<P> The song was included as a track on the March 1970 Psychedelic Shack album , which featured the title track as its only single . The track 's direct message , summarized by its chorus ( `` War , what is it good for ? Absolutely nothin ' ! '' ) , struck a chord with the American public and resonated with growing public opposition to the war in Vietnam . Fans from across the nation , many of them college students and other young people , sent letters to Motown requesting the release of `` War '' as a single . The label did not want to risk the image of its most popular male group , and the Temptations themselves were also apprehensive about releasing such a potentially controversial song as a single . The label decided to withhold `` War '' 's release as a single , a decision that Whitfield fought until the label came up with a compromise : `` War '' would be released , but it would have to be re-recorded with a different act . </P>
<P> The song was included as a track on the March 1970 Psychedelic Shack album , which featured the title track as its only single . The track 's direct message , summarized by its chorus ( `` War , what is it good for ? Absolutely nothin ' ! '' ) , struck a chord with the American public and resonated with growing public opposition to the war in Vietnam . Fans from across the nation , many of them college students and other young people , sent letters to Motown requesting the release of `` War '' as a single . The label did not want to risk the image of its most popular male group , and the Temptations themselves were also apprehensive about releasing such a potentially controversial song as a single . The label decided to withhold `` War '' 's release as a single , a decision that Whitfield fought until the label came up with a compromise : `` War '' would be released , but it would have to be re-recorded with a different act . </P>
who sang what is it good for absolutely nothing
who sang what is it good for absolutely nothing
the Temptations
the Temptations