Music

21 Nov 2023

The Story Behind ‘La Bestia,’ The Atlanta Braves’ Celebratory Song for 2023 NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr.

Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. was named the 2023 National League Most Valuable Player last week — and to celebrate, a song named after the Venezuelan athlete’s nickname, “La Bestia,” has been released.

Backed by a catchy dembow beat and lyrics chanted by Dominican artist Niko Eme, “La Bestia” is the perfect sing-along song to hype up fans at a baseball game. “Who am I? Who am I? Who am I? The beast,” says the repetitive chorus in Spanish.  

“We wanted something that felt global and to do something we could put a chant to,” award-winning Mexican-American producer Samuel Ash tells Billboard. “I felt that dembow is perfect for that because it’s something you could repeat with a gang of people. We wanted something that was high energy. So that’s just what I felt when we were coming up with ideas of what direction to go in as far as the style of music. I know dembow is a Dominican genre but I felt that it could still feel global and resonate with him as a Venezuelan.” 

The song is only the second effort the Atlanta Braves have released as part of a sports-meets-music initiative that launched this year. The first song was “Home of the Braves” by Zaytoven featuring Young Dro to celebrate the launch of the Braves City Connect jerseys.

“Part of it is trying to figure out how we can connect to our audience in unique ways and out-of-the-box ways,” elaborates Eugene Brooks, director of diversity marketing of the Atlanta Braves. “The objective is how do we reach people where they are, especially the younger audiences, through all the different platforms?” 

“La Bestia” was created within a week and released the day Acuña was crowned MVP. Both Brooks and Ash admit they kept the song under the radar, hoping — but never doubting — that Acuña Jr. would get the title. 

The 25-year-old four-time All-Star won his first career MVP in his sixth major-league season, marking the eighth time a Braves player has nabbed the title after Freddie Freeman (2020), Chipper Jones (1999), Terry Pendleton (1991), Dale Murphy (1982, 1983), Hank Aaron (1957), Robert Elliott (1947) and Johnny Evers (1914). “He was a unanimous selection, receiving 30 of 30 first-place votes from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. He finished with 420 points, 150 more than runner-up Mookie Betts,” according to a press statement.

As for having his own song, one that will hopefully become his walk-up anthem next year, Brooks assured that Acuña loves it.

“From what I know, he was very shocked that we would create something like this specifically for him,” he says. “As a whole, I think it forces you to look at baseball differently now with how we attract fans and what we want to do. It’s also a way to celebrate our players in a unique manner. So it kind of creates synergies between the player and the organization.” 

“This initiative that we’re doing with the Braves is so important for the Latino community,” Ash adds. “I feel that we’re in a season where we’re walking and opening doors so that the people behind us can run. I’m very excited about it.” 

Listen to “La Bestia” below:

21 Nov 2023

Dolly Parton Says She Sent ‘Love Note’ to Paul McCartney & Ringo Starr to Ask Them for ‘Rockstar’ Collaboration

Dolly Parton had a sweet technique in getting Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr to collaborate with her on her recently released rock album, Rockstar.

“So I just sent them a love note through their managers, and I just said what I was doing,” the icon told NPR. “And I said, ‘I didn’t want to put you on the spot, but I’d love to have you sing with me on my rock album. And if you’re interested, call me at this number. And all the people I reached out to said, ‘Yes, we’d love to,’ and I was very honored and very proud and very humbled by that.”

Ultimately, the Beatles duo teamed up with Parton for a cover of the rock band’s iconic 1970 hit, “Let It Be,” along with Peter Frampton and Mick Fleetwood. “Well, does it get any better than singing ‘Let It Be’ with Paul McCartney who wrote the song? Not only that, he played piano,” Parton added. “Well, it did get even better when Ringo Starr joined in on drums, Peter Frampton on guitar and Mick Fleetwood playing percussion. I mean, seriously, how much better does it get? Thanks guys!” 

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On Rockstar, which arrived on Nov. 17, Parton partnered up on the 21 other songs with a number of their original performers, including Sting (“Every Breath You Take”), Heart’s Ann Wilson (“Magic Man”), John Fogerty (“Long As I Can See the Light”), Peter Frampton (“Baby, I Love Your Way”), Joan Jett & the Blackhearts (“I Hate Myself For Loving You”) and goddaughter Miley Cyrus (“Wrecking Ball”).

