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Spanning the band's early-'70s genesis as an unhinged funk congregation and their later resurgence with urbane R&B balladry and synth-inflected disco, The Very Best of Kool & the Gang may not be a unified collection, but it is the first to offer every hit that's expected -- as well as a few that aren't -- from the band's long career. The emphasis is definitely on their peak as a pop group, from 1979 to 1986, with pride of place going to the hits "Celebration," "Get Down on It," "Ladies Night," "Too Hot," "Misled," and "Joanna." Fans of the funk get only three tracks ("Funky Stuff," "Hollywood Swinging," and "Jungle Boogie," all from 1973's Wild and Peaceful), which won't cause anyone to sell their copies of The Best of Kool & the Gang 1969-1976, but does give pop fans a glimpse of their mid-'70s greatness. All in all, this lengthy collection doesn't transition well from hit to hit, but then again, chronological order would've forced legions of pop fans to forward through the funk material to get to their favorites.
© John Bush /TiVo
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Eumir Deodato, Conductor, Producer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Dennis Ronald Thomas, ComposerLyricist - Fred Wesley, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - MACEO PARKER, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - 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 - Eumir Deodato, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Kool & The Gang, Producer, MainArtist - Claydes Smith, ComposerLyricist - J.T. Taylor, ComposerLyricist - Ronald Nathan Bell, ComposerLyricist - Robert Spike Mickens, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1981 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Sandy Linzer, Author - Robert Bell, Bass, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - George Brown, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Curtis Williams, Keyboards, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Dennis Ronald Thomas, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Clifford Adams, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Rick Iantosca, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jimmy Maelen, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Kendal Stubbs, Mixer, Engineer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Ray, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Kool & The Gang, Producer, MainArtist - Ronald Bell, Mixer, Tenor Saxophone, Synthesizer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Claydes Smith, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Khalis Bayyan, Producer - J.T. Taylor, Composer, Vocals, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Ronald Nathan Bell, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Jim Bonnefond, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Curtis Fitzgerald Williams, Composer - James L. Bonnefond, ComposerLyricist - Starleana Young, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Jose Rodriguez, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Robert Spike Mickens, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Gabe Vigorito, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1984 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Eumir Deodato, Producer - Kool & The Gang, Producer, MainArtist - George Melvin Brown, ComposerLyricist
℗ 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 - George Melvin Brown, ComposerLyricist - Curtis Fitzgerald Williams, ComposerLyricist - Charles Smith, ComposerLyricist - Robert Spike Mickens, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1982 UMG Recordings, Inc.
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 - Elliot Lurie, Unknown, Other - Dennis Ronald Thomas, ComposerLyricist - Donald Boyce, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jay Landers, Unknown, Other - Jeff Lesser, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kool & The Gang, MainArtist - Claydes Smith, ComposerLyricist - Richard Westfield, ComposerLyricist - Ronald Nathan Bell, ComposerLyricist - Robert Spike Mickens, ComposerLyricist - Harvey Goldberg, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kool & The Gang Enterprises, Inc., Producer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Christopher B. Pearman, Unknown, Other
℗ 1973 UMG Recordings, Inc.
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.
George Brown, ComposerLyricist - Dennis Ronald Thomas, ComposerLyricist - Clifford Adams, ComposerLyricist - Kool & The Gang, Producer, MainArtist - Ronald Nathan Bell, ComposerLyricist - Curtis Fitzgerald Williams, ComposerLyricist - James L. Bonnefond, ComposerLyricist - James Warren Taylor, ComposerLyricist - Charles Jay Smith, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1984 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Robert Bell, ComposerLyricist - Dennis Ronald Thomas, ComposerLyricist - Jeff Lesser, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kool & The Gang, MainArtist - Claydes Smith, ComposerLyricist - Richard Westfield, ComposerLyricist - Ronald Nathan Bell, ComposerLyricist - George Melvin Brown, ComposerLyricist - Robert Spike Mickens, ComposerLyricist - Harvey Goldberg, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kool & The Gang Enterprises, Inc., Producer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1973 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, Producer - Dennis Ronald Thomas, ComposerLyricist - Kool & The Gang, Producer, MainArtist - J.T. Taylor, ComposerLyricist - Ronald Nathan Bell, ComposerLyricist - George Melvin Brown, ComposerLyricist - Curtis Fitzgerald Williams, ComposerLyricist - Charles Smith, ComposerLyricist - Robert Spike Mickens, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1981 UMG Recordings, Inc.
