Today, WAR announces two new box sets, each capturing SoCal's legendary street band at the height of their most dynamic era. Arriving for Black Friday on November 29th, The Vinyl 1977-1994 and The CD Collection 1977-1994 both feature five definitive albums that further show why WAR has been hailed as "a sophisticated pop machine, slicker than Sly and the Family Stone and more down to earth than Funkadelic" (Pitchfork). With newly remastered audio by award-winning engineer Bernie Grundman, Platinum Funk (1977), Galaxy (1977), The Music Band (1979), Outlaw (1982) and Peace Sign (1994) all come together in one beautiful package, right as WAR prepares to celebrate its 55th Anniversary next year – and receive its official star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, among numerous other milestones.
Purchase WAR's limited-edition The Vinyl 1977-1994, available exclusively via Record Store Day Black Friday. Pre-order The CD Collection 1977-1994, available worldwide via Rhino on November 29th.
The Vinyl: 1977-1994 is the first time since their original pressings that these five albums are being released on vinyl, and each LP has been pressed in a rainbow of spinning colors – Platinum Funk in silver, Galaxy in yellow, The Music Band in red, Outlaw in purple, Peace Sign in orange, nestled in a boss slipcase illustrated by Grammy-winning artist Dave Van Patten. WAR's The Vinyl: 1977-1994 and The CD Collection 1977-1994 are the next installments in a series of special edition releases. Building on the band's previous five-LP, decade-spanning compilation, The Vinyl: 1971-1975, this next compendium arrives on the heels of 2023's The World Is a Ghetto: 50th Anniversary Collector’s Edition. Named one of the year's best box sets by The New York Times and Variety, with rave reviews by Pitchfork, AP, Paste and SPIN, a Goldmine cover story and more, the project honored the #1 Billboard top-selling album of 1973, and cemented WAR's legacy as "one of the most seminal bands in music" (Billboard).
All of the records included in the 1977-1994 collection continue to highlight WAR's career-long perfection of universal street music, delivered by way of the band's innovative arrangements and seamless blend of diverse styles, as well as their master musicianship, and the sheer quantity, quality, depth and breadth of grooves, melodies and messages. Produced by Jerry Goldstein, in associated with Lonnie Jordan, Howard Scott and Jeremy Levine for Avenue Records/Far Out Productions, The Vinyl 1977-1994 and The CD Collection 1977-1994 share the same tracklist of songs, and while each album is wildly different, they all contain WAR's signature sound and soul.
Spanning 18 years, the new set begins with the rare Platinum Funk release from 1977. Originally a half-new, half-compilation double album issued under the title Platinum Jazz, it became the first Platinum album in the history of Blue Note Records, and includes #1 R&B single "L.A. Sunshine," as well as the title song from the film The River Niger, starring James Earl Jones and Cicely Tyson. Now included in The Vinyl: 1977-1994 and The CD Collection 1977-1994 is the UK-only reissue of Platinum Funk from the Island Records label, which was never before available in the US except as an import. This special version features just the original material from Platinum Jazz – six cuts of mainly instrumental jazz-based flavors, unlike any of the other music WAR was known for up until that time, once again demonstrating to the world just how broad and deep their musical chops really were.
Having sold over 50 million records worldwide, WAR has amassed more than 20 platinum, multi-platinum, and gold records, including Galaxy and The Music Band, which led to the unforgettable music video for "Good, Good Feelin'," choreographed and directed by the iconic Lester Wilson. 1982's Outlaw follows The Music Band – led by classic tracks like "Cinco De Mayo," "You Got The Power" and the titular "Outlaw," before WAR reassembled most of its surviving members for 1993's Peace Sign, carrying on WAR's mission of love, harmony and brotherhood, with a guest appearance from José Feliciano on "East L.A.," and a touching dedication to late bandmates Papa Dee Allen and Charles Miller.
WAR is currently performing across California and beyond this fall, as part of The World Is a Ghetto 50th Anniversary Tour. Upcoming dates include The Greek Theatre, and more on-sale now at war.com/tour.
