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Believe it or not, Gold is the first compilation with U.S. distribution to provide a fair and rather thorough glance at Kool & the Gang's career from 1969 through 1987. Dozens upon dozens of other sets either focus on one of the group's distinct eras or attempt clumsily to appease those who want "Jungle Boogie" and "Joanna" in one spot. The Chronicles catalog division of Mercury realized that roughly 90 percent of Kool & the Gang's chart hits can fit neatly on two discs, so this is an ideal package for casual fans who can appreciate raw '70s funk and slick, radio-friendly '80s R&B. It would be impossible to plot a thorough introductory course across two discs, since the group's catalog runs too deep. There wasn't enough room for the likes of "Steppin' Out," "Jones vs. Jones," "Slick Superchick," or "Take It to the Top," all of which were popular on black radio stations, and the compilers' decision to focus on the biggest singles means that a lot of subdued album cuts -- such as "Breeze and Soul" and "Winter Sadness" -- aren't factored in. A lot of care went into the presentation, with plenty of photos, thorough chart-placement information, and insightful liner notes from group associate Cleveland Brown. No Kool & the Gang compilation can be flawless, but this is one of the best ones out there.
© Andy Kellman /TiVo
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Robert Bell, ComposerLyricist - Woodrow Sparrow, ComposerLyricist - Kool & The Gang, Producer, MainArtist - Richard Westfield, ComposerLyricist - Ronald Nathan Bell, Producer, ComposerLyricist - George Melvin Brown, ComposerLyricist - Charles Smith, ComposerLyricist - Robert Spike Mickens, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1978 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Kool & The Gang, Producer, MainArtist - Ronald Nathan Bell, Producer - Gene C. Redd, ComposerLyricist - Jimmy Crosby, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1970 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Robert Bell, ComposerLyricist - Dennis Ronald Thomas, ComposerLyricist - Claydes Eugene Smith, ComposerLyricist - Woodrow Sparrow, ComposerLyricist - Kool & The Gang, Producer, MainArtist - Richard Westfield, ComposerLyricist - Ronald Nathan Bell, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Gene C. Redd, ComposerLyricist - George Melvin Brown, ComposerLyricist - Robert Spike Mickens, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1970 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Robert Bell, ComposerLyricist - Dennis Ronald Thomas, ComposerLyricist - Claydes Eugene Smith, ComposerLyricist - Woodrow Sparrow, ComposerLyricist - Kool & The Gang, MainArtist - Richard Westfield, ComposerLyricist - Ronald Nathan Bell, ComposerLyricist - Gene C. Redd, ComposerLyricist - George Melvin Brown, ComposerLyricist - Gene Redd, Producer - Robert Spike Mickens, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1970 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Robert Bell, ComposerLyricist - Dennis Ronald Thomas, ComposerLyricist - Claydes Eugene Smith, ComposerLyricist - Woodrow Sparrow, ComposerLyricist - Malcolm Addey, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kool & The Gang, MainArtist - Richard Westfield, ComposerLyricist - Ronald Nathan Bell, ComposerLyricist - Gene C. Redd, ComposerLyricist - George Melvin Brown, ComposerLyricist - Gene Redd, Producer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Spike Mickens, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1971 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Robert Bell, ComposerLyricist - Dennis Ronald Thomas, ComposerLyricist - Kool & The Gang, MainArtist - Claydes Smith, ComposerLyricist - Richard Westfield, ComposerLyricist - Ronald Nathan Bell, ComposerLyricist - George Melvin Brown, ComposerLyricist - Gene Redd, ComposerLyricist - Robert Spike Mickens, ComposerLyricist - Gene Redd Jr., Producer
℗ 1972 The Island Def Jam Music Group
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 - 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.