Upon the album’s release, Parton wrote a thank you note to her fans for following her down her latest creative path. “I can’t tell you how proud I am of the Rockstar album and I can’t tell you how happy I am that it’s finally here to be released!” she said on Instagram. “I really had a wonderful time working with all these iconic artists on the record and all these iconic musicians. Not to mention all these great iconic songs that I think everybody will love hearing again. I just hope you enjoy my version of them!”

21 Nov 2023

Mars Williams, Saxophonist of The Psychedelic Furs & The Waitresses, Dead at 68

Mars Williams, illustrious saxophone player who played a significant role in bands like The Psychedelic Furs and The Waitresses, died on Monday (Nov. 20). He was 68 years old.

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The Chicago Tribune revealed the news, noting that the Chicago area native died after a year-long battle with ampullary cancer. According to a GoFundMe his family set up to help cover treatment costs, Williams was diagnosed with the rare cancer in 2022. The family has since updated the platform with news of his death. “It’s with great sadness that we send this message to let the many people who loved and supported Mars Williams know that he passed away earlier today after his year-long struggle with cancer. He was surrounded by family and friends, both in person and around the world, who held him close, and loved him dearly,” the statement reads.

The note continued, “Until the end, Mars’ inexhaustible humor and energy, and his love for music, pushed him forward. As it became clear in late summer that his treatment options were coming to an end, he chose to spend six weeks of the time he had left living as he had since he was a teenager — out on the road performing night after night. Those last performances with the Psychedelic Furs will live on with all of the other incredible contributions that Mars has made as a person, and as a musician, and that boundless energy will continue to inspire.”

Williams studied jazz at DePaul University before he moved to New York City, where he began playing with the Psychedelic Furs and The Waitresses. As part of The Waitresses, he played on songs like his first Hot 100 hit, “I Know What Boys Like.”

Over the course of his career, he performed and recorded with additional acts like Billy Idol, The Killers and more.

21 Nov 2023

Lana Del Rey Says She’s Actually ‘All Over’ the First Version of Taylor Swift’s ‘Snow on the Beach’

When Taylor Swift first released her Midnights track, “Snow on the Beach,” fans were confused. The song featured Lana Del Rey, but the singer was barely heard throughout the track.

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Swift listened to her fans and soon released an updated version in May titled, “Snow on the Beach (Feat. More Lana Del Rey).” The track highlights Del Rey more, as she sings the entire second verse. In a new interview with Harper’s Bazaar shared on Tuesday (Nov. 21), Del Rey explains that she actually had a huge role in the first iteration of the song.

“That was actually the song Taylor wanted me to sing on. If I think someone’s song is perfect, I will act as a producer in it,” she explained. “I can mimic almost anyone, so I am all over the first version of ‘Snow on the Beach.’ I layer and match her vocals perfectly, so you would never even know that I was completely all over that first song. She wanted me to sing the whole thing, but if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

The original version of “Snow on the Beach” became Del Rey’s highest charting song on the all genre Billboard Hot 100 to date — following the release of Midnights in November, the track debuted and peaked at No. 4 on the chart, where it spent a total of six weeks on the all genre tally. In a previous interview with Billboard, Del Rey that she wasn’t aware she should have added more to “Snow on the Beach.”

“I had no idea I was the only feature [on that song]. Had I known, I would have sung the entire second verse like she wanted. My job as a feature on a big artist’s album is to make sure I help add to the production of the song, so I was more focused on the production,” she said. “She was very adamant that she wanted me to be on the album, and I really liked that song. I thought it was nice to be able to bridge that world, since Jack [Antonoff] and I work together and so do Jack and Taylor.”

Elsewhere in the Harper’s Bazaar interview, Del Rey gushed over having the same tattoo as Adele — the word “paradise” written on the side of their hands. “I think we must have been on the same wavelength,” Del Rey said. “That’s actually a cool little connection. I like that. That’s amazing.”

Adele

Adele performs on stage as American Express present BST Hyde Park in Hyde Park on July 02, 2022 in London, England.

Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

Watch the full interview below.

