Lonnie Jordan
Leroy "Lonnie" Jordan, born November 21, 1948, in San Diego, California, stands as the sole remaining founding member of the influential funk band War.
Jordan joined one of War's predecessor groups, initially called the Creators and later Nightshift, in the early 1960s amid Southern California's diverse music scene blending Latin, jazz, R&B, rock, and funk. The band's trajectory shifted dramatically in 1969 when Eric Burdon recruited them after leaving the Animals, leading to the hit "Spill the Wine" and the official adoption of the name War.
As a multi-instrumentalist, Jordan contributed vocals, keyboards, guitar, synthesizer, piano, and percussion, helping craft War's signature sound heard in classics like "Low Rider," "Why Can't We Be Friends?," and "The Cisco Kid." War became a pioneering multiethnic funk outfit in the 1970s and 1980s, with Jordan as its enduring leader through lineup changes.
Jordan pursued solo releases on labels like United Artists in 1976, MCA in 1977, and Boardwalk in 1982. He collaborated with artists including Eric Burdon, Tanya Tucker, T. Rex, Los Lobos, and ex-War members Harold Brown and B.B. Dickerson on projects like The Other Side of War Warms Your Heart, featuring Bobby Womack. In recent years, he has led War on tours and contributed to releases like the 2014 album EVOLUTIONARY.
The Affair
A2 I Think You're Out Of This World 5:04
A3 I Do Love You 4:02
A4 Just Be Faithful 4:17
A5 Paco Taco 1:45
B1 Fine Foxy Lady 4:26
B2 Ain't Nuthin' To It 3:27
B3 I Don't Really Know 4:02
B4 The Affair 3:45
B5 My Little Debby 3:45
Label: The Boardwalk Entertainment Co – NB1-33245
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1982
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Eighties Soul, Funk, Disco
Lonnie Jordan's 1982 solo album, The Affair, produced by Jerry Goldstein, showcases a diverse blend of Latin rhythms (like "My Little Debby"), early hip-hop ("Ain't Nuthin' To It"), and heartfelt ballads, reflecting his funk/R&B roots with WAR but adding his personal touch, with fans praising its rich sound and varying styles, though detailed professional reviews are scarce, it's seen as a solid, varied offering from the legendary keyboardist.
Jordan dedicated the album to WAR for inspiration and thanked John Fischbach for new recording techniques. While formal critical reviews are limited, fan and collector sites (like eBay, Discogs, and Rate Your Music) highlight its varied tracks, describing it as a rich, diverse album with strong Latin and hip-hop elements.
The record incorporates elements of Latin music (notably on "My Little Debby"), old-school hip hop ("Ain't Nuthin' To It"), and even an a cappella track involving the chant "Taco! I Think You're Out Of This World".
It's generally considered a successful solo effort that captures Jordan's unique sound outside the WAR context. In essence, The Affair is praised for its eclecticism, offering a glimpse into Jordan's individual musical vision with production that brought out diverse sounds from Latin grooves to nascent hip-hop.
While not a major commercial juggernaut, the album maintains a steady reputation among funk aficionados. On Discogs, the album holds an average rating of approximately 3.7 out of 5 stars based on community reviews as of early 2026. Collectors often seek out the original 1982 vinyl pressings, though Japanese CD reissues have also been made available for audiophiles.