Eff That War Track!

You already know who Edwin Starr is from that hippie “War” song he did way back in 1970. I heard that damn song so many times, I’m starting to think it was written by the government or The Gap or some shit.

It’s not that it’s such a horrible song – back in the day, it killed. The Temptations even recorded it for Psychedelic Shack, but they wanted to avoid controversy. So they were all, “Oh, give it to that new guy with the turtleneck. He looks like he marches for stuff.”

So Edwin Starr recorded the song, tore up the airwaves, sold some damn records, and promptly sent his career downhill. He’d had some successes in the years leading up that song, but after “War” he was pigeonholed as a protest singer, and never had another hit so big after that.

And it’s too bad, because Edwin could sang. His voice was so soulful, growling, and desperate, he could probably make “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” sound like “Hot Pants.”

Check some Edwin:

Edwin Starr
Twenty-Five Miles
25 Miles, 1969
Edwin’s first hit for the Motown label after they scooped him up with Ric-Tic. That walking sound is Starr and Hitsville, USA’s janitor marching their damn feet on a wooden board in the studio. Hunh!

There You Go
45, 1973
Another Motown hit. This song kills me every time. Sweet and smooth with crispy horns.

Easin’ In
Didn’t It Feel Good To Be Free
OST, Hell Up In Harlem, 1974
“Hell Up In Harlem” was to “Black Caesar” what “Teen Wolf Too” was to “Teen Wolf”: the wrecked sequel to a masterpiece. After James Brown wrote the soundtrack to “Black Caesar,” he turned down the opportunity to write for the sequel; I guess homegirl didn’t have time in his wig-brushing schedule or something.

So Edwin took on the project instead, and unfortunately, since “Hell” turned out to be a hot mess, the soundtrack got no love at all. Which is a damn crime! “Didn’t It Feel Good To Be Free” is a sweet, sunny piece that has Edwin using the melodic side of his voice, with a totally early ’70s motown feel. And it just takes one listen to “Easin’ In” to see the truth. That track is damn near perfect, with its crazy undulating bassline and fanga snaps. Mmm!

War
War and Peace, 1970
Oh, fine. Here you go. Take this and play it for your Iraq protest marches, or whatever it is that you people do.