21 Nov 2023

All 25 Times an Album Has Sold 1 Million Copies or More in a Week: Taylor Swift, Adele & More

In a world full of albums, only 23 have ever sold a million or more U.S. copies in a single week — and only one has ever done so more than once, much less three times total.

At least, that’s what can be gathered since Luminate began electronically counting music sales in 1991, back when the data tracking company was known under as SoundScan. Luminate’s sales, streaming and airplay measurements are what power Billboard‘s weekly charts to this day, including the foremost album ranking in the country, the Billboard 200.

But which artists are part of the elite few who’ve accomplished this elusive feat? Spoiler alert: Taylor Swift, the record-setting album sales queen herself, is featured quite heavily on this list, as are a handful of famous boy bands (and yes, that does include a certain British quartet whose record for most No. 1 albums of all time is still unbeaten more than 50 years after breaking up). Plus, look out for Whitney Houston’s contribution (hint: it’s the bestselling movie soundtrack of all time) as well the sole strictly country artist to ever push a mil in a week (another hint: he’s got friends in low places).

Only one person, however, has plowed past one million copies more than once with the same project — Adele, whose album of the year winner at the 2017 Grammys 25 will only ever be matched if another record someday sells more than a million weekly copies not just twice, but three separate times (you may not want to hold your breath on that).

With that in mind, keep reading to see all 25 times an artist has sold 1 million or more album copies in a week below.

21 Nov 2023

Tate McRae Has Her First Top 10 Hit — How ‘Greedy’ Should She Be About It Climbing Even Higher?

It’s been quite a past week for Tate McRae in the Billboard realm — in a span of about five days, she made her first-ever appearances on the cover of Billboard magazine, on stage as a Billboard Music Awards performer, and in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100.

The last two appearances come courtesy of McRae’s breakout hit “Greedy,” which takes a more pop-forward, triple-threat approach to top 40 domination than her moodier prior hits “You Broke Me First” and “She’s All I Wanna Be.” In addition to delivering the song at Sunday’s (Nov. 19) BBMAs, McRae also performed the song (along with ballad “Grave”) on Saturday Night Live the night before — another first for the 20-year-old rising star.

How did “Greedy” become the song to take McRae to the next level of stardom? And what chances does it have of becoming her first No. 1? Billboard staffers discuss these questions and more below.

1. “Greedy” moves from 11-8 on this week’s Hot 100, becoming her first top 10 hit on the chart in its ninth week. Did you expect the song becoming this kind of breakout hit for her?

Rania Aniftos: Yes, the second I saw tube girl take over TikTok lip syncing “Greedy,” I knew Tate had found her hit. Every other video on the platform had “Greedy” in it.

Kyle Denis: Yes. I covered this song for Billboard’s Trending Up column back in September; the success of “Greedy” has been the result of a coordinated promotional effort beginning with a TikTok snippet strategy and adding several show-stealing live performances along the way.  

Lyndsey Havens: Oh yes. Tate has been developing as an artist and building the foundation for her career since 2018 — and even before that, if you count her teenage YouTube series Create With Tate. She’s already had a taste of success with breakout hit “You Broke Me First,” so the stage was set. And with a song like “Greedy” — with its endearing swagger and nostalgic production — the pieces finally fell into place.

Jason Lipshutz: No on the first listen, yes on the fifth listen. After a few plays, “Greedy” fully won me over, both from the standpoint of being insanely catchy and as a subtle showcase of the snappy rhythmic-pop sound in which Tate McRae has created a pocket. McRae is no stranger to top 40 radio — “She’s All I Wanna Be” and “You Broke Me First” both performed well in recent years — but “Greedy” is more immediate, charismatic, and downright memorable than those prior hits. As soon as it clicked into place for me, I expected “Greedy” to become her first top 10 hit.

Andrew Unterberger: I dunno if I could’ve ID’d at it as a sure top 10 hit in a blind taste test, but certainly once the TikTok hype of the song led to a top 40 bow for it on the Hot 100, clearly big things were in the works here — especially after the debut of its hockey rink-set music video, as star-making a moment for McRae as the song itself.



2. What do you think the biggest reason is that “Greedy” has been the single to bring McRae to a higher tier of hitmaking?

