Why Can't We Be Friends? 50th Anniversary 3CD: What's Inside

By The Sound Of Vinyl - Shop Vinyl Records | The Sound of Vinyl | Published: 2026-11-05

Category: Đánh giá sản phẩm

WAR's 50th-anniversary Collector's Edition spreads the remastered album across three CDs with unreleased session tracks and unedited mixes. Here's how to decide if it's for you.

Quick answer

Buy the 3CD Collector's Edition if you already love the original album and want to hear how it was built. Skip it if you only need the hits—the remastered album is disc one, and the other two discs are bonus material.

What the extra discs actually contain

The set is built around the original album, remastered by Bernie Grundman. That's disc one. Discs two and three are made up of unreleased bonus tracks pulled from the album sessions and unedited mixes. This is not a hits compilation with a few live tracks tacked on; it's a studio-focused expansion.

That matters because the value of a multi-disc reissue depends on whether you enjoy hearing alternate versions and works in progress. If you usually skip bonus tracks after one listen, the extra discs won't earn their shelf space for you.

The price makes this an easy experiment

At $17.49 against a $34.98 comparison price, the Collector's Edition costs about the same as a standard single-disc album. That lowers the risk of trying the bonus material even if you're unsure. It also means you shouldn't expect the packaging of a large vinyl box set—this is a CD-only set, and the listing doesn't detail extras like a book or poster, so buy it for the music rather than the physical extras.

Where this set fits among other anniversary editions

Multi-disc CD reissues vary widely. Some, like the Talking Heads: 77 Super Deluxe 3CD + Blu-ray, add a high-resolution or surround mix on a Blu-ray. Others, like the CHESS the Musical 2025 Cast Recording 2CD, are complete cast recordings rather than expansions of a studio album. This WAR set is the straightforward kind: one remastered album plus session material, with no video or high-resolution disc mentioned in the supplied details.

If you want the album in its original sequence and nothing more, a single-disc copy will do the same job for less clutter. If you want to hear the album's construction, the extra discs are the reason to choose this edition.

Decision rules for the 3CD Collector's Edition

You already own the album on vinyl or CD: Buy this set only if you're curious about the session tapes and unedited mixes. The remastered album alone won't replace your existing copy in any meaningful way. Check whether the bonus discs contain material you've already heard on other reissues before ordering.
You're new to the album: Start with a single-disc version or stream the album first. The 3CD set is an archive for fans, not an introduction—the extra discs assume familiarity with the original.
You want the most music for the money: At $17.49, this is a low-cost way to get three discs. Compare it with single-disc prices before assuming a multi-disc set is always more expensive.
You care about packaging and extras: The supplied listing describes the music but not the physical package. If a book, poster, or detailed liner notes are essential, confirm those details before buying—this is a CD-only set, not a vinyl box.

Product facts

Why Can’t We Be Friends? 50th Anniversary (Collector’s Edition) [3CD]: The original album was remastered by Bernie Grundman and is included alongside two discs of unreleased bonus tracks and unedited mixes. You get a clean reference version of the album plus a separate archive of session material, so you can compare the finished mixes with the work behind them.
Why Can’t We Be Friends? 50th Anniversary (Collector’s Edition) [3CD]

Who should buy it

Best for

Fans who want to hear unreleased session tracks and unedited mixes from the album
Listeners who value a Bernie Grundman remaster of the original album
Buyers looking for a low-cost multi-disc edition rather than a large vinyl box

Not for

Casual listeners who only want the hits and will not play bonus discs
Collectors who need vinyl, a Blu-ray, or confirmed physical extras
Anyone who has not heard the album and wants a simple first copy