<P> `` War '' is a counterculture - era soul song written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong for the Motown label in 1969 . Whitfield first produced the song -- an obvious anti-Vietnam War protest -- with The Temptations as the original vocalists . After Motown began receiving repeated requests to release `` War '' as a single , Whitfield re-recorded the song with Edwin Starr as the vocalist , with the label deciding to withhold the Temptations ' version from single release so as not to alienate their more conservative fans . Starr 's version of `` War '' was a number - one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1970 , and is not only the most successful and well - known record of his career , but it is also one of the most popular protest songs ever recorded . It was one of 161 songs on the Clear Channel no - play list after September 11 , 2001 . </P>
<P> `` War '' is a counterculture - era soul song written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong for the Motown label in 1969 . Whitfield first produced the song -- an obvious anti-Vietnam War protest -- with The Temptations as the original vocalists . After Motown began receiving repeated requests to release `` War '' as a single , Whitfield re-recorded the song with Edwin Starr as the vocalist , with the label deciding to withhold the Temptations ' version from single release so as not to alienate their more conservative fans . Starr 's version of `` War '' was a number - one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1970 , and is not only the most successful and well - known record of his career , but it is also one of the most popular protest songs ever recorded . It was one of 161 songs on the Clear Channel no - play list after September 11 , 2001 . </P>
who made the song war what is it good for
who made the song war what is it good for
The Temptations
The Temptations