The Very Best of Eric Burdon and WAR (CD)

After fronting The Animals and becoming one of the defining voices of the British Invasion, Eric Burdon sought a new musical direction in the late 1960s. In 1969, he teamed up with the Long Beach funk band WAR, a collaboration that produced hits like “Spill the Wine,” included in this release alongside its unedited remix, and earned accolades from fans, fellow musicians, and journalists—including NME’s Richard Green, who called them “the best live band I ever saw.” WAR’s legendary producer Jerry Goldstein adds, “This collection documents one of the great bands of the early ’70s at their best, both live and in the studio.”

Capturing the raw spark of Burdon and WAR’s earliest recording sessions, this collection revisits their first two groundbreaking albums—Eric Burdon Declares "War" (1970) and The Black-Man’s Burdon (1970)—produced by Jerry Goldstein and remastered in stunning detail by the legendary Bernie Grundman. The set also unveils three never-before-heard gems from the Avenue Records vaults, offering fans a deeper glimpse into the formative years that helped shape the band’s signature sound.

Complete with striking new artwork and deluxe packaging, this definitive collection brings together the power, experimentation, and cultural force that made WAR a sound—and a movement—that still resonates half a century later.

Release Date: 28th November 2025

Tracklist:

CD 1
1. Magic Mountain 
2. Spill The Wine  
3. Tobacco Road 
4. Nights In White Satin 
5. Spirit 
6.  Love Is All Around 
7. Home Dream 
8. Bare Back Ride 
9. Mother Earth  
10. Beautiful Newborn Child
11. A Day In The Life 

DISC 2
1. Paint It Black  
2. Gun  
3. Pretty Colors  
4. Home Cookin'  
5. They Can't Take Away Our Music  
6. The King
7. Train Thing 
 A) Mystery Train 
B) Solo Rider
C) Baby Let Me Ride
8. Spill The Wine (Unedited Remix)  
9. Paint It Black (Live)