as mercenaries, insurgents, and militias. It is generally characterized by extreme violence, destruction, and mortality, using regular o ...
, released on
Avenue Records (distributed by
Rhino Records
A rhinoceros (; ; ), commonly abbreviated to rhino, is a member of any of the five extant species (or numerous extinct species) of odd-toed ungulates in the family Rhinocerotidae. (It can also refer to a member of any of the extinct species o ...
) in 1994. Its title is a graphic of the
peace symbol
A number of peace symbols have been used many ways in various cultures and contexts. The dove and olive branch was used symbolically by early Christians and then eventually became a secular peace symbol, popularized by a ''Dove'' lithograph b ...
. It is often referred to as ''Peace Sign'', the title of the first track, though arguably it could also be called ''Peace'', the
antonym
In lexical semantics, opposites are words lying in an inherently incompatible binary relationship. For example, something that is ''long'' entails that it is not ''short''. It is referred to as a 'binary' relationship because there are two members ...
of the group's name. It was released as a CD and also as a double LP, the latter containing an extra track titled "Africa", and a shorter version of "Peace Sign".
This was their first non-compilation album in over a decade, during which time the group had toured sporadically. Most living original members appeared on the album,
B.B. Dickerson
BB, Bb, or similar, may refer to:
In arts and entertainment
*BB, abbreviation for a catalogue of works by Béla Bartók
* ''BB'' (album), by Mod Sun (2017)
*"BB Talk", 2015 song by Miley Cyrus
* BB (Transformers), a character in the franchi ...
(bass) being the only exception; but
Lee Oskar
Lee Oskar (born 24 March 1948) is a Danish harmonica player, notable for his contributions to the sound of the rock-funk fusion group War, which was formed by Howard E. Scott and Harold Brown, his solo work, and as a harmonica manufacturer. H ...
(harmonica) is not credited as a group member, and only makes a guest appearance on two songs. Another former member
Pat Rizzo
Pat Rizzo (November 30, 1941 – April 15, 2021) was an American saxophonist and flautist, best known for his work with funk band Sly and the Family Stone.
Career
Rizzo started performing in the sixties with The Cuff Links. He is best known f ...
(saxophone) also makes a guest appearance on the same songs where Oskar appears. Some of the official members of this album's nine-person lineup made somewhat minimal contributions: Ron Hammon is only credited with providing "drum fills" on two songs, while Rae Valentine is mainly credited with "music programming". Only five group members contributed to more than half of the songs, and
Lonnie Jordan
Leroy Jordan (born November 21, 1948) is an American singer-songwriter. He is a founding member of the American funk band War. Jordan had a number of roles over the years, acting as vocalist and playing guitar, piano, synthesizer, and percussion ...
(keyboards) is the only one who plays on every song (Valentine contributing music programming to all but one). The album carries a dedication to War's deceased members,
Papa Dee Allen
War (originally called Eric Burdon and War) is an American funk/rock music, rock/soul music, soul band from Long Beach, California, known for several hit songs (including "Spill the Wine", "The World Is a Ghetto (War song), The World Is a Ghett ...
(congas) and
Charles Miller (saxophone).
This album's lineup toured to promote the album, then broke up in 1996 when most of the original members wished to gain independence from producer Jerry Goldstein, who owned the group's name, and created a new group called
Lowrider Band
The Lowrider Band consists of three of the four surviving original core group members of the multi-platinum selling band War: Howard E. Scott, Lee Oskar, and Harold Brown. These members lost the right in federal court to use and tour under the na ...
. Goldstein then created a new version of War with Lonnie Jordan as the only remaining original member.
A 12-inch single was released with four versions of "Peace Sign". Another track, "I'm the One (Who Understands)", is a re-recording of a song from ''
The Music Band'' (1979).
José Feliciano
José Montserrate Feliciano García (born September 10, 1945) () is a Puerto Rican musician, singer and composer. He recorded many international hits, including his rendition of the Doors' "Light My Fire" and his self-penned Christmas song " ...
makes a guest appearance on "East L.A.".