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.
Dennis Thomas, Flute, Alto Saxophone, Vocals, Conga, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Bell, Bass Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - George Brown, Drums, Percussion, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Dennis Ronald Thomas, ComposerLyricist - Jeff Lesser, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kool & The Gang, MainArtist - Claydes Smith, ComposerLyricist - Richard Westfield, ComposerLyricist - Ronald Nathan Bell, Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Robert Spike Mickens, Trumpet, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Harvey Goldberg, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Clay Smith, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Kool & The Gang Enterprises, Inc., Producer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Ricky Westfield, Keyboards, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1973 The Island Def Jam Music Group
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, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Jim Bonnefond, Producer - Curtis Fitzgerald Williams, ComposerLyricist - James L. Bonnefond, ComposerLyricist - Robert Spike Mickens, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1983 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Robert Bell, ComposerLyricist - George Brown, ComposerLyricist - Curtis Williams, ComposerLyricist - Dennis Ronald Thomas, ComposerLyricist - JAMES TAYLOR, ComposerLyricist - Kool & The Gang, Producer, MainArtist - J.T. Taylor, ComposerLyricist - Ronald Nathan Bell, ComposerLyricist - George Melvin Brown, ComposerLyricist - Curtis Fitzgerald Williams, ComposerLyricist - Charles Smith, ComposerLyricist - James L. Bonnefond, ComposerLyricist - Robert Spike Mickens, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1984 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 - Eumir Deodato, Producer - Dennis Ronald Thomas, ComposerLyricist - Kool & The Gang, Producer, MainArtist - J.T. Taylor, ComposerLyricist - Ronald Nathan Bell, ComposerLyricist - George Melvin Brown, ComposerLyricist - Curtis Fitzgerald Williams, ComposerLyricist - Charles Smith, ComposerLyricist - Robert Spike Mickens, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1982 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Robert Bell, ComposerLyricist - George Brown, ComposerLyricist - Eumir Deodato, Producer, 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 - Robert Spike Mickens, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1982 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Robert Bell, ComposerLyricist - JAMES TAYLOR, ComposerLyricist - Kool & The Gang, Producer, MainArtist - Claydes Smith, ComposerLyricist - Ronald Nathan Bell, Producer, ComposerLyricist - George Melvin Brown, ComposerLyricist - Curtis Fitzgerald Williams, ComposerLyricist - I.B.M.C., Producer
℗ 1986 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Dennis Ronald Thomas, ComposerLyricist - Jason Nevins, Producer - Kool & The Gang, MainArtist - J.T. Taylor, ComposerLyricist - Ronald Nathan Bell, ComposerLyricist - George Melvin Brown, ComposerLyricist - Curtis Fitzgerald Williams, ComposerLyricist - Charles Smith, ComposerLyricist - Robert Spike Mickens, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1999 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Album review
Spanning the band's early-'70s genesis as an unhinged funk congregation and their later resurgence with urbane R&B balladry and synth-inflected disco, The Very Best of Kool & the Gang may not be a unified collection, but it is the first to offer every hit that's expected -- as well as a few that aren't -- from the band's long career. The emphasis is definitely on their peak as a pop group, from 1979 to 1986, with pride of place going to the hits "Celebration," "Get Down on It," "Ladies Night," "Too Hot," "Misled," and "Joanna." Fans of the funk get only three tracks ("Funky Stuff," "Hollywood Swinging," and "Jungle Boogie," all from 1973's Wild and Peaceful), which won't cause anyone to sell their copies of The Best of Kool & the Gang 1969-1976, but does give pop fans a glimpse of their mid-'70s greatness. All in all, this lengthy collection doesn't transition well from hit to hit, but then again, chronological order would've forced legions of pop fans to forward through the funk material to get to their favorites.
© John Bush /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 21 track(s)
- Total length: 01:17:56
- Main artists: Kool & The Gang
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Mercury Records
- Genre: Soul/Funk/R&B R&B
© 1999 UMG Recordings Inc. This Compilation ℗ 1999 UMG Recordings Inc.
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