1. Eric Burdon Videos
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It can't be considered a comeback because he's never really been away and 2004's My Secret Life -- recorded with the same basic band and producer -- already proved there was plenty of gas left in Eric Burdon's seemingly bottomless tank. But Soul of a Man finds the ex-Animals lead singer in fine, even feisty form. Credit should be shared by producer/drummer Tony Braunagel and a backing band of veterans, led by guitarist Johnny Lee Schell and organist Mike Finnigan, who find the perfect tone to support Burdon's growling vocals. Instead of originals, the singer sticks predominantly to covers, a smart move since his own songs have been at best a mixed bag. But aside from a handful of blues classics such as Howlin' Wolf's '44 Blues,' '40 Days' (best known through Muddy Waters version), Mississippi Fred McDowell's 'Red Cross Store' and Blind Willie Johnson's title track, these are predominantly obscure tunes that Burdon tears into with a gruff fury belying his age (he was 65 at the time of this recording). He's still proudly strutting about the size of his genitals on 'Kingsize Jones' and can even meet classic Bad Company on its old turf in 'Devil Run.' Without a deft production touch these songs could be embarrassing, but Braunagel keeps the band simmering and Burdon's worst impulses in check. Female backing vocals, horns and percussion fall in line with this funky gospel-laced blues-rock, nailing the ideal tone between a surprising subtlety and Burdon's more typically crusty approach. In this context, 'Never Give Up Blues' becomes a rallying cry for a guy who, despite more downs than ups in his post Animals career, has kept releasing new music, mostly to a select hardcore following. He will continue to sing 'House of the Rising Sun' nightly, but with albums as strong as this, Burdon is far from washed up and has plenty to be proud of. Aging fans who might have abandoned him due to years of spotty releases will be shocked at how solid this is. Those who are just catching up will find Soul of a Man to be a dynamic new release from an old warhorse who should not be put out to pasture just yet.

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Sample	Title/Composer	Performer	Time	Stream
1	04:16
2	03:34
3	04:18
4	03:39
5	03:00
6	04:48
7	04:13
8	05:33
9	04:30
10	05:26
11	04:55
12	03:21
13	05:27
14	Taras Prodaniuk / David Raven / Billy Watts	03:44

blue highlight denotes track pick

A revolutionary band that combined elements of soul, rock, funk, jazz and latin influences and knocked down a variety of barriers with its multi-cultural line-up, War established itself over its nearly 40 year existence as one of the most important and influential bands of the rock era.
A street band formed out of the rubble of multiple groups playing around the rough Compton section of Los Angeles, War was discovered by veteran rock producer Jerry Goldstein and Animals leader Eric Burdon while backing L.A. Rams defensive lineman Deacon Jones as he sang at a nightclub. Goldstein and Burdon were blown away by the young group and invited them to serve as Burdon's backing band for a conceptual album called Eric Burdon Declares War. The disc highlighted the band's funky, raw rhythms behind Burdon's psychedelic poetry, resulting in a popular album and a hot single, 'Spill The Wine.' The group at that time included Lonnie Jordan, European harmonica player Lee Oskar, Charles Miller, B.B. Dickerson, Harold Brown, Papa Dee Allen and Howard Scott.
While still backing Burdon, War also signed a separate recording contract with UA and began a career as a fronting band. As the work with Burdon faded in the early 70s, the band's career blossomed, particularly with the release of its sophomore disc, All Day Music, which went to #1 based on the hit title track and 'Slippin Into Darkness.' From 1971-77 War was at the top of the music world, with its brand of raw, funky, almost unclassifiable music being the perfect contrast to the increasingly slick sounds of that decade. The group's albums all went Top 5 and they scored on the charts with singles like 'Cisco Kid,' 'Why Can't We Be Friends,' 'Low Rider' and 'The World Is A Ghetto.'
Toward the latter 70s, the group displayed increased tendencies for long improvisational jams and seemed a bit lost with the arrival of the disco era even as they continued to churn out albums with great frequency. They landed a small dance hit in 1978 with 'Galaxy,' but their popularity had faded significantly by the end of the decade.
In the early 80s the group signed with RCA and released Outlaw, its biggest and most accessible album in a half decade. However, the follow-up, Life (Is So Strange) was critically and commercially a step down, despite its excellent title track.

Eric Burdon Videos

By the mid-80s, War was exclusively a touring band, albeit a nearly tireless one, performing in excess of 150 shows per year. Personnel changes increased over the next two decades, with Jordan being the only constant and with over 30 other players rotating through the band. Oskar, the second most visible member of the group, was gone by the mid 90s and later formed a competing group with former War members Harold Brown, B.B. Dickerson and Howard Scott called the Original Lowrider Band.

Eric Burdon Youtube

Though the band recorded only one more time, 1994's Peace Sign, War's legacy only increased as a new generation of hip-hop performers sampled the band's catalog liberally and fans gained an increased appreciation for the organic, funky sound that War had introduced decades earlier. The band's influence in the 21st century is as strong as it has ever been and the freshness and relevancy of its music three decades after initial release is amazing.
By Chris Rizik





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• with Eric Burdon: The Black Man's Burdon (MGM 1970)
• War (United Artists 1971)
  
• All Day Music (United Artists 1971)
  
• The World Is A Ghetto (United Artists 1972)
  
• Deliver The Word (United Artists 1973)
  
• Why Can't We Be Friends? (United Artists 1975)
• Love is All Around - Eric Burdon & War - early 70s live & outtakes
• Galaxy (MCA 1977)
  
• Youngblood (United Artists 1978)
  
• The Music Band 2 (MCA 1979)
• The Music Band Live (MCA 1980)
• Outlaw (RGA 1982)
  
• Life (Is So Strange) (RCA 1983)
  
• Jazz: The Music Band (1983)
• Peace Sign (RCA / Avenue 1994)
  
• Don't Let No One Get You Down (Rhino 1995)
• Grooves & Messages ( [2-CD] BMG 1999)

• 'Anthology' (2 volumes, 1970-74, 1975-1994)
  
• 'Best Of Eric Burdon and War'
• 'The Best Of War and More' (1991)
• 'The Best of War and More Vol. 2'
• 'Greatest Hits Live' (2CD, 2008)
• 'Grooves & Messages : The Greatest Hits' (1999)
  
• Platinum Jazz (1977, great comp of jazzy War tracks)

• Eric Burdon & War - Live At Royal Albert Hall (2CD, London 2008)
• Eric Burdon & War ft. Jimi Hendrix (2CD, London 1970)
• Eric Burdon & War - Live in Germany (Bootleg, Offenbach 1971)

Miscellaneous

• 'Low Rider' - Arthur Baker Remixes

• Eric Burdon - 'Soul of a Man' (2006)

Thanks to G.Point.66 for many contributions ...