Why Can't We Be Friends?

For the song, see Why Can't We Be Friends? (song).

Why Can't We Be Friends?
Studio album by War
Released	June 1975
Recorded	1974
Genre	R&B
Length	44:04
Label	United Artists Records
Producer	Jerry Goldstein with Lonnie Jordan and Howard Scott
War chronology
War Live (1974) Why Can't We Be Friends? (1975) Love Is All Around (with Eric Burdon) (1976)

Why Can't We Be Friends? is the seventh studio album by War.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic

Recorded in 1974 and released on United Artists Records in June 1975. The title song reached #8 on Billboard's Hot 100. The original LP edition came with a poster. Two singles from the album were released: "Why Can't We Be Friends?" backed with "In Mazatlan", and "Low Rider" backed with "So". Both A-sides were nominated for the Grammy Awards of 1976.

Track listing

All tracks composed by War (Papa Dee Allen, Harold Brown, B.B. Dickerson, Lonnie Jordan, Charles Miller, Lee Oskar, Howard E. Scott), except where indicated. Note: CD edition does not break "Leroy's Latin Lament" into sections.

1. "Don't Let No One Get You Down" (War, Jerry Goldstein) – 3:59
2. "Lotus Blossom" (War, Francie Nelson) – 3:59
3. "Heartbeat" – 7:25
4. "Leroy's Latin Lament (medley)"
   1. "Lonnie Dreams" – 0:49
   2. "The Way We Feel" (War, lyrics: Keri Oskar) – 1:10
   3. "La Fiesta" – 2:10
   4. "Lament" – 2:27
5. "Why Can't We Be Friends?" (War, Jerry Goldstein) – 3:49
6. "Smile Happy" – 7:22
7. "So" – 4:58
8. "Low Rider" (War, Jerry Goldstein) – 3:11
9. "In Mazatlan" – 2:45

Personnel

• Howard Scott – guitar, percussion, vocals
• B.B. Dickerson – bass, percussion, vocals
• Lonnie Jordan – organ, piano, timbales, percussion, vocals
• Harold Brown – drums, percussion, vocals (credit missing from LP cover)
• Papa Dee Allen – conga, bongos, percussion, vocals
• Charles Miller – clarinet, alto, tenor and baritone saxes, percussion, vocals
• Lee Oskar – harmonica, percussion, vocals

Charts

Year	Album	Chart positions
		US	US R&B	Jazz Albums
1975	Why Can't We Be Friends?	8	1	14

Singles

Year	Single	Chart positions
		US	US R&B	US Dance
1975	"Low Rider"	7	1	—
	"Why Can't We Be Friends?"	6	9	—
	"Heartbeat"	—	—	6

Cover Versions

Smash Mouth did a ska version of the song.

See also

• List of number-one R&B albums of 1975 (U.S.)

External links

• War-Why Can't We Be Friends? at Discogs