"The World Is a Ghetto" is a song written and performed 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 ...
. The song was produced by
Jerry Goldstein, and was featured on their 1972 album ''
The World Is a Ghetto
''The World Is a Ghetto'' is the fifth album by American band War, released in late 1972 on United Artists Records. The album attained the number one spot on ''Billboard'', and was ''Billboard'' magazine's Album of the Year as the best-selling a ...
''.
Background
The single version radio edit was less than 4 minutes. The album version, over 10 minutes long, featured a third verse, a longer intro, a saxophone solo in the instrumental section, and an extended coda featuring an electric guitar solo while War repeatedly sang the song's title before the fade.
Chart performance
It reached #3 on the
U.S. R&B chart and #7 on the
U.S. pop chart in 1973. It also reached the Top 40 in Canada.
The song ranked #94 on ''
Billboard'' magazine's
Top 100 singles of 1973.
Certifications
Other charting versions
*
Will Downing
Wilfred "Will" Downing (born November 29, 1963) is an American singer and songwriter. He is married to singer Audrey Wheeler, who was a member of the R&B group Unlimited Touch.
Biography
Downing enrolled in Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn ...
released a version of the song as a single in 1991 which reached #83 on the
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...
.
Other versions
*
Ahmad Jamal released a version of the song as a single in 1973, but it did not chart.
*
Charles Kynard
Charles Kynard (20 February 1933 – 8 July 1979) was an American soul jazz/ acid jazz organist born in St. Louis, Missouri.
Kynard first played piano then switched to organ and led a trio in Kansas City including Tex Johnson (flute, sax) ...
released a version of the song on his 1973 album ''
Your Mama Don't Dance
"Your Mama Don't Dance" is a hit 1972 song by the rock duo Loggins and Messina. Released on their self-titled album ''Loggins and Messina'', it reached number four on the ''Billboard'' pop chart and number 19 on the ''Billboard'' Easy Listening ...
''.
*
James Moody released a version of the song on his 1973 album ''Sax & Flute Man''.
*
Sonny Stitt released a version of the song on his 1973 album ''
Mr. Bojangles''.
*
George Shearing
Sir George Albert Shearing, (13 August 1919 14 February 2011) was a British jazz pianist who for many years led a popular jazz group that recorded for Discovery Records, MGM Records and Capitol Records. Shearing was the composer of over 300 ...
released a version of the song on his 1974 album ''The Way We Are''.
*
George Benson
George Washington Benson (born March 22, 1943) is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He began his professional career at the age of 19 as a jazz guitarist.
A former child prodigy, Benson first came to prominence in the 1960s, play ...
released a version of the song as a single in 1977, but it did not chart.
*
The Sax Pack
The Sax Pack is a smooth jazz group featuring three saxophone players: Jeff Kashiwa, Steve Cole, and Kim Waters
Kim Waters (born March 20, 1965) is an American jazz artist born in Havre de Grace, Maryland.
Early life
Waters grew up in Harfo ...
released a version of the song on their 2008 album ''The Sax Pack''.
*
DJ Spinna
Vincent E. Williamsbetter known by his stage name DJ Spinna, is an American hip hop and deep house producer from Brooklyn. According to Allmusic, he has "remained strictly an underground artist despite his astonishing talent."
Life and career
Spi ...
released a version of the song on his 2009 compilation album ''The Boogie Back: Post Disco Club Jams''.
*
The Paragons
The Paragons were a ska and rocksteady vocal group from Kingston, Jamaica, initially active in the 1960s. Their most famous track was " The Tide Is High", written by band member John Holt.
Career
The Paragons were originally Garth "Tyrone" E ...
released a version of the song on their 2015 re-release of the album ''On the Beach with The Paragons''.
*
Kandace Springs released a version of the song on her 2016 album ''Soul Eyes''.
Sampling
*War's version was sampled in the 1996 song "
The World Is a Ghetto
''The World Is a Ghetto'' is the fifth album by American band War, released in late 1972 on United Artists Records. The album attained the number one spot on ''Billboard'', and was ''Billboard'' magazine's Album of the Year as the best-selling a ...
" by
Geto Boys on their album ''
The Resurrection''.
*
ASAP Mob
ASAP Mob (stylized as A$AP Mob, ASAP being an acronym for "Always Strive And Prosper") is an American hip hop collective formed in 2006 in Harlem, New York City, that consists of rappers (most of whom carry the "ASAP" moniker), record producers, ...
,
ASAP Nast
Tariq Amar Devega (born July 26, 1990), better known by his stage name ASAP Nast (stylized as A$AP Nast), is an American rapper, songwriter and model from Harlem, New York. Nast is best known as a member of the hip hop collective A$AP Mob. As p ...
and
Method Man
Clifford Smith, Jr. (born March 2, 1971), better known by his stage name Method Man, is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He is known as a member of the East Coast hip hop collective Wu-Tang Clan. He is also half of ...
sampled the song of their 2013 single,
Trillmatic
"Trillmatic" is a song by American rapper ASAP Nast from the New York-based hip hop collective ASAP Mob. It was released on December 4, 2013. It was originally intended to be a first single from ASAP Mob's debut studio album '' L.O.R.D.'', whi ...
.
References
1972 songs
1972 singles
1973 singles
1977 singles
1991 singles
Songs written by Lonnie Jordan
War (American band) songs
Will Downing songs
George Benson songs
Song recordings produced by Jerry Goldstein (producer)
United Artists Records singles
Warner Records singles
{{1970s-song-stub