<Table> <Tr> <Td> "It's Summer" (5) </Td> <Td> "War" (6) </Td> <Td> "You Need Love Like I Do (Don't You)" (7) </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td> "It's Summer" (5) </Td> <Td> "War" (6) </Td> <Td> "You Need Love Like I Do (Don't You)" (7) </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> <P> The song's power was reasserted when Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band took their rendition into the U.S. Top 10 in 1986 . It was also covered by Frankie Goes to Hollywood in 1984 and more recently by the Rock band Black Stone Cherry on its 2016 album Kentucky . </P>

Who made the song war what is it good for