Deliver the Word
Established as bona fide hit makers thanks to the success of the albumsAll Day MusicandThe World Is a Ghetto, the Los Angeles-based seven-man group War aimed for a hat trick with the 1973 albumDeliver the Word. Less mainstream in its approach than its chart-topping predecessors, the seven-cut set boasted just one hit in the form of the groove-flavored "Gypsy Man," a top 10 pop and R&B; single in the summer of '73. Exploring Latin rhythms, funk, jazz, and rock,Deliver the Wordstretched musical boundaries. "In Your Eyes" was a lengthy opus that came complete with orgasmic sighs, an opportunity for the skillful musicians to stretch out. One of the true standouts was the catchy "Me and Baby Brother," which should have been a much bigger hit for the band. The album's title cut was a brilliant soulful ballad, while "Blisters" was a fine bluesy close for the album which, in spite of its lack of hit singles, became the band's third gold LP in succession.--David Nathan