Rania Aniftos: We’re still in this interesting time in music in which Gen Z is super nostalgic. They wish they got to experience the height of the Y2K pop star era with Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Jessica Simpson, etc. So, when Tate came out with “Greedy” and it’s sassy and flirty and feels fresh out of 2002, it’s exactly what her demographic has been looking for. 

Kyle Denis: It’s probably her most singular offering yet. Tate McRae is clearly a talented performer, but despite her previous success, a lot of her those singles felt faceless and nondescript. While “Greedy” isn’t the most innovative pop song of the year by any means, its undeniable chorus and connection to the “It Girl” aesthetic allowed it to unlock a new level of hitmaking for McRae. 

More specifically, however, the TikTok snippet campaign is what really sewed up the success of “Greedy.” Thanks to the campaign, McRae has been prepping consumers’ ears and stoking their interest for “Greedy” since the beginning of August. Couple that with two back-to-back live performances that flaunt her impressive dance skills and you’re left with a good old fashioned pure pop smash. 

Lyndsey Havens: I think there are two main drivers here. The first is that she’s sort of talking her s—t a bit… It’s clear she’s coming at the song from a place of confidence and matured sass, two traits that are an easy sell for most pop fans. That self-assuredness is not only heard but also seen in the steamy music video, in which McRae flexes the fact that she is also a professionally trained dancer. I think the combination of a catchy pop hit and eyebrow-raising choreography is fueling this moment. 

Jason Lipshutz: The hook here works across formats — from isolated TikTok clips to pop radio to streaming playlists — in a way that makes “Greedy” fit into a ton of different listening scenarios. Scrolling through social media and stumbling across choreo routines? Rolling through a new pop playlist on Spotify, or top music videos on YouTube? “Greedy” is malleable, and can entertain within a variety of pop contexts, which is why it’s caught on with such force over the past few weeks.

Andrew Unterberger: May or may not be the biggest factor, but I think “Greedy” is one of a few singles to benefit from the (relative) absence of Ariana Grande in the pop landscape. Grande was such a mighty top 40 fixture from 2018 to early 2021 that these past couple years without her doing much has left an unoccupied lane on radio and in the culture when it comes to flirty, quippy, swaggering pop&B — one that McRae was more than ready to swerve into here.

3. McRae released her follow-up single “Exes” last Friday — do you think the song will follow “Greedy” to hit status, or does it feel like “Greedy” will be tough for her to match?

Rania Aniftos: While “Exes” is equally as catchy to me, it’s going to be tricky to grab onto the viral success of “Greedy.” It really found the balance of having a TikTok trend attached to it, as well as it being marketable for radio, TV and other mainstream channels. I am rooting for “Exes,” though! It’s such a good song.

Kyle Denis: “Greedy” still has plenty of room to grow, so I’m not sure “Exes” will even get to half of what “Greedy” can achieve. “Exes” is fine. It’s less instant that “Greedy,” which could delay how quickly it takes off. Nonetheless, McRae is already growing into an artist who can really move the needle for her singles through live performances. Perhaps with the right stage, “Exes” will explode into its full potential. 

Lyndsey Havens: I think “Greedy” will be tough to match. I think instead of trying to compete, “Exes” — and her entire forthcoming album Think Later — will only help “Greedy” sustain. If anything, “Exes” proves that “Greedy” wasn’t a lucky one-off or contrived — it’s Tate fully loaded.

Jason Lipshutz: “Greedy” is still going strong, so if “Exes” is going to have a moment, I’d guess that such a moment is still a couple months away. That said, I do like “Exes” quite a bit: the bruising confidence and deep percussion of “Greedy” is carried over, and McRae’s personality is even more on display on the follow-up track. I could foresee a world in which “Ohh, I’m sorry / Sorry that you love me,” followed by that indelible cackle, becomes a quick-spreading meme at the top of 2024, and McRae continues her recent hot streak. 

Andrew Unterberger: “Exes” has its moments and is off to a pretty strong start on streaming, so it’s probably going to be a factor on the charts in the weeks (months?) to come — but it will have to shine while remaining in the shadow of “Greedy,” which is certainly not going anywhere anytime soon.



