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Avg: 3.5 (50 ratings)
- Date Released: January 1, 1969
- Genre: Hip-Hop/R&B
- Style: Soul, Funk
- Label: eMusic
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We Say...
Before J. T. Taylor's sweet, serene crooning on the perennial wedding band standard "Celebration" turned them into a pop ensemble, Kool & the Gang specialized in gritty instrumental funk with scorching tenor sax solos, fueled by Robert "Kool" Bell's driving electric bass grooves and fiery, intense arrangements. The 12 cuts featured in this eMusic special edition include rigorous workouts such as "King of Funky" and "Big Apple Boogie," but the finest tunes are the quick hitters that not only bring the beat, but extend, stretch and enhance it. "Funkasize" has a flashy melody and bright, blaring horn lines, while the catchy rhythms and slashing patterns of "Strut," "Shortage" and "US Consciousness" recall past Kool triumphs like "Jungle Boogie" and "Funky Stuff." Unfortunately, Kool and the Gang's hottest numbers were too intense for the crossover market; this collection presents a far truer picture of their signature sound than overly slick and musically vapid Top 40 hits like "Ladies Night."
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They Say...
Kool & the Gang's funky debut was an unexpected hit, with a first single (self-titled) climbing both the pop and R&B charts. Subsequent singles -- "The Gang's Back Again," "Let the Music Take Your Mind," and "Funky Man," -- followed the first into the charts, and there were plenty of other standout tracks: "Raw Hamburger," "Chocolate Buttermilk," and "Kool's Back Again." Though barely over a half an hour long, Kool and the Gang is a blast of a record containing strong elements that would become the band's trademarks: smooth melodies, suave rhythms, and brassy horns. This is one of Kool & the