The World is a Ghetto

Slow, soulful funk with hints of jazz, rock and the slightest reggae flavour. This feels luxurious. Rating: 4/5 Playlist track: The Cisco Kid Date listened: 14/05/23

Before today, the only songs by War that I knew were the hits (Low Rider, The Cisco Kid, and Why Can't We Be Friends?). These guys were a hit in the 60's - 70's, and actually, this album was named Album of the Year in '72, so I am excited to hear more of their catalog today! This album is a slow, funky masterpiece. Songs such as "City, Country, City", although being 13 minutes long, were excellent. Instead of being a long song with half a dozen solos mixed in, it was one huge groove, in which each member of the band could solo, and show their skills while the rest of the band kept time. There are some amazing artists in this band! The inclusion of a harmonica in "City, Country, City" surprised the hell out of me, in a good way. The opening song, The Cisco Kid is such a fantastic funky song! This band is a melding of soul, jazz, funk, Latin, blues, and rock into one hell of a laid back sound. They sound a lot like Sly and the Family Stone, but their musical themes are never negative. It is always "peace and love", which is refreshing to listen to. You would think, with a title like "The World is a Ghetto" you'd be in for a political, negative album, but this album is full of positive vibes. The long drawn out grooves have a way of pulling you into a trance, and making all your worries disappear. Overall, an excellent album today. Not something I would always be in the mood for, but it helped make yard work a hell of a lot more enjoyable today!! Favorite songs: The Cisco Kid, Where Was You At, The World Is A Ghetto, Four Cornered Room Least favorite songs: "City, Country, City" 4/5

This feels like what soul was meant to become.

I hadn't heard of War before, and thus I wasn't sure what I was expecting going into this totally blind. "War" sounded like a metal band, "The World is a Ghetto" sounded like a gangsta rap album. I was completely wrong on all accounts and very pleasantly surprised. This is 44 minutes of just some really funky, jazzy psychedelic soul with some Caribbean flair. It's generally melancholy and usually quite chill, but it gains energy at the right moments and is just a general pleasure to listen to. I especially liked the general feel of Beetles In The Bog and City, Country, City. Thank you Generator, this was a great album to be introduced to. Favourite: Beetles In The Bog

the soul side of the moon

Great album, the intro songs kicks strong. Solid instrumentals then wraps up crisp without overstaying it's welcome. War is a lot more than just low rider.

I enjoyed this album quite a bit. It's not really in a style I normally listen to, but I may seek out more like this in the future. The Cisco Kid is a banger. I also liked the longer songs. 4/5

This album went hard.

A great listen

Me every time a new track started on this album: wow, this is the coolest song I've ever heard in my life. Ultimately, City, Country, City was when I knew I loved this album, so that'll go down as my favorite here

Oh yeah! Happy to see this pop up. Love War the music band. This is not one of the albums I own but I know a couple of tracks. City Country City is just beautiful - first heard David Mancuso play it at the London Loft. The World is a Ghetto is slinky, funky and political, just the way music should be. It's great stuff all round x

An album that sounds like a hot summer day in Brooklyn. Such a rich atmosphere of sounds.

It was a really great funk album. Perfect song as I walk around and observe city living - the good, the bad, the ugly

Never heard of these guys before. Some great songs on there, not my normal style of music but maybe my tastes are changing!

So good. 5 stars.

I always just assumed that the song “War” (What is it good for?) was by War, like how Black Sabbath has a song called Black Sabbath on their album “Black Sabbath”. Good God, y’all - I’m embarrassed by my ignorance here. The World is a Ghetto is solid and funky, and maybe a little world-weary. The musicianship exceptional and engaging…this is a record well worth revisiting.