4. The last week has represented a major moment for McRae, not only with the top 10 ascent of “Greedy” and the release of “Exes,” but also a Billboard cover story, a BBMAs performance and a musical guest turn on Saturday Night Live. Do you think having so much Tate McRae in pop culture at once will ultimately have a positive or negative effect on her career momentum?

Rania Aniftos: Positive, for sure. People who had never heard about her before or aren’t on TikTok are now getting introduced to her via more mainstream platforms like SNL or awards shows. This is exactly the exposure she needs to transcend from social media star to full-fledged pop star.

Kyle Denis: Definitely positive. For the past few years, Tate McRae has been floating around the ever-revolving cast of mid-tier pop stars that aren’t necessarily popular by measure of celebrity or name recognition. This level of exposure both helps consumers visually differentiate her from her peers, and showcases why she’s a pop star who people should bother caring about beyond whatever radio hit they may have in rotation at a given moment. Not to mention, she has an album due before the year’s end – this is all great for her! 

Lyndsey Havens: I think this succession of major wins will only have a positive impact overall, simply because these things are not happening to her right out of the gate. These things are happening as she’s promoting her second album. They are happening after years of development and key internal changes (like new management) that are finally paying off. I think this moment is happening because of the momentum she already had — and not necessarily because of the momentum from this moment. 

Jason Lipshutz: Positive, for sure. McRae has had hits in the past, but has not had the wider name recognition to turn those hits into sustained pop stardom; “Greedy” has functioned as a best-case breakthrough scenario, though, by not only becoming her highest-charting hit to date, but concurrently introducing McRae, the artist, to a mainstream audience. We’ll see how far that introduction takes her in the coming months and years, but she has her foot in the door now, and that’s all that matters.

Andrew Unterberger: Honestly, flooding the zone is rarely a bad move for pop artists in 2023. There’ll be some backlash, sure, but being at the center of discussion is something precious few artists can manage for any (not career-killing) reason in 2023 — so if you have the opportunity, may as well grab it.

5. Now that the song has reached No. 8 on the Hot 100, how much higher do you think it can still climb — will it get to the top five? How realistic a goal would a No. 1 be?

Rania Aniftos: Top five seems doable to me, but as long as Taylor Swift keeps releasing re-recordings and as long as “Cruel Summer” still exists, No. 1 is tough for anyone to reach.

Kyle Denis: I think the sky is the limit for “Greedy.” I can definitely see this growing into one of those songs that holds throughout the holidays season and enters the new year as one of the most dominant songs in popular music. She still has ample opportunities for live performances, the built-in boost of album release week and potential remixes. The song just hit the top five on Billboard‘s Pop Airplay chart this week, so its journey is far from over – especially as older 2022 hits and Taylor Swift’s vault tracks continue to free up space in the Hot 100’s uppermost regions. 

Lyndsey Havens: I would love to see “Greedy” enter the chart’s top five — and I do think once Think Later arrives in a few weeks that could happen. And hey, call me crazy but… historically, songs that end one year near the top can often begin a new year with even more attention as a result of how slow January can be. So, while a No. 1 spot seems a bit unlikely, I wouldn’t say it’s impossible. 

Jason Lipshutz: Top five is realistic for sure, although No. 1 will be difficult with a flood of holiday music about to return to the top of the chart. Who knows, though? It’s not like Burl Ives is performing intricate choreography in hockey pads!

Andrew Unterberger: Top five should definitely be in Mcrae’s sights for “Greedy,” which is still clearly on its way up, and if she and her RCA label have a remix in reserve — maybe even one featuring AG herself? — it could absolutely have a shot at No. 1. The key will be timing, and in fact it may be best for McRae & crew to wait out the Holiday crush and go for the gusto in early 2022.

21 Nov 2023

Anthony Brown & Group Therapy Earn Fifth Gospel Airplay Leader With ‘Speak Your Name’

Anthony Brown & Group Therapy reach No. 1 on Billboard’s Gospel Airplay chart (dated Nov. 25) with “Speak Your Name.” The single increased by 2% in plays during the Nov. 10-16 tracking week, according to Luminate.

Brown solely wrote the song and co-produced it with Justin Savage.

