ALL DAY MUSIC

The album that paved the way for War's commercial success, 1971's ALL DAY MUSIC is a laid-back slice of genuine California funk. Modeled on the aesthetic of musically and racially integrated bands Santana and Sly & the Family Stone, War knocked down many boundaries separating genres. Soul, rock, Latin, blues, and funk all make their way into the mix here, and while the group's later records would groove harder, there is a sunny mellowness to this album that evokes the palm trees and balmy breezes of the ensemble's native Los Angeles. Because War was primarily a jam collective, their producer Jerry Goldstein hit upon a brilliant strategy on ALL DAY MUSIC by recording as the band played and developed ideas; he then edited those tapes down to something resembling pop song formats. This technique is in evidence on the title track, and on the hard-hitting "Slipping into Darkness," the band's first gold single. Elsewhere, "Get Down" showcases War's political side (the lyrics address police harassment and other issues), and "Nappy Head" finds the band in a heavy Latin vibe. Eclectic and thoroughly appealing, this disc is an excellent offering of early '70s funk.