Track listing
Side one
#"Peace Sign" (
Howard E. Scott
Howard E. Scott (born March 15, 1946) is an American funk/rock guitarist and founding member of the successful 1970s funk band War.
Biography
Scott grew up in Compton, California. He began playing bass at a very young age under the guidance of ...
,
Harold Brown, Milton Myrick) – 4:29
#"East L.A." (Jerry Goldstein, Scott,
Lonnie Jordan
Leroy Jordan (born November 21, 1948) is an American singer-songwriter. He is a founding member of the American funk band War. Jordan had a number of roles over the years, acting as vocalist and playing guitar, piano, synthesizer, and percussion ...
) – 5:40
#"Wild Rodriguez" (Scott, Myrick, Brown, Goldstein) – 4:48
#"I'm the One (Who Understands)" (
Papa Dee Allen
War (originally called Eric Burdon and War) is an American funk/rock music, rock/soul music, soul band from Long Beach, California, known for several hit songs (including "Spill the Wine", "The World Is a Ghetto (War song), The World Is a Ghett ...
, Brown,
B.B. Dickerson
BB, Bb, or similar, may refer to:
In arts and entertainment
*BB, abbreviation for a catalogue of works by Béla Bartók
* ''BB'' (album), by Mod Sun (2017)
*"BB Talk", 2015 song by Miley Cyrus
* BB (Transformers), a character in the franchi ...
, Jordan,
Charles Miller,
Lee Oskar
Lee Oskar (born 24 March 1948) is a Danish harmonica player, notable for his contributions to the sound of the rock-funk fusion group War, which was formed by Howard E. Scott and Harold Brown, his solo work, and as a harmonica manufacturer. H ...
, Scott, Goldstein) – 5:14
Side two
#"Da Roof" (Scott, Goldstein, Myrick) – 7:36
#"The Smuggler (The Light in the Window)" (Goldstein, Brown) – 5:57
#"U B O.K." (Scott, Brown, Myrick) – 5:31
Side three
#"Smile for Me" (S. Ball, E. Baker, Goldstein) – 6:29
#"Let Me Tell You" (Scott, Myrick, Brown, Goldstein, Jordan) – 5:47
#"Angel" (Goldstein) – 6:34
Side four
#"What If" (Brown, Myrick, Goldstein, Jordan, Scott) – 5:00
#"Africa" (unknown) – 4:29
#"Homeless Hero" (H. Scott, J. Scott, Goldstein, Jordan) – 10:47
CD edition
With the exception of "Peace Sign", differences in timings are trivial and are taken from covers and labels. "Africa" does not appear on the CD edition. See LP listing above for composer credits.
#"Peace Sign" – 5:57
#"East L.A." – 5:41
#"Wild Rodriguez" – 4:49
#"I'm the One (Who Understands)" – 5:15
#"Da Roof" – 7:37
#"The Smuggler (The Light in the Window)" – 5:58
#"U B O.K." – 5:32
#"Let Me Tell You" – 5:47
#"Smile for Me" – 6:30
#"What If" – 5:01
#"Angel" – 6:34
#"Homeless Hero" – 10:47
Personnel
Credits below are missing information for "Africa".
Official members
*
Howard Scott
Howard Scott (April 1, 1890 – January 1, 1970) was an American engineer and founder of the Technocracy movement. He formed the Technical Alliance and Technocracy Incorporated.
Early life
Little is known about Scott's background or his early lif ...
**lead vocal on "Peace Sign", "Wild Rodriguez", "I'm the One (Who Understands)", "Da Roof", "U B O.K.", "Let Me Tell You"
**oratory on "Homeless Hero"
**guitar on "Peace Sign", "Wild Rodriguez", "I'm the One (Who Understands)", "The Smuggler (The Light in the Window)", "U B O.K.", "Let Me Tell You", "Angel"
**electric guitar on "East L.A."
**synth guitar on "Peace Sign"
**bass guitar on "Wild Rodriguez", "The Smuggler (The Light in the Window)", "U B O.K.", "Let Me Tell You"
**keyboard samples on "Wild Rodriguez"
**background vocal on "Peace Sign", "East L.A.", "Wild Rodriguez", "I'm the One (Who Understands)", "Da Roof", "U B O.K.", "Smile for Me", "Let Me Tell You"
*
Lonnie Jordan
Leroy Jordan (born November 21, 1948) is an American singer-songwriter. He is a founding member of the American funk band War. Jordan had a number of roles over the years, acting as vocalist and playing guitar, piano, synthesizer, and percussion ...