“Every artist creates music with the hope that their song will make impact, that it will reach the ears and hearts of those who support us,” Brown tells Billboard. “Having a No. 1 single at Billboard is such a big deal. It never gets old. Thank you to every radio partner across the country that helped us to reach this milestone again. I am grateful beyond words.”

Brown & Group Therapy add their fifth Gospel Airplay No. 1 (among nine top 10s), as well as the act’s fourth in a row. It follows “Help!,” which led for a week in August 2021; “This Week” (two weeks, July-August 2020); and “Blessings on Blessings” (three, September-October 2019).

Brown & Group Therapy first led with “Worth” for 24 frames starting in September 2015. It’s the seventh-longest-leading No. 1 in the history of the chart, which launched in March 2005. (Marvin Sapp’s “Never Would Have Made It” ruled for a record 45 weeks starting in August 2007.)

With four straight Gospel Airplay No. 1s, Brown & Group Therapy tie Tamela Mann for the third-longest active streak of uninterrupted leaders. Todd Dulaney has logged six straight and counting, while Jonathan McReynolds is up to five.

Brown & Group Therapy are currently touring with Fred Hammond, Deitrick Haddon and Dulaney. They’ll stop next in Houston on Nov. 30.

21 Nov 2023

J Balvin Is Finally Sharing What Happened at That Dinner With Britney Spears

It’s been a month since J Balvin and Maluma had the Internet buzzing when they posed for an Instagram photo with Britney Spears at a New York City restaurant.

“We told her how proud we are about her,” the Colombian singer revealed to E! News this week of his and Maluma’s time with the pop star. “You know, like she’s part of us, and we were in love with her. No matter what position you are in music you gotta give respect for what they have done.”

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He continued, “I saw her in really good spirit.” J Balvin also noted that he’d “absolutely” get in the studio with Spears to record a collaboration.

“Who else is like me in love?” Maluma captioned his October snap in Spanish. Balvin, who hugs Spears in the photo, responded in the comments: “Oh God hahahahahahahaha I can’t get over it.”

Spears, meanwhile, didn’t immediately recognize the duo. Included in a video of her trip to New York City, the 41-year-old pop star shared the photo of her seated at a table with two so-called strangers. “Quick trip to NY… I had no idea who these boys were at this restaurant,” she captioned the since-deleted post.

“HOLY S–_ it just hit me,” Britney later captioned a selfie of the trio together “I can’t believe I met these 2 !!! Holy smokes.”

Spears is also fresh off the release of her long-awaited memoir The Woman in Me. You can order the memoir at various retailers including Amazon (also available on Kindle), Barnes & Noble, Target, Walmart and Bookshop.

21 Nov 2023

Back to December: 12 Songs About the 12th Month of the Year

Featuring Taylor Swift, Jay-Z, George Michael and more.

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift performs on stage at the 2010 American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 21, 2010 in Los Angeles, California.

Mazur AMA 2010/WireImage

Christmas music pretty much has a monopoly over the December song market, meaning songs that don’t necessarily scream “Fa la la la la” can be overlooked during the final month of the year.

But December is so much more than the holiday season, and there’s a treasure trove of music to prove it. There’s Sara Bareilles’ “December,” on which she sings about the all-too-familiar end-of-year loneliness many folks face as the new year approaches. On “Back to December,” Taylor Swift poetically wishes she could turn back time to the month she broke a certain someone’s heart, her own heart having defrosted too late from the winter cold. Side note: many of music’s biggest legends were born in December — including Bareilles and Swift as well as Jay-Z, all three of whom are featured on this list.

That’s not to say there’s any shame in the Christmas song game, though. The commercial holiday is rightfully a staple of the calendar year’s 12th month, which is why Xmas hits continue to dominate the December charts year after year. So in the good name of mistletoe, gingerbread and chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Christmastime odes to December from the likes of Ariana Grande and the late George Michael are also included.

