VIA PRESS RELEASE | On September 5, Rhino celebrates the enduring legacy of WAR with The CD Collection 1971–1975—a deluxe five-disc box set honoring the band’s groundbreaking early years and continuing the year-long celebration of their landmark album Why Can’t We Be Friends?.
This beautifully packaged collection features five essential albums—WAR (1971), All Day Music (1971), The World Is A Ghetto (1972), Deliver The Word (1973), and Why Can’t We Be Friends? (1975)—capturing the band’s first chapter following the departure of former frontman Eric Burdon. These albums mark the creative emergence of WAR as a singular force in American music—fusing funk, jazz, Latin rhythms, soul, rock, and psychedelia into a genre-defying sound all their own.
Housed in a striking package featuring original artwork by acclaimed illustrator Dave Van Patten, whose surreal, hand-drawn style channels the same boundary-pushing energy that defined WAR’s music and message, each album delivers the most vibrant and immersive listening experience to date.
Following 2021’s Record Store Day vinyl exclusive, this CD box set is a must-have for both longtime collectors and new listeners—offering a fresh lens into WAR’s most iconic era. From the streetwise poetry of The World Is A Ghetto to the unifying call of Why Can’t We Be Friends?, these albums remain as powerful, joyful, and relevant as ever.
2025 marks the 50th anniversary of Why Can’t We Be Friends?, WAR’s blockbuster album that helped define the sound of the ‘70s. As Variety says, “When it comes to low rider Cali-cool multiculturalism, WAR wrote the biggest, loudest book.” That legacy continues to grow, with the band reaching new milestones and long-overdue recognition. After kicking off the celebration with a national performance at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, WAR was honored earlier this summer with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, cementing their impact on American music and culture.
Fresh off that celebration, the band returned from a triumphant European tour filled with career-defining moments. At the Love Supreme Festival, WAR was joined by surprise guest Questlove, who jumped behind the kit for a fiery encore of the timeless hit “Low Rider.” He later praised the band on Instagram, writing: “I’d never thought I’d see a 70s unit actually nail the groove and funk of their peak period…”
Now, The CD Collection 1971–1975 gives a new generation of listeners the chance to experience WAR at their creative peak: five classic albums, newly remastered and reimagined, capturing the heart, soul, and revolutionary spirit of one of the most vital bands of the 20th century.