At the time WAR released their critically most acclaimed album, Funk was already on the rise and had just seen more and more mainstream success. And with an album as forward thinking and progressive as this, Funk and the Soul surroundings that it was still mainly touched with got pushed into a new niche that pretty much walked hand in hand with what The Temptations did before and around that time. The album starts with the Latin Funk 'The Cisco Kid' that plays with versatile percussion and rhythm sections while incoprorating a variety of different South American instruments and sounds that give the track a lush feeling. The different aspects in songwriting and flow are really interesting and the vocals just add even more enjoyment to these tracks. I really love this track and it's easily a perfect track. It's just very fun to listen to it. 'Where Was You At' plays with more Soul and even a little bit of Blues Rock while still having a lot of Funk as a main attraction. I really like the different wind instruments but except the moments where they really shine in the bridge or as a solo, I am not really interested with what the song does. I think the song is alright but if it wasn't for the already mentioned few wind instruments, I wouldn't even really enjoy it much. The song is alright and pretty much right in the middle of enjoyment. The bad/boring moments and the few good cancel each other pretty much out. The albums longest song, 'City, Country, City' closes the first side of the album with a playtime of over 13 minutes. The track is a pleasent mix of Psychedelic Soul and Jazz-Funk with a very pleasent use of harmonica as well as some Latin Funk influences here and there. And although I like the slightly laid back and dreamy sound of the start, it does take too long to change that repetitive pace that I am even annoyed after a bit and once there is more percussion added that is supposed to give a more energetic feeling, I can't but feel like the harmonica doesn't fit together with the vibe of the track. For the most part, it just feels off and while I do very much enjoy the percussion on its own, the entirety is pretty ruined by that annoying repetitive harmonica. The change of lead instrument to guitar is pleasant at first, there are some moments where the playing sounds actually bad. The result just feels average. And even though the song is supposed to be anything but average, the result, at least to me, is exactly that: average, unfocused and basic. On top comes the sheer length of the track that makes some parts so overly annoying that I cannot even think of the track as just "basic" but actually as an below average track. I really like the sound and some ideas but the execution is really not that good. The albums second half is opened by the Soul Blues 'Four Cornered Room' which brings in a lot of Psychedelic inspirations as well as more harmonica both used in a both tender and ominous way that make this feel like a mix between a Western soundtrack and a Mexico soundtrack. And I think that this track might've been better if it was actually bulding tension and had more lush surroundings but the way it was done here, it feels repetitive, boring and sometimes annoying. I really like the bass playing and it does its job good at building the slight tension that the song actually offers but no other instruments can really do anything. The vocals (or more the Spoken Word parts) can become really annoying because they "explode" like it was already time for a chorus when nothing build towards that. And while I do think that the explosiveness of such hooks can be extremely benefitial, the way it's done here just doesn't work. The song is a boring and average Soul track. Luckily, the title track 'The World Is a Ghetto' comes to save at least a bit. It is very much a Progressive Soul song with only a few Funk influences. The result works much better even at over ten minutes than the last songs. This song is great in terms of structure, flow, songwriting, performance as well as the vocal and musical delivery. This song is full of soul and does its thing in a hypnotic, passionate and optimistic way while still being tender and beautiful in terms of vocals. At the lenght that it is, the quality does suffer a little bit at some parts but it's not enough to make the track anything less than simply great. The solo's, the verses, the chorus, all of it is fun and enjoyable. The album closes with 'Beetles in the Bog' which not only brings back more Funk but it does it not all that great. I do like the anthemic vocals and the ryhthm of the track, I also think that multiple instruments don't really work togther. It sounds very messy, very bloated and just unfocused. This would've nearly passed as Free Jazz if it was more like Jazz which isn't a good sign when you want to do Soul & Funk and not Free Jazz. Especially when most Free Jazz would be more enjoyable than this. It's still not bad but the messiness of the track just turns it stale and annoying. favourites: The Cisco Kid, The World Is a Ghetto least favourites: City, Country, City, Beetles in the Bog, Four Cornered Room Rating light to decent 6 https://rateyourmusic.com/~Emil_ph for more ratings, reviews and takes

A promising album that never takes off: The music definitely has the right leanings when it comes to its take on R&B, but at the same time it tends to err on the boring side.

Forgettable: probably one of if not my shortest review, so incredibly forgettable. All the songs seem to merge into the background with me not having heard anything notable or anything to make me enjoy or hate it.

Almost not annoying

Terrible.

