''Why Can't We Be Friends?'' is the seventh
studio album by American
funk band
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 June 16, 1975 by
United Artists Records
United Artists Records was an American record label founded by Max E. Youngstein of United Artists in 1957 to issue movie soundtracks. The label expanded into other genres, such as easy listening, jazz, pop, and R&B.
History Genres
In 1959, ...
. Two singles from the album were released:
the title track backed with "In Mazatlan", and "
Low Rider
"Low Rider" is a song written by American funk band War and producer Jerry Goldstein, which appeared on their album '' Why Can't We Be Friends?'', released in 1975. It reached number one on the ''Billboard'' R&B singles chart, peaked at number ...
" backed with "So". Both A-sides were nominated for the
Grammy Awards of 1976.
Of the songs on this album, an interpolation of the first part of the song "Smile Happy" was used in the song "
It Wasn't Me
"It Wasn't Me" is the first single from Jamaican-American reggae musician Shaggy's fifth studio album, '' Hot Shot'' (2000). The song features vocals from RikRok (credited as Rickardo "RikRok" Ducent). The lyrics of the song depict one man (Rik ...
" by
Shaggy
Shaggy may refer to:
People
*Shaggy (musician) (born 1968), Jamaican American reggae rapper and singer
* Shaggy 2 Dope, half of the hip hop, horrorcore band Insane Clown Posse
* Shaggy Flores (born 1973), Nuyorican poet, writer and African diaspor ...
featuring RikRok. Versions of the album's
titular song has been used in several film productions, notably ''
Bridge to Terabithia'' and ''
Wild Things''.
Track listing
All tracks composed 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 ...
(
Papa Dee Allen,
Harold 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 ...
,
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 ...
,
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 ...
,
Howard E. Scott), except where indicated.
Note: The CD edition does not break "Leroy's Latin Lament" into sections.
#"Don't Let No One Get You Down" (War,
Jerry Goldstein) – 3:59
#"Lotus Blossom" (War, Francie Nelson) – 3:59
#"Heartbeat" – 7:25
#"Leroy's Latin Lament (Medley)" - 6:36
##"Lonnie Dreams" – 0:49
##"The Way We Feel" (War, lyrics: Keri Oskar) – 1:10
##"La Fiesta" – 2:10
##"Lament" – 2:27
#"Smile Happy" – 7:22
#"So" – 4:58
#"
Low Rider
"Low Rider" is a song written by American funk band War and producer Jerry Goldstein, which appeared on their album '' Why Can't We Be Friends?'', released in 1975. It reached number one on the ''Billboard'' R&B singles chart, peaked at number ...
" (War,
Jerry Goldstein) – 3:11
#"In Mazatlan" – 2:45
#"
Why Can't We Be Friends?" (War,
Jerry Goldstein) – 3:49
Personnel
;War
*
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 ...
– guitar, percussion, vocals
*
B. B. Dickerson
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 ...
– bass, percussion, vocals
*
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 ...
– organ, piano, timbales, percussion, vocals
*
Harold Brown – drums, percussion, vocals (credit missing from LP cover)
*
Papa Dee Allen – conga, bongos, percussion, vocals
*
Charles Miller – clarinet, alto, tenor and baritone saxophones, percussion, vocals
*
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, percussion, vocals
Charts
See also
*
List of Billboard number-one R&B albums of 1975
References
External links
''Why Can't We Be Friends?''at
Discogs
Discogs (short for discographies) is a database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. While the site was originally created with a goal of becoming the ...
{{Authority control
1975 albums
War (American band) albums
United Artists Records albums
Albums produced by Jerry Goldstein (producer)