Whether you need a break from “All I Want For Christmas” or “Jingle Bell Rock,” or you’re just looking for something more subdued to celebrate the final month of the year in all its cold, contemplative glory, keep reading to see Billboard‘s top December song picks below:

21 Nov 2023

WAR Declares 50th Anniversary Celebration of ‘The World Is a Ghetto’: ‘We Shot Rhythms and Harmonies’

Among the music gems being released on Record Store Day Black Friday (Nov. 24) is WAR’s The World Is a Ghetto: 50th Anniversary Collector’s Edition. Billboard’s top-selling album of 1973 has been remastered and repackaged as a deluxe, five-LP boxed set curated by founding WAR member/lead singer Lonnie Jordan, the band’s longtime producer Jerry Goldstein and Jeremy Levine. 

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The boxed set — limited to only 4000 copies — is comprised of the original 1972 album, featuring the gold-certified Hot 100 hits “The World Is a Ghetto” and “The Cisco Kid,” six previously unreleased session bonus tracks and unreleased “the making of” recordings that reveal the origins of the album’s six tracks. The original album (which topped the Billboard 200 and R&B charts) and bonus tracks are pressed on two gold-vinyl LPs; the making of tracks on three black-vinyl LPs. “War Is Coming,” one of the bonus tracks, will also be available digitally on Black Friday. The entire project is being released through Rhino and Avenue Records/Far Out Productions.

The 50th Anniversary Collector’s Edition is a fitting insight and tribute to one of the most seminal bands in music. Hailing from Long Beach, Calif., the multi-racial group’s visionary fusion of R&B, funk, rock, Latin, jazz and reggae was embraced by producer Jerry Goldstein and the Animals’ frontman Eric Burdon. The latter joined WAR on its first two albums in 1970, Eric Burdon Declares “War” (spinning off the group’s first Hot 100 hit “Spill the Wine”) and The Black-Man’s Burdon. The band etched its solo status in 1971 with the All Day Music, charting the top 20 R&B hits “Slippin’ Into Darkness” and the title track. Then came The World Is a Ghetto.

“They practically invented their own genre while addressing race, class issues and more,” noted Extra senior music correspondent Adam Weissler when he recently moderated “An Evening with WAR” with Jordan and Goldstein at the Grammy Museum. “They had people on their feet every night.”

“They had a great version of [the Rolling Stones’] ‘Paint It Black,’” recalled Goldstein of first hearing the band play in the late ‘60s. “But I didn’t know what to do with them.” That’s when Goldstein called Burdon and said, “But I have a hunch that you might. And Eric got it right away.”

Lonnie Jordan, Jerry Goldstein, Adam Weissler, An Evening With WAR

Lonnie Jordan and Jerry Goldstein speak with Adam Weissler at An Evening With WAR at The GRAMMY Museum on October 25, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.

Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images

Another Goldstein hunch also proved prescient for the 50th anniversary set. “I learned to record these guys every time they jammed,” he added. “They were the original super jam band.” Further into the museum chat, Jordan and Goldstein shared that the vibe while recording the original The World Is a Ghetto was “incredible,” with only 29 days elapsing between playing the first note to mastering the project.

Along with The World Is a Ghetto and All Day Music, WAR counts 17 gold, platinum or multi-platinum albums in its catalog. Those include Deliver the Word (“Me and Baby Brother”), Why Can’t We Be Friends? (“Low Rider,” the title track) and Platinum Jazz (“War Is Coming,” “L.A. Sunshine”). The aforementioned “War Is Coming” and “L.A. Sunshine” are among the previously unreleased bonus tracks featured in the anniversary package that later evolved into future WAR songs.

Describing WAR as a “universal street band,” Jordan noted that the group “refused to be political. We just wanted to let people know what was going on outside of their box. We were their internet then.”

Over the years, WAR’s music has been sampled or covered by a diverse range of artists. For example, “The Cisco Kid” has been sampled by Janet Jackson (“You”) and Method Man, Redman and Cypress Hill (“Cisco Kid”) and covered by Willie Nelson and Los Lonely Boys. The Geto Boys sampled “The World Is a Ghetto.”

Currently, three of WAR’s surviving original core members — Howard E. Scott, Lee Oskar and Harold Brown — perform as the Lowrider Band. Jordan continues to perform under the WAR moniker. 

“It’s still enduring music,” Jordan told the Grammy Museum audience. “What’s happening now happened back in the day. We were waging war against war, but we didn’t shoot bullets. We shot rhythms and harmonies.”