WAR - 'So'
Progressive soul institution WAR kicks off 2025 by giving us a look back at a live version of one of the smoothest tunes in their catalogue, So, off of their iconic album Why Can’t We Be Friends?
The Live in Japan, 1974 single has been released ahead of a full Live album that all audiences are going to be delighted with. It’s a very special year for the band as 2025 is the 50 th Anniversary of Why Can’t We Be Friends? And this album will mark the first time in 50 years that all seven original band members appeared on a live album.
WAR have always been a good-spirited unit promoting love and brotherhood. In the recording, you can feel the sense of unity right from the start of this track as you can hear the band members laugh together before they burst into the most beautiful harmony that would make Brian Wilson’s knees wobbly.
The album consists of restored recordings from their Japan tour in the winter of 1974 and will be released as a double LP with a host of cool liner notes featuring stories and interviews from band members such as Lonnie Jordan.
The never-before-heard track feels like a time portal back to the height of the funk juggernauts peak where they were realising their international acclaim. The atmosphere within the room sounds so vibrant, each instrument is recorded so naturally that you can’t help but conjure images of WAR right before your eyes.
B.B. Dickerson’s lead vocals are elevating, and you can hear the raw emotion of love and longing in his voice as the instruments whine and coagulate around him to the same feeling. WAR’s Live in Japan, 1974 album will receive a global release on 7 th February 2025 but for now you can tease yourself with a listen at one of their greatest and most underrated tracks, So.
Words by Adam Mir
