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Low Rider

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This article is about the song by the band War. For the vehicle, see lowrider. For the album, see No Fun at All.

"Low Rider" is a song written by American funk band War and producer Jerry Goldstein, which appeared on their album Why Can't We Be Friends?, released in 1975. It reached number one on the Billboard R&B singles chart, peaked at number seven on the Hot 100 singles chart, and number six in Canada (number 69 in the Canadian year-end chart[5]).

"Low Rider"
cover art
US single picture sleeve
Single by War
from the album Why Can't We Be Friends?
B-side"So"
ReleasedMay 14, 1975 (1975-05-14)
Recorded1974
Genre
Length3:11
LabelUnited Artists
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
War singles chronology
"Why Can't We Be Friends?"
(1975) 		"Low Rider"
(1975) 		"Me and Baby Brother"
(1976)
Music video
Low Rider on YouTube

According to the AllMusic review of the song, "the lyric takes the cool, laidback image of the lowrider—the Chicano culture practice of hydraulically hot-rodding classic cars—and using innuendo, extends the image to a lifestyle". The song features a driving bass line by B. B. Dickerson, which is present almost throughout, and an alto saxophone and harmonica riff by Charles Miller, who also provides lead vocals and a saxophone solo towards the end of the song that includes a siren-like noise. Lee Oskar plays harmonica throughout the song doubling the alto sax line.[6] It was also used as the theme song for the George Lopez self-titled sitcom, which ran from 2002 to 2007.[7]

For several years (beginning in 1996), "Low Rider" featured on British television adverts for Marmite, as part of their famous 'Love it or hate it' campaign.[8][9]

The song was covered by nu metal band Korn on their 1996 studio album Life Is Peachy.[10] A decade earlier, Beastie Boys sampled "Low Rider" on their song "Slow Ride", from 1986's Licensed to Ill.[11] In 1999, Barry White also recorded a version on his album Staying Power.

In 2014, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.[12]

Charts

edit
Weekly chart performance for "Low Rider"
Chart (1975–1976) Peak
position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[13] 6
UK Singles (OCC)[14] 12
US Billboard Hot 100[15] 7
US Hot Soul Singles (Billboard)[16] 1

Certifications

edit
Certifications and sales for "Low Rider"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[17] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[18] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

edit
  1. ^ Huey, Steve. "War | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  2. ^ Bradley, Larry (November 4, 2014). "The 1970s: War - "Low Rider". The Alternative Jukebox. Cassell. p. 74. ISBN 978-1-84403-789-6.
  3. ^ "Less Is More On Sade's New Album". News & Record. December 2, 2000. Retrieved December 2, 2020. ...The "Conspiracy" song in that tradition is "Original Prankster", which features a sample of War's Latin-rock standard "Low Rider" and an appearance by rapper Redman.
  4. ^ Eddy, Chuck (22 March 1997). "Automotive Rock". The Accidental Evolution of Rock 'n' Roll: A Misguided Tour Through Popular Music. Da Capo Press. p. 273. ISBN 0-306-80741-6.
  5. ^ "RPM Top 200 Singles of 1975 - December 27, 1975" (PDF).
  6. ^ Brown, Andrea (2019-10-22). "Harmonica honcho Lee Oskar, 71, still rocks 'Low Rider'". HeraldNet.com. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  7. ^ "Classic Tracks: Los Angeles Edition - Mixonline". www.mixonline.com. October 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  8. ^ "Marketing Marmite: the story behind the iconic love/hate campaign" (June 17, 2021). The Economist. 27 August 2024. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  9. ^ Hall, Emma (October 1, 1999). "Lads' pin-up stars in Marmite film". Campaign Live. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  10. ^ Arnopp, Jason; Bird, Ashley; Brannigan, Paul (2002). "Korn". Kerrang!. Legends (130-page special edition). No. 1. London: Emap. ISSN 0262-6624.
  11. ^ Pusey, James (November 15, 2021). "Classics Revisited: Beastie Boys - 'License To Ill'". The Mic Magazine. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  12. ^ "GRAMMY Hall Of Fame | Hall of Fame Artists | GRAMMY.com". www.grammy.com. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  13. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 4043a." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  14. ^ "War: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
  15. ^ "War Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  16. ^ "War Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
  17. ^ "British single certifications – War – Low Rider". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  18. ^ "American single certifications – War – Low Rider". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
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