Deliver the Word
| Deliver the Word | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | August 1973 | |||
| Recorded | 1973 | |||
| Studio | Crystal Industries & Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles, California Caribou Studios, Nederland, Colorado | |||
| Genre | Jazz rock[1] | |||
| Length | 40:36 | |||
| Label | United Artists | |||
| Producer | Jerry Goldstein, Lonnie Jordan, Howard Scott | |||
| War chronology | ||||
| ||||
Deliver the Word is the sixth album by War, released in 1973 on United Artists Records.
Reception[edit]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
| Christgau's Record Guide | B+[2] |
The album featured two singles, "Gypsy Man" (severely truncated from the 11 minute album version) backed with "Deliver the Word" (US #8), and "Me and Baby Brother" backed with "In Your Eyes" (US #15). A live version of "Me and Baby Brother" had been released previously on All Day Music (1971). The title "H2Overture" is a pun on H2O, the chemical formula for water.
A 4-channel surround sound (quadraphonic) mix was also released for the album in the 8-track tape format (United Artists UA-DA128-H),[3] featuring a different track order, a reprise of "H2Overture" with early fade-out, and an early fade-out of "Gypsy Man".
Cover art[edit]
The cover was printed using metallic silver ink on black, and the cover is textured, resembling black leather as used for the covers of Bibles (the album title being a phrase associated with the Bible). A die-cut window in the lower left corner reveals part of the inner sleeve which shows a human figure walking along a deserted beach with his head bowed. The other side of the inner sleeve shows the same picture, but mirror reversed, and tinted blue instead of orange. When the cover is inserted the other way around, the window reveals an empty beach with sunlight (which, in blue, looks like moonlight) reflecting off the water. The album design and photo is credited to Gary Sato, with Lee Oskar credited for cover concept.
Track listing[edit]
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.
Side one[edit]
- "H2Overture" – 4:38
- "In Your Eyes" – 4:22
- "Gypsy Man" – 11:35
Side two[edit]
- "Me and Baby Brother" – 3:30
- "Deliver the Word" – 7:48
- "Southern Part of Texas" (War, Jerry Goldstein) – 6:22
- "Blisters" – 2:21
Quadraphonic tape edition[edit]
- "Gypsy Man"
- "H2Overture"
- "Southern Part of Texas"
- "Me and Baby Brother"
- "Deliver the Word"
- "Blisters"
- "H2Overture (Reprise)"
- "In Your Eyes"
Personnel[edit]
- War
- Howard Scott – guitar, percussion, vocals
- B.B. Dickerson – bass, percussion, vocals
- Lonnie Jordan – organ, piano, ARP violins, synthesizer, timbales, percussion, vocals
- Harold Brown – drums, percussion, vocals
- Papa Dee Allen – conga, bongos, percussion, vocals
- Charles Miller – clarinet, alto, tenor and baritone saxophones, flute, percussion, vocals
- Lee Oskar – harmonica, percussion, vocals
Charts[edit]
| Year | Album | Chart positions[4] | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B | ||
| 1973 | Deliver the Word | 6 | 1 |
Singles[edit]
| Year | Single | Chart positions[5] | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B | ||
| 1973 | "Gypsy Man" | 8 | 6 |
| "Me and Baby Brother" | 15 (1974) | 18 | |
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Allmusic review
- ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: W". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 22, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
- ^ Anderson, Mark. "Quadraphonic Popular Recordings: W". Archived from the original on 2008-04-10. Retrieved 2008-08-05.
- ^ "War US albums chart history". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2011-07-13.
- ^ "War US singles chart history". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2011-07-13.
