The band War formed in 1969, in Long Beach, California. “Low Rider” is from their 1975 album Why Can’t We Be Friends? The song was a hit as soon as it came out. It went to #1 on the Billboard R&B charts. And it’s just had tremendous lasting power ever since. Besides being in Dazed and Confused, where I heard it, it’s been sampled by The Beastie Boys, it was covered by Korn, and it was the theme song for all six seasons of The George Lopez Show.
For this episode, I talked to War’s bandleader Lonnie Jordan, and their producer Jerry Goldstein. The two of them told me how “Low Rider” was made in the studio, through a combination of improvisation and meticulous editing.
For more, visit songexploder.net/war.
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Nakhane - New Brighton (feat. Anohni)
Mumford & Sons - Beloved
Phoebe Bridgers - Scott Street
Wonderly - The Daily (Theme)
Japanese Breakfast - Boyish
Hozier - Nina Cried Power (feat. Mavis Staples)
Yo-Yo Ma - Prelude, Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major
Re-issue: Thao & The Get Down Stay Down - Astonished Man
Fleetwood Mac - Go Your Own Way
Breakmaster Cylinder - Reply All
Empress Of - When I'm With Him
Big Boi - Order of Operations
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Janelle Monáe - So Afraid
Cat Power - Woman
Blood Orange - Saint
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The Decemberists - Once In My Life
Re-issue: Mitski - Your Best American Girl
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