The album opens with the radiant “Don’t Let No One Get You Down.” The track has a soothing, tranquil flow and is exquisitely arranged. Lonnie Jordan delivers a smooth, soulful vocal performance. The narrator reassures a close friend (or possibly a romantic partner) to remain strong in the face of hard times, and promises them loyalty, comfort, and companionship. The instrumentation is first-class, with lulling Latin percussion rhythms and a rich bass line. And Charles Miller contributes a marvelous saxophone solo.
B.B. Dickerson ably handles lead vocals on the tender soul ballad “Lotus Blossom.” This gorgeous track is about a man’s deep devotion and love for a woman who has been hurt and mistreated in the past. The lotus flower symbolizes her delicate beauty and strength to endure difficulties and harsh conditions. Lonnie Jordan's understated, calming keyboard work and the warm background vocals enhance the song’s gentle tone.
War serves up some deep funk on “Heartbeat.” Drummer Harold Brown fires up the groove with a massive beat, bolstered by B.B.’s filthy bass line. The track features dynamic percussion, cold horns, and nasty rhythm guitar. And Brown delivers a raw gutbucket lead vocal performance.
"Leroy's Latin Lament (Medley)" is an incredible sonic odyssey consisting of four distinct parts (Lonnie Dreams, The Way We Feel, La Fiesta, and Lament). It features clear stylistic and tonal shifts, flawlessly navigating Latin jazz, Afro-Cuban funk, soul, jazz samba, and atmospheric balladry. The track showcases the band’s superlative musicianship, with Lee Oskar delivering a hauntingly soulful harmonica solo, and Lonnie Jordan raising the temperature with his scorching Latin-tinged piano. The percussion work on this cut is also top-quality.
“Smile Happy” is a beautiful, uplifting instrumental. The infectious, Latin-laced funk groove is masterfully arranged and performed, slowly building to a rapturous crescendo. The track features a splendid bass line, smashing percussion, melodic guitar licks, and some brilliant sax work from Charles Miller.
Lonnie Jordan delivers an aching, heartfelt vocal performance on “So.” The plaintive ballad touches on the confusion, heartbreak, and deep emotional pain one feels after being left by someone they love. Lee Oskar lights up the track with his wistful harmonica work.
“Low Rider” is one of War’s most recognized songs. This funky classic celebrates the Chicano car culture and cruising in Southern California. (A lowrider is a vintage customized car designed to ride extremely close to the ground and features specialized hydraulic or airbag suspensions that allow drivers to raise, lower, bounce, or tilt the car at the flip of a switch.) This song has become the definitive lowrider anthem, recognizing both the car-oriented cruising lifestyle and the vibrant culture of the Southern California Chicano community. The track percolates with energy and funk, featuring bumpin’ percussion and an irresistible hook played jointly by Charles Miller on alto sax and Lee Oskar on harmonica. B.B. Dickerson drives the groove with a fearsome bass line, and Miller delivers a raspy, low-pitched lead vocal performance. The song sonically conveys the image of a tricked-out lowrider slowly rollin’ down the block.
“In Mazatlan” is a majestic ode to the picturesque coastal resort city in Sinaloa, Mexico. The song boasts an immaculate arrangement, featuring a smooth, elegant bass line and exquisite percussion work. The haunting background harmonies are a great complement to Lonnie Jordan’s impassioned lead vocals.
The album closes out with the title track “Why Can’t We Be Friends?,” a timeless anthem for racial unity and global peace. This feel-good classic struck a chord with a huge cross-section of listeners and became one of War’s biggest hits. The song’s message of hope, unity, and human connection remains highly relevant today. The track is an uplifting blend of funk, reggae, soul, and pop, featuring an infectious sing-along chorus. Each band member sings his own verse, reinforcing the song’s message of unity. The song was played in outer space during the historic Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in July 1975. It was the first joint space mission between the United States and the Soviet Union. NASA fittingly beamed the song to the linking Soviet cosmonauts and American astronauts. The mission marked a symbolic end to the Space Race and the first international handshake in space.
Why Can’t We Be Friends? was produced by Jerry Goldstein, Howard Scott, and Lonnie Jordan. It was released on United Artists Records. It topped Billboard’s R&B album chart and peaked at #8 on the Billboard 200. It rose to #8 on the Canadian album charts and peaked at #81 in Australia. The album has sold more than two million copies worldwide. Additionally, it received high marks from critics and was met enthusiastically by fans of funk, R&B, Latin, and soul music.
The album’s two singles, “Low Rider” and “Why Can’t We Be Friends?,” had impressive performances on the charts. “Low Rider” topped Billboard’s R&B singles chart and rose to #7 on the Billboard Hot 100. It peaked at #8 on the Canadian charts and #12 in the UK. It was certified Gold by the RIAA with more than 500,000 copies sold in the U.S., and it sold 200,000 copies in the UK and 30,000 in New Zealand. “Lowrider” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2014.
“Why Can’t We Be Friends?” peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #9 on Billboard’s R&B singles chart. It rose to #6 on the Canadian singles chart. It was certified Gold by the RIAA with a million copies sold in the United States.
Here’s the full personnel for the album: Charles Miller (clarinet, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, percussion and vocals); B.B. Dickerson (bass, percussion, vocals); Lonnie Jordan (organ, piano, timabales, percussion, vocals); Papa Dee Allen (congas, bongos, percussion, vocals); Lee Oskar (harmonica, percussion, vocals); Howard Scott (guitar, percussion, vocals); and Harold Brown (drums, percussion, vocals). All seven band members collectively wrote seven of the album’s nine tracks. The band co-wrote “Don’t Let No One Get You Down,” “Low Rider,” and “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” with Jerry Goldstein. Keri Oskar penned the lyrics to “The Way We Feel.”
Artist Howard Miller created the album’s great cover art, which was based on Lee Oskar’s design concept.
Full album
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