**lead vocal on "East L.A.", "The Smuggler (The Light in the Window)", "Smile for Me", "Let Me Tell You", "Angel", "Homeless Hero"
**keyboards on "Peace Sign", "East L.A.", "Wild Rodriguez", "I'm the One (Who Understands)", "Da Roof", "The Smuggler (The Light in the Window)", "U B O.K.", "Smile for Me", "Let Me Tell You", "Angel", "What If", "Homeless Hero"
**acoustic piano on "East L.A.", "Angel"
**synth bass on "Peace Sign", "East L.A.", "I'm the One (Who Understands)", "Da Roof", "Angel", "What If", "Homeless Hero"
**synth guitar on "Peace Sign", "East L.A.", "Da Roof", "Smile for Me", "Homeless Hero"
**synth strings (or strings synth) on "East L.A.", "The Smuggler (The Light in the Window)", "Angel"
**synth horns on "East L.A.", "Let Me Tell You", "What If"
**organ on "I'm the One (Who Understands)", "Homeless Hero"
**samples on "The Smuggler (The Light in the Window)"
**drum programming on "East L.A.", "Da Roof", "Angel"
**percussion on "Peace Sign", "East L.A.", "Wild Rodriguez", "Da Roof", "U B O.K.", "Angel", "What If", "Homeless Hero"
**singing bass on "The Smuggler (The Light in the Window)"
**background vocal on "Peace Sign", "East L.A.", "Wild Rodriguez", "I'm the One (Who Understands)", "Da Roof", "The Smuggler (The Light in the Window)", "U B O.K.", "Smile for Me", "Let Me Tell You", "What If", "Homeless Hero"
**arrangement on "East L.A."
**horn arrangement on "What If"
*Ronnie Hammon
**drum fills on "East L.A.", "Smile for Me"
*
Harold Brown
**lead vocal on "What If"
**live drums on "Peace Sign", "Wild Rodriguez", "The Smuggler (The Light in the Window)", "U B O.K.", "Let Me Tell You", "What If"
**percussion on "Peace Sign"
**samples on "What If"
**background vocal on "Peace Sign", "Da Roof", "What If"
*
Rae Valentine
Rae Valentine (a.k.a. Harold Ray Brown II) is the son of Harold Ray Brown Sr., the founder and original drummer of the musical band War. Rae produced and recorded on War's 1994 ''Peace Sign'' album and performed on tour as backing keyboards, percu ...
**music programmer on "Peace Sign", "East L.A.", "Wild Rodriguez", "I'm the One (Who Understands)", "Da Roof", "The Smuggler (The Light in the Window)", "U B O.K.", "Smile for Me", "Let Me Tell You", "What If", "Homeless Hero"
**drum programmer on "Wild Rodriguez", "Smile for Me", "Let Me Tell You", "What If"
**drum fills on "East L.A."
**percussion on "Smile for Me"
**organ on "Let Me Tell You"
**background vocal on "Peace Sign", "I'm the One (Who Understands)", "Da Roof", "U B O.K.", "Smile for Me", "Let Me Tell You", "What If"
*Kerry Campbell
**saxophone on "Peace Sign", "Wild Rodriguez", "I'm the One (Who Understands)" (solo), "Da Roof", "Smile for Me" (solo), "Let Me Tell You", "What If", "Homeless Hero" (solo)
*Charles Green
**saxophone on "Peace Sign" (solo), "Wild Rodriguez", "I'm the One (Who Understands)", "Da Roof", "Smile for Me", "Let Me Tell You", "What If", "Homeless Hero"
