<Tr> <Th> Label </Th> <Td> Gordy </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Songwriter (s) </Th> <Td> Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Producer (s) </Th> <Td> Norman Whitfield </Td> </Tr> <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 wrote the song war what is it good for