A couple familiar songs, but otherwise very jazzy. I’m all about this. Favorite song on the album: The World is a Ghetto

1972 - Funk; Soul; R&B; Psychedelic Soul

So good

Really enjoyed that - this is more like a 4.5. I'm more familiar with War's collaboration with Eric Burdon than their own stuff, so it was good to rectify that... Fave tracks - "The Cisco Kid" is a great opener. "City, Country, City" is wonderfully cinematic. "Four Cornered Room" is probably my fave track on the album - lovely dreamy hypnotic atmosphere - kinda reminded me of Black Sabbath's "Planet Caravan". "The World is a Ghetto" is a jam, and I liked the afrobeat sounding "Beetles in the Bog" You know what, gonna round this up to a 5 since every track apart from one caught my attention!

first album about soul music.Sounds good!

The sounds that a lot of my childhood were based on, very cool to engage with this.

This was fun! A very unique sound to it that I really liked. Excellently played and written, fun album cover as well. So much to love and nothing to hate.

Good to great album.

So good - reminds me of Cymande

wow holy shit, I thought I'd probably enjoy it but this is PHENOMENAL, the spaciest smoothest sax ever over classic motown grooves. So good

Where has this album been my entire life! What a great album! Absolutely loved it.

some really great, classic funk grooves here. to be honest, i feel like for a lot of people, this album might be boring, but this really just hits the spot for me. i knew cisco kid and the title track before listening to this album, so I kind of had an idea of what I was getting into, but the album cuts on this one really cemented it for me. just a good, groovy album.

Great mix of genres. Awesome funk.

So funky it'll make you want to institute change for the better in your community. 5/5

From the start with 'The Cisco Kid' this is funky... I'd listen to this again. It is funky and still sounds fresh. The music is great. 5/5

I had never heard of this album or band before. I didn’t know I needed this in my life.

Prior to this listen my knowledge of War was limited to “Low Rider” and “Why Can’t We Be Friends,” but The World Is A Ghetto gives me a whole new perspective of the group. With both songs fit to listen to in isolation and songs meant to be heard in a greater context, this six-track masterpiece has to be one of the best albums in the funk genre. “The Cisco Kid” is a fantastic way to begin the album with a beat to swing to, a protagonist to root for, and a story to live through. “City, Country, City” reveals the urban and rural divide in America if not by demographics, then by the energy of everyday life. I’m not sure what exactly “Beetles In The Bog” is supposed to represent, but I imagine beetles are not on top of the food chain in bayou country. With its nearly hopeless lyrics and pleading sax, the behemoth title track is unsurprisingly the centerpiece of the record. As far as funk concept albums go, I assumed Funkadelic stood in a league of its own with Maggot Brain. I stand corrected.

A great socially conscious concept album that is a musical melting pot. Great grooves and fantastically played.

Funky, poinient, catchy, and all-around banger. Highly recommend.

Hit like Cisco kid and The World is a Ghetto are scattered among this album for those who want a shorter casual listen but if you're looking for the ultimate jazz/funk experience then strap in. City Country City has a 13 minute long jam session which just fucks from front to back. This entire album hits all the right notes for me. 10/10

An album that I consider in my soul/funk tops. Catchy songs with an incomparable feeling from the musicians who perform them. How can you not fall in love with songs like Cisco Kid, City Country City or the incredible The World Is A Ghetto? An essential.

10/10 we’re hitting dangerously high ratings on the funky scale

Too short for this Claisic Master Piece

This was in the NME top 100 albums of all time. Such a great album best tracks City, Country, City and The World Is a Ghetto.

I mean, it's an utterly iconic and genre-defining funk/soul album for a reason. War pushed the boundaries of several genres, constantly challenging perceptions while still keeping the music enjoyable and relatable. They understood the assignment and delivered. It's a masterwork and 100% deserves its place on this list.

Awesome slow grooves where everyone’s absolutely COOKIN. Albums like this are why I’m grateful I wake up with a new album everyday. Is it a 5/5? Maybe not, but I’m giving it a 5/5 because it’s exactly the kind of music I want to discover

It may be difficult to look at this in a neutral manner but this is a perfect groove album. The type you listen to on a sunny day barbecue.

Surprisingly good.