**flute on "U B O.K."
**horn arrangement on "Peace Sign", "Wild Rodriguez", "I'm the One (Who Understands)"
*Tetsuya "Tex" Nakamura
**harmonica on "Wild Rodriguez", "Da Roof", "The Smuggler (The Light in the Window)", "What If", "Homeless Hero"
*Sal Rodriguez
**live drums on "I'm the One (Who Understands)"
**percussion on "I'm the One (Who Understands)", "The Smuggler (The Light in the Window)", "U B O.K."
**background vocal on "Wild Rodriguez", "I'm the One (Who Understands)"
Other musicians, arrangers, programmers
*Elsa Barrera
**Spanish speaking voice on "U B O.K."
*
José Feliciano
José Montserrate Feliciano García (born September 10, 1945) () is a Puerto Rican musician, singer and composer. He recorded many international hits, including his rendition of the Doors' "Light My Fire" and his self-penned Christmas song " ...
**lead vocal on "East L.A."
**acoustic guitar on "East L.A."
*Larry Goetz
**guitar on "Homeless Hero"
*Jerry Goldstein
**percussion on "East L.A."
**background vocal on "Da Roof"
**arrangement on "East L.A."
**horn arrangement on "Peace Sign", "I'm the One (Who Understands)", "What If"
*Ricky Green
**background vocal on "Smile for Me"
*Matt Hyde
**music programmer on "East L.A.", "Da Roof", "Smile for Me", "Angel", "Homeless Hero"
**drum programmer on "Homeless Hero"
*Gerry Kenebrew
**music programmer on "Smile for Me"
*Milton Myrick
**background vocal on "Peace Sign", "Wild Rodriguez", "I'm the One (Who Understands)", "Da Roof", "U B O.K.", "Let Me Tell You", "What If"
*
Lee Oskar
Lee Oskar (born 24 March 1948) is a Danish harmonica player, notable for his contributions to the sound of the rock-funk fusion group War, which was formed by Howard E. Scott and Harold Brown, his solo work, and as a harmonica manufacturer. H ...
**harmonica on "Smile for Me", "Angel"
*
Gene Page
Eugene Edgar Page Jr. (September 13, 1939 – August 24, 1998) was an American conductor, composer, arranger and record producer, most active from the mid-1960s through the mid-1980s.
His sound can be heard in the arrangements he did for Jeffer ...
**synth strings on "Smile for Me"
**strings arrangement on "East L.A.", "Smile for Me"
*
Pat Rizzo
Pat Rizzo (November 30, 1941 – April 15, 2021) was an American saxophonist and flautist, best known for his work with funk band Sly and the Family Stone.
Career
Rizzo started performing in the sixties with The Cuff Links. He is best known f ...
**saxophone on "Smile for Me", "Angel" (solo)
*The Waters
**background vocals on "East L.A.", "Angel"
*Moses Wheelock
**congas on "Peace Sign", "U B O.K.", "What If"
**background vocal on "Da Roof", "What If"
*Romeo Williams
**bass on "Smile for Me"
Technical personnel
*Jerry Goldstein and Lonnie Jordon – producers
**Jerry Goldstein, Lonnie Jordon and Howard Scott – producers on "Peace Sign"
*Larry Goetz – engineer, mix engineer
**Richard Kaplan, Andrew Berliner, Matt Hyde – additional engineers on "Smile for Me"
*David Gleason, Craig Silvey, Dan Alonso, John Jackson, Jim Schwarz, Andy Uduff, Andrew Berliner, Matt Hyde – assistant engineers
*Eric Greedy – assistant engineer, assistant mix engineer
*Dave Collins – mastering
*Glenn Stone – cover design concept
*Aaron Brashear – cover design concept, cover and label design
*Art Hotel – additional design
*Jeffrey Mayer – photography
*Frank Rand, Abbey Anna – project coordination
*Mic Holwin – text editor
References
{{Authority control
1994 albums
War (American band) albums
Albums produced by Jerry Goldstein (producer)