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Though Kool & the Gang was a fine hardcore funk outfit in the 1970s, the group decided, by the close of that decade, to reinvent its sound for pop radio. The result -- a combination of slick production, R&B vocals, and the band's already well-honed grooves -- made Kool & the Gang one of the biggest-selling and most beloved pop acts of the '80s. Celebration: the Best of Kool & the Gang collects 17 of the band's singles from this era, most of which will be immediately familiar to anyone even remotely familiar with '80s pop radio. The Gang wrote numerous, highly polished dance grooves featuring a heavy backbeat, staccato horn charts, and infectious vocal choruses that seem custom-built for group singalongs. The international smash "Celebration" is one such song (has there been more definitive party anthem?), as is the hard-grooving "Ladies Night," and the groove imperative "Get Down on It." The Gang also scored with their midtempo R&B ("Joanna"), funk-tinged soul ("Fresh"), and swelling ballads in the adult contemporary mode ("Cherish"). These showcase the Gang's superior vocalists (check out James "J.T." Taylor's butter-smooth croon on "Too Hot," for example). Those seeking a comprehensive collection of Kool & the Gang's '80s hits need look no further than this excellent compilation.
© Anthony Tognazzini /TiVo
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Robert Bell, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - George Brown, Drums, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Eumir Deodato, Conductor, Producer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Dennis Ronald Thomas, ComposerLyricist - Kool & The Gang, Producer, MainArtist - Kevin Bell, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - J.T. Taylor, ComposerLyricist - Ronald Nathan Bell, Keyboards, Saxophone, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jim Bonnefond, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - George Melvin Brown, ComposerLyricist - Curtis Fitzgerald Williams, ComposerLyricist - Charles Smith, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Robert Spike Mickens, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - James "J.T." Taylor, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Earl Toon Jr., Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Adam Epolito, Additional Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1980 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Dennis Thomas, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Bell, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - George Brown, Drums, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Eumir Deodato, Producer, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Clifford Adams, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Ray, Trumpet, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Kool & The Gang, Producer, MainArtist - Claydes Smith, ComposerLyricist - J.T. Taylor, ComposerLyricist - Ronald Nathan Bell, Keyboards, Saxophone, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jim Bonnefond, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - George Melvin Brown, ComposerLyricist - Charles Smith, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Spike Mickens, Trumpet, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Brian Robert Jackson, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - James "J.T." Taylor, Vocals, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Greenfield, Flute, Alto Saxophone, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1981 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Sandy Linzer, ComposerLyricist - Robert Bell, ComposerLyricist - Curtis Williams, ComposerLyricist - Dennis Ronald Thomas, ComposerLyricist - Rick Iantosca, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - JAMES TAYLOR, ComposerLyricist - Kendal Stubbs, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kool & The Gang, Producer, MainArtist - J.T. Taylor, ComposerLyricist - Ronald Nathan Bell, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Jim Bonnefond, Producer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - George Melvin Brown, ComposerLyricist - Curtis Fitzgerald Williams, ComposerLyricist - Charles Smith, ComposerLyricist - James L. Bonnefond, ComposerLyricist - George Ronald Brown, ComposerLyricist - Robert Spike Mickens, ComposerLyricist - Joe Roth, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1984 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Eumir Deodato, Producer - Kool & The Gang, Producer, MainArtist - George Melvin Brown, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1979 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Robert Bell, ComposerLyricist - George Brown, ComposerLyricist - Eumir Deodato, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Kool & The Gang, Producer, MainArtist - Claydes Smith, ComposerLyricist - J.T. Taylor, ComposerLyricist - Ronald Nathan Bell, ComposerLyricist - Jim Bonnefond, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1981 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Robert Bell, ComposerLyricist - George Brown, ComposerLyricist - Curtis Williams, ComposerLyricist - Eumir Deodato, Producer, ComposerLyricist - JAMES TAYLOR, ComposerLyricist - Michael Ray, ComposerLyricist - Kool & The Gang, Producer, MainArtist - Claydes Smith, ComposerLyricist - Cliff Adams, ComposerLyricist - Ronald Nathan Bell, ComposerLyricist - Amir Bayyan, ComposerLyricist - Robert Spike Mickens, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1982 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Robert Bell, ComposerLyricist - George Brown, ComposerLyricist - Curtis Williams, ComposerLyricist - Dennis Ronald Thomas, ComposerLyricist - Rick Iantosca, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - JAMES TAYLOR, ComposerLyricist - Kendal Stubbs, Engineer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Kool & The Gang, Producer, MainArtist - J.T. Taylor, ComposerLyricist - Ronald Nathan Bell, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Jim Bonnefond, Producer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - George Melvin Brown, ComposerLyricist - Curtis Fitzgerald Williams, ComposerLyricist - Charles Smith, ComposerLyricist - James L. Bonnefond, ComposerLyricist - Robert Spike Mickens, ComposerLyricist - Joe Roth, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1984 The Island Def Jam Music Group