Robert Bell, ComposerLyricist - George Brown, ComposerLyricist - Dennis Ronald Thomas, ComposerLyricist - 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
℗ 1973 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Robert Bell, Bass Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - George Brown, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Dennis Ronald Thomas, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Claydes Eugene Smith, ComposerLyricist - Herb Lane, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Kool & The Gang, MainArtist - Claydes Smith, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Richard Westfield, ComposerLyricist - Khalis Bayyan, Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Piano, Tenor Saxophone, Vocals, Synthesizer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Ronald Nathan Bell, ComposerLyricist - George Melvin Brown, ComposerLyricist - Rick West, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Spike Mickens, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Richard Shade, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Kenny Banks, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - K.G. Productions, Producer
℗ 1974 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Robert Bell, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - George Brown, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Dennis Ronald Thomas, Keyboards, Alto Saxophone, Vocals, Recording Arranger, Conga, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Claydes Eugene Smith, ComposerLyricist - Kool & The Gang, MainArtist - Claydes Smith, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Richard Westfield, ComposerLyricist - Khalis Bayyan, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Ronald Nathan Bell, ComposerLyricist - George Melvin Brown, ComposerLyricist - Rick West, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Spike Mickens, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Penni Saunders, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - K.G. Productions, Producer
℗ 1974 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Robert Bell, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - George Brown, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Dennis Ronald Thomas, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Claydes Eugene Smith, ComposerLyricist - Alton Taylor, ComposerLyricist - Kool & The Gang, MainArtist - Claydes Smith, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Richard Westfield, ComposerLyricist - Khalis Bayyan, Synthesizer, Mellotron, AssociatedPerformer - Ronald Nathan Bell, ComposerLyricist - George Melvin Brown, ComposerLyricist - Rick West, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Spike Mickens, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - K.G. Productions, Producer
℗ 1974 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Robert Bell, ComposerLyricist - Dennis Ronald Thomas, ComposerLyricist - Donald Boyce, ComposerLyricist - Kool & The Gang, Producer, MainArtist - Claydes Smith, ComposerLyricist - Ronald Nathan Bell, Producer, ComposerLyricist - George Melvin Brown, ComposerLyricist - Robert Spike Mickens, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1975 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Robert Bell, ComposerLyricist - Dennis Ronald Thomas, ComposerLyricist - Claydes Eugene Smith, ComposerLyricist - Kool & The Gang, Producer, MainArtist - Ronald Nathan Bell, Producer, ComposerLyricist - George Melvin Brown, ComposerLyricist - Robert Spike Mickens, ComposerLyricist - Otha Nash, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1975 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Robert Bell, ComposerLyricist - Dennis Ronald Thomas, ComposerLyricist - Claydes Eugene Smith, ComposerLyricist - Kool & The Gang, MainArtist - Ronald Nathan Bell, ComposerLyricist - George Melvin Brown, ComposerLyricist - K.G. Productions, Producer
℗ 1976 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Robert Bell, ComposerLyricist - Dennis Ronald Thomas, ComposerLyricist - Donald Boyce, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Kool & The Gang, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Claydes Smith, ComposerLyricist - Ronald Nathan Bell, ComposerLyricist - George Melvin Brown, ComposerLyricist - K.G. Productions, Producer - Mr. Vee Productions, Producer
℗ 1976 UMG Recordings, Inc.
DISC 2
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.
Eumir Deodato, Producer - Kool & The Gang, Producer, MainArtist - George Melvin Brown, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1979 The Island Def Jam Music Group
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.
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.
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
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 - 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 - 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 - 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
℗ 1984 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Robert Bell, ComposerLyricist - Curtis Williams, ComposerLyricist - Kool & The Gang, Producer, MainArtist - Claydes Smith, ComposerLyricist - Khalis Bayyan, Producer - J.T. Taylor, ComposerLyricist - Ronald Nathan Bell, ComposerLyricist - Jim Bonnefond, Producer - George Melvin Brown, ComposerLyricist - James L. Bonnefond, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1984 The Island Def Jam Music Group
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.
George Brown, ComposerLyricist - Dennis Ronald Thomas, ComposerLyricist - Clifford Adams, ComposerLyricist - Kool & The Gang, Producer, MainArtist - Ronald Nathan Bell, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Curtis Fitzgerald Williams, ComposerLyricist - James L. Bonnefond, Producer, ComposerLyricist - James Warren Taylor, ComposerLyricist - Charles Jay Smith, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1984 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Robert Bell, ComposerLyricist - Dennis Ronald Thomas, ComposerLyricist - Clifford Adams, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Rick Iantosca, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Kendal Stubbs, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Ray, ComposerLyricist - Kool & The Gang, Producer, MainArtist - Claydes Smith, ComposerLyricist - J.T. Taylor, ComposerLyricist - Ronald Nathan Bell, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Jim Bonnefond, Producer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - George Melvin Brown, ComposerLyricist - Curtis Fitzgerald Williams, ComposerLyricist - James L. Bonnefond, ComposerLyricist - Robert Spike Mickens, ComposerLyricist - Joe Roth, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1984 The Island Def Jam Music Group
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.
Kool & The Gang, MainArtist - J.T. Taylor, ComposerLyricist - Charles Smith, ComposerLyricist - Mark Freedman, Producer
℗ 1987 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Album review
Believe it or not, Gold is the first compilation with U.S. distribution to provide a fair and rather thorough glance at Kool & the Gang's career from 1969 through 1987. Dozens upon dozens of other sets either focus on one of the group's distinct eras or attempt clumsily to appease those who want "Jungle Boogie" and "Joanna" in one spot. The Chronicles catalog division of Mercury realized that roughly 90 percent of Kool & the Gang's chart hits can fit neatly on two discs, so this is an ideal package for casual fans who can appreciate raw '70s funk and slick, radio-friendly '80s R&B. It would be impossible to plot a thorough introductory course across two discs, since the group's catalog runs too deep. There wasn't enough room for the likes of "Steppin' Out," "Jones vs. Jones," "Slick Superchick," or "Take It to the Top," all of which were popular on black radio stations, and the compilers' decision to focus on the biggest singles means that a lot of subdued album cuts -- such as "Breeze and Soul" and "Winter Sadness" -- aren't factored in. A lot of care went into the presentation, with plenty of photos, thorough chart-placement information, and insightful liner notes from group associate Cleveland Brown. No Kool & the Gang compilation can be flawless, but this is one of the best ones out there.
© Andy Kellman /TiVo
About the album
- 2 disc(s) - 31 track(s)
- Total length: 02:18:46
- Main artists: Kool & The Gang
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Island Def Jam
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 2005 UMG Recordings, Inc. This Compilation ℗ 2005 UMG Recordings, Inc.
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