Man, I need a cigarette. This album just rocked my world. Unfortunately, I really only know War for Low Rider, which is a great song, but absolutely not representative of this band as a whole. This is top tier, slow burn funk/soul. And I loved the hints of blended genres throughout, including a heavy psych rock influence, and even some reggae. 5/5 for just being a most welcomed surprise. I really don't understand why this album isn't talked about more in the grand narrative of soul music.

Really only being familiar with the songs 'Why Can't We Be Friends' and 'Low Rider', neither which have I thought too much of, this turned out to be a surprise. I was familiar with 'The Cisco Kid', too but never knew it was this band. The blend of soul, Afrobeat, jazz, and psychedelia leads to some really interesting stuff and some solid jamming creating a unique tone throughout.

Another fantastic album. I have other War albums and tracks in my collection, including some of the tracks on this album, but I've never listened to this particular album fully. Quite short, which is a shame, but that takes nothing away. Listened to it several times and have added it to my "buy a copy on vinyl" list.

Loved this, and never heard it before. Didn’t imagine I’d be offering up a precious 5 to an album I didn’t previously know, but here we are. I can’t get enough of it.

Wow - love this album!!! How cool is it?!? Knew within 5 seconds that it would be good, but not how good. ‘City, Country, City’ is superb!

So cool, jazzy, funky. Best kind of music

Album 256 of 1001 War - The World is a Ghetto Rating : 5 / 5 Favorite Track : Cisco Kid A personal favorite. Great tunes with some meaningful themes. War is a fun band. Hate that this is the only album of theirs on the list. I also really like "Why Can't We Be Friends". Have vinyl and cd of each. Good stuff.

Oh how I love War! Just pour ‘em right in my ears. War have that rare ability to make sounds that go right to your human core and this album is pure War.

So funky and upbeat! Bossa Nova vibes deliver.

Love this album, would sing some of the songs with everyone else! 5 stars!

Lyrics: The lyrical content of "The World Is a Ghetto" is both introspective and socially conscious, reflecting the tumultuous times in which it was created. The title track, in particular, explores themes of urban decay, poverty, and the impact of war on everyday life. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the struggles faced by marginalized communities, capturing the essence of the band's socio-political commentary. Tracks like "Cisco Kid" and "Four Cornered Room" showcase the versatility of War's lyricism, with narratives that touch on personal experiences and relationships. The lyrics often blend seamlessly with the music, creating a cohesive narrative that resonates with listeners. Music: War's musical style in "The World Is a Ghetto" is a rich fusion of various genres, including funk, jazz, rock, and Latin influences. The band's ability to seamlessly integrate these diverse elements contributes to the album's enduring appeal. The infectious grooves, tight rhythms, and intricate instrumentation showcase the musicians' exceptional skill and chemistry. The use of brass instruments, especially in tracks like "City, Country, City," adds a layer of sophistication to the music, while the rhythmic guitar work throughout the album provides a solid foundation. The dynamic interplay between percussion, bass, and vocals creates a sound that is both energetic and soulful. Production: Produced by Jerry Goldstein and Far Out Productions, the album boasts a polished yet raw production quality that complements War's eclectic sound. The balance between the various instruments is well-executed, allowing each element to shine without overshadowing the others. The production captures the spontaneity and energy of the band's live performances, contributing to the album's overall authenticity. Notably, the album's production values contribute to its timelessness. Despite being over four decades old, the sound remains fresh and relevant, a testament to the meticulous production work that went into crafting this musical masterpiece. Themes: "The World Is a Ghetto" explores a range of themes that remain pertinent to societal issues. The title track delves into the harsh realities of urban life, addressing poverty, crime, and the struggle for survival. "Cisco Kid" reflects on the allure and pitfalls of a life of crime, while "Four Cornered Room" touches on the isolation and introspection that can accompany personal struggles. The album's thematic depth extends to its instrumental tracks, such as the multi-part suite "City, Country, City." Here, War skillfully conveys the contrasts between urban and rural environments, using music as a medium to tell a powerful narrative without the need for words. Influence: "The World Is a Ghetto" has had a lasting influence on the music industry, particularly in the realms of funk, jazz, and Latin music. The album's ability to blend genres has inspired countless artists across different musical landscapes. War's unique approach to storytelling through music, coupled with their socially conscious lyrics, has left an indelible mark on subsequent generations of musicians. The fusion of diverse cultural elements in the album has also contributed to its influence on world music, showcasing the potential for cross-cultural collaboration and artistic expression. The socio-political messages embedded in the lyrics have resonated with audiences and continue to inspire artists seeking to address social issues through their music. Pros: Musical Diversity: The album's ability to seamlessly blend funk, jazz, rock, and Latin influences showcases War's musical versatility. Lyrical Depth: The socially conscious and introspective lyrics provide a thought-provoking narrative that resonates with listeners on a personal and societal level. Innovative Production: The production quality captures the band's live energy while maintaining a polished sound, contributing to the album's enduring appeal. Timelessness: Despite being released in the early 1970s, the album's themes and musicality remain relevant and continue to resonate with audiences. Influence: The album's impact on subsequent generations of musicians across various genres cements its status as a groundbreaking work. Cons: Length of Tracks: Some tracks, particularly the longer instrumental pieces, may be considered overly indulgent by listeners who prefer more concise compositions. Specific Sound: The distinctive sound of War may not appeal to all listeners, especially those with a preference for more mainstream or narrowly defined genres. Limited Commercial Success: While the album received critical acclaim, its commercial success may not have matched its artistic significance, limiting its recognition during its initial release. In conclusion, "The World Is a Ghetto" by War stands as a musical and lyrical tour de force that encapsulates the spirit of its era while remaining relevant across generations. Its fusion of genres, socially conscious themes, and innovative production contribute to its enduring appeal and influence. Despite some minor drawbacks, the album's pros far outweigh its cons, solidifying its place as a classic in the annals of music history.

Oh my god, this album!!! What have I been missing all this time! Such a great record. Next to the classic hits, the other songs are equally as good. But City, Country, City really blew me away! Standouts: The Cisco Kid, Where Was You At, City, Country, City, Four Cornered Room, The World Is A Ghetto 9 out of 10

I’m not as up on Progressive Soul as I’d like to be, so this was an interesting listen. The centrepiece is the 13 minute City, Country, City which opens with an organ and a Spanish sounding guitar playing over the top, continues by alternating between a pastiche sounding country complete with harmonica and a more typical funk beat, before settling into a Jazz jam session with a latin funk sounding rhythm. It’s great, and fascinating to hear a funk bands take on jazz rather than a jazz bands take on funk. The best song is the opening Cisco Kid, with it’s slow reggae inspired beat. I’m trying to find something bad to say about this record but I can’t. This is great

I was so torn on what to give this album, until I asked myself “what’s holding this album back from being a 5/5?” and I couldn’t come up with anything. So ladies and gentlemen we got my third ever 5/5 here. It’s just so full of life, addresses very universal human emotion/struggle. I’m beginning to create a scale for boomer music: on one end is the “songs to ride your Harley to” and on the other end is “songs to do a line to” and this one is more on the latter side

Man this crosses all genres. Rock, Funk, Soul and a near-13 minute bongo jazz riff? Yeah, WAR really lives up to the hype with The World Is A Ghetto. 4.5/5

Always thought they needed Eric Burden - WRONG! loved all of it & will look for more.

Day 4/1001 Groovy, funky music from the golden era - what's not to like? 'City, Country, City' and the title track are particularly excellent - the length really helps to explore the sounds.

I need more 60s/70s funk in my life and this is a fine start. Strong reggae vibes too though.

Interview at end is fascinating

Pare che abbiano avuto enorme successo agli inizi degli anni ‘70 e io non li conoscevo proprio! È stata una bella scoperta. Gruppo da approfondire

Buena música Funky de los 70, con fusión de varios estilos. Redescubriendo los temas Why can't we be friends, y Low rider, que había escuchado alguna vez, pero que no sabía ni el grupo, ni el nombre de las canciones

I got this on vinyl from Goodwill. Some amazing music here. Four Courned Room was one of my most played songs from last year.

Hell on earth exists But funky beauty does too Chill in that beauty

Have this on vinyl! Played it on my record player as soon as this popped up. Classic.

Fusion of multiple styles with great vocals and deep lyrics. One of the best albums I've heard on this list so far.

Excellent album. Funk, soul, jazz, blues, and even psychedelia, all in one, with remarkable cohesion and skill among the musicians.

# Playlist track - The Cisco Kid # Notes - Just great right off from the first track. - Kind of a jazzy, funky soul that is fun and catchy. - Even with 2 10+ minute tracks, War pulls it off, and the album doesn't drag at all. - Definitely listening again.

Can't believe I had never heard this! Moving songs, heavy grooves, fusion of blues, funk, Latin, afro-caribbean. Missing link album?

i was 6 years old when this came out

Excelente descubrimiento! Tiene cositas de Floyd y sobre todo de Zappa...muy loco. Muchísimas mixturas instrumentales para deleitarse en cada momento sin que avasallen. Las melodías que vienen y van en city world city me gustaron muchísimo.

Es la música favorita de Jaime.

Loved it!

One of my favorites

Great Album. Classics 60s/70s sound. Really full sounding band.

love love love

An incredible album. Saw another take calling this the Soil Side of the Moon and it entirely tracks. It's a very tight and cohesive album flowing seemingly effortlessly from track to track. All performances are thoughtful, additive, and balanced. The groove sets and it is easy to get lost in the flow of the music or pay attention to all of the details. Great for ambient or intentional listening.

Man, Eric Burdon is talented. I'm not even sure which one of his bands I like better but I think I lean towards War.

Groovy and a little poignant. 4.5/5

I love this album. Start to finish brilliant.

What a great soul album! I’d never listened though a whole war album, but I really enjoyed this!

Love their music!!

Funk. Jazz. Social commentary. Fantastic.

Nice

Wow. What a masterpiece. This might be the album that has blown me away the most on this project. I listened to this 5 times through on my flight to Japan. I didn’t listen to anything else. The fusion of genres is perfect. Jazz, soul, funk, gospel, blues and psychedelia. One minute you’re jamming hard and bumping to The Cisco Kid and the next minute you’re on a journey through the many ups and downs of City, Country, City. This song takes you on a ride. Very aptly named. Where Was You At is sad and funny all at once, but perpetually groovy and glowing. City, Country, City was the song that converted me to this record. I was having fun, I was jamming but this song just takes you places. And without vocals! It’s a true journey song. Four Cornered Room blows my mind. I love how it starts out with voices harmonizing “zoom zoom zoom,” and then as the song builds and crashes the vocals and lyrics change. Though they keep building on the harmonizing. The World is a Ghetto is such a rad blues song. It’s jams, and builds but totally rooted in blues. It keeps coming back to that chorus. Beetles in the Bog is perfect way to finish the record. The group vocals that sound like a prison gang on top of crazy bass lines and percussion. It’s a wild ride. I love the mixing of sounds throughout the record. It’s trippy, but it’s all traditional instruments which makes it feel natural and grounding. I also love how the vocals / lyrics are truly just a vessel to move the music forward. It’s not vocals first or even “music first” music. It’s just mixed so great and the music speaks for itself. This album absolutely blew my mind.

This album was so sick. So much flavor with all the different sounds and tempos. The jams went hard. I also loved how layered all the tracks were.

This album undoubtedly had the vibe of of a summers evening turning to night. Great overall album

Good mix of styles, hard not to groove.

Spiritual and raw.

It is a rather apt saying and a rather apt feeling. What the now difficult to search these days band named WAR managed to achieve with this record is quite impressive in scope and ambition, paring funk with jazz in ways that are accessible and easy to grasp all the while not deviating from the concept at hand. The two ten minute plus jams in the middle of each of the album's sides do the majority of the heavy lifting and demonstrate the overall feeling that was in the air at that time. The world is a ghetto? You don't say.

I'm at 'Four Cornered Room' right now and I think it's time for the generator to give me some boring stinkers again. Another album I gladly listened to.

Really enjoyed this. Sounded like a south of the border Stevie Wonder album at times. Glad to find out they have more depth than just Lowrider!