George Brown, ComposerLyricist - Dennis Ronald Thomas, ComposerLyricist - Clifford Adams, ComposerLyricist - Kendal Stubbs, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kool & The Gang, Producer, MainArtist - Ronald Nathan Bell, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Jim Bonnefond, Producer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Curtis Fitzgerald Williams, ComposerLyricist - James L. Bonnefond, ComposerLyricist - James Warren Taylor, ComposerLyricist - Charles Jay Smith, ComposerLyricist - Joe Roth, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1984 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Dennis Thomas, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Bell, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - George Brown, ComposerLyricist - Eumir Deodato, Producer - Dennis Ronald Thomas, ComposerLyricist - Clifford Adams, Trombone, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Andy Whitmore, Additional Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Earl Toon, ComposerLyricist - Kool & The Gang, Producer, Co-Producer, MainArtist - Claydes Smith, ComposerLyricist - Andrew Smith, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Khalis Bayyan, Keyboards, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - J.T. Taylor, ComposerLyricist - Ronald Nathan Bell, ComposerLyricist - Meekaaeel Muhammed, ComposerLyricist - Charles Smith, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Anthony Thompson, Vocal Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Tim Horton, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - George 'Funky' Brown, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - James "J.T." Taylor, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Sennie "Skip" Martin, Trumpet, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1979 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Robert Bell, ComposerLyricist - Eumir Deodato, Producer - Dennis Ronald Thomas, ComposerLyricist - Kool & The Gang, Producer, MainArtist - J.T. Taylor, ComposerLyricist - Ronald Nathan Bell, ComposerLyricist - Jim Bonnefond, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - George Melvin Brown, ComposerLyricist - Curtis Fitzgerald Williams, ComposerLyricist - Charles Smith, ComposerLyricist - Robert Spike Mickens, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1981 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Robert Bell, ComposerLyricist - George Brown, ComposerLyricist - Clifford Adams, ComposerLyricist - Kool & The Gang, Producer, MainArtist - Claydes Smith, ComposerLyricist - Khalis Bayyan, Producer - J.T. Taylor, ComposerLyricist - Ronald Nathan Bell, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Jim Bonnefond, Producer - Curtis Fitzgerald Williams, ComposerLyricist - James L. Bonnefond, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1983 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Robert Bell, ComposerLyricist - Dennis Ronald Thomas, ComposerLyricist - Kool & The Gang, Producer, MainArtist - J.T. Taylor, ComposerLyricist - Ronald Nathan Bell, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Jim Bonnefond, Producer - George Melvin Brown, ComposerLyricist - Curtis Fitzgerald Williams, ComposerLyricist - Charles Smith, ComposerLyricist - Robert Spike Mickens, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1983 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Robert Bell, ComposerLyricist - Eumir Deodato, Conductor, Producer - Dennis Ronald Thomas, ComposerLyricist - Kool & The Gang, Producer, MainArtist - J.T. Taylor, ComposerLyricist - Ronald Nathan Bell, ComposerLyricist - Jim Bonnefond, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - George Melvin Brown, ComposerLyricist - Curtis Fitzgerald Williams, ComposerLyricist - Charles Smith, ComposerLyricist - Robert Spike Mickens, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1980 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Robert Bell, ComposerLyricist - George Brown, ComposerLyricist - Clifford Adams, ComposerLyricist - Michael Ray, ComposerLyricist - Kool & The Gang, Producer, MainArtist - Claydes Smith, ComposerLyricist - J.T. Taylor, ComposerLyricist - Ronald Nathan Bell, ComposerLyricist - Curtis Fitzgerald Williams, ComposerLyricist - James L. Bonnefond, ComposerLyricist - Robert Spike Mickens, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1983 PolyGram Records Inc.
Robert Bell, ComposerLyricist - Eumir Deodato, Producer - Dennis Ronald Thomas, ComposerLyricist - Kool & The Gang, Producer, MainArtist - J.T. Taylor, ComposerLyricist - Ronald Nathan Bell, ComposerLyricist - Jim Bonnefond, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - George Melvin Brown, ComposerLyricist - Curtis Fitzgerald Williams, ComposerLyricist - Charles Smith, ComposerLyricist - Robert Spike Mickens, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1981 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Dennis Thomas, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Bell, Baritone Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - George Brown, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Dennis Ronald Thomas, ComposerLyricist - Clifford Adams, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Ray, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Kool & The Gang, Producer, MainArtist - Ronald Bell, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - J.T. Taylor, ComposerLyricist - Ronald Nathan Bell, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Jim Bonnefond, Producer - George Melvin Brown, ComposerLyricist - Robert "Spike" Mickens, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Curtis Fitzgerald Williams, ComposerLyricist - Charles Smith, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Robert Spike Mickens, ComposerLyricist - James "J.T." Taylor, Vocals, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Curtis Fitz Williams, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1983 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Kool & The Gang, MainArtist - J.T. Taylor, ComposerLyricist - Charles Smith, ComposerLyricist - Mark Freedman, Producer
℗ 1987 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Album review
Though Kool & the Gang was a fine hardcore funk outfit in the 1970s, the group decided, by the close of that decade, to reinvent its sound for pop radio. The result -- a combination of slick production, R&B vocals, and the band's already well-honed grooves -- made Kool & the Gang one of the biggest-selling and most beloved pop acts of the '80s. Celebration: the Best of Kool & the Gang collects 17 of the band's singles from this era, most of which will be immediately familiar to anyone even remotely familiar with '80s pop radio. The Gang wrote numerous, highly polished dance grooves featuring a heavy backbeat, staccato horn charts, and infectious vocal choruses that seem custom-built for group singalongs. The international smash "Celebration" is one such song (has there been more definitive party anthem?), as is the hard-grooving "Ladies Night," and the groove imperative "Get Down on It." The Gang also scored with their midtempo R&B ("Joanna"), funk-tinged soul ("Fresh"), and swelling ballads in the adult contemporary mode ("Cherish"). These showcase the Gang's superior vocalists (check out James "J.T." Taylor's butter-smooth croon on "Too Hot," for example). Those seeking a comprehensive collection of Kool & the Gang's '80s hits need look no further than this excellent compilation.
© Anthony Tognazzini /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 17 track(s)
- Total length: 01:17:00
- Main artists: Kool & The Gang
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Island Def Jam
- Genre: Soul/Funk/R&B R&B
© 1994 UMG Recordings, Inc. This Compilation ℗ 1994 UMG Recordings, Inc.
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