The Black-Man's Burdon


The Black-Man's Burdon is a double album by funk band Eric Burdon and War, released in December 1970 on MGM Records. It was the last album by the group before Burdon left and the remaining band continued as War.
The title is a pun on , an expression which refers to black slavery, used as the title of a book by E. D. Morel in response to the poem, "The White Man's Burden" by Rudyard Kipling, which refers to western imperialism.
The album includes two suites based on songs by other artists: "Paint It Black" by The Rolling Stones, and "Nights in White Satin" by The Moody Blues, augmented by additional sections composed by the group. The extra material is mostly instrumental, except for "P.C. 3", a risqué poem recited by Burdon over the music. Two other songs include a children's chorus credited as Sharon Scott and the Beautiful New Born Children of Southern California. Richie Unterberger of Allmusic says the album is "Composed mostly of sprawling psychedelic funk jams" and "it does find War mapping out much of the jazz/Latin/soul grooves...".
One single from the album was released: "They Can't Take Away Our Music" backed with "Home Cookin'".

Cover art

The album is also notable for its risqué cover art. While the front cover merely shows a black man in silhouette, the back cover shows Burdon and a woman in a suggestive pose: the woman sitting on a wall with her legs spread far apart, and Burdon resting the back of his head against her pelvis and gripping her ankles. The gatefold photo consists of the group in a field with two nude women lying in the grass.
The album also came with a numbered 7–inch by 3–inch "war bond" entitling the bearer to $1 off the admission of any War concert.

Track listing

All tracks written by War except where noted.

Side one

  1. "Paint It Black " - 13:34
  2. # "Black on Black in Black" – 2:05
  3. # "Paint It Black I" – 2:05
  4. # "Laurel and Hardy" – 1:30
  5. # "Pintelo Negro II" – 1:05
  6. # "P.C. 3" – 1:30
  7. # "Black Bird" – 2:17
  8. # "Paint It Black III" – 3:02
  9. "Spirit" – 8:38

    Side two

  10. "Beautiful New Born Child" – 5:07
  11. "Nights in White Satin" – 4:28
  12. "The Bird and the Squirrel" – 2:43
  13. "Nuts, Seeds and Life" – 4:01
  14. "Out of Nowhere" – 3:22
  15. "Nights in White Satin" – 2:51

    Side three

  16. "Sun / Moon" – 10:04
  17. "Pretty Colors" – 6:52
  18. "Gun" – 5:44
  19. "Jimbo" – 4:50

    Side four

  20. "Bare Back Ride" – 7:07
  21. "Home Cookin'" – 4:10
  22. "They Can't Take Away Our Music" – 6:45

    Personnel