War The World Is a Ghetto on Vinyl LP: Pressed at Optimal in Germany

War's head-nodding mix of music and message started a revolution 50 years ago that continues to win over the hearts and hips of fans around the world. War was founded in the late-1960s by producer/songwriter Jerry Goldstein and British singer Eric Burdon, who was eager to seek out new collaborators after several years with The Animals. Goldstein spotted the musicians who would become War playing clubs in L.A. Soon after, Burdon started playing shows with the band and he clicked with the musicians, who were able to back his improvisational flights-of-fancy with the ease of jazz masters.

Originally billed as Eric Burdon and War, the group recorded the hit albums Eric Burdon Declares "War" (which featured the hit "Spill The Wine"), and the double album, The Black-Man's Burdon. After Burdon left the group in 1971, War's career took on a life of its own as its popularity skyrocketed thanks to three consecutive Gold albums: All Day Music, The World Is A Ghetto, Deliver The Word and Why Can't We Be Friends?

The band's sound was refined and deepened with the release of The World Is A Ghetto; a celebratory, reflective, and gritty album which was recorded in just 29 days with Goldstein and legendary British recording engineer Chris Huston behind the recording console. Its first single, "The Cisco Kid" shipped gold and brought the band a following in the Hispanic community that has remained loyal to the group to this day. The thought provoking title song "The World Is A Ghetto" fueled the album to the No. 1 chart spot in Billboard and was voted Billboard's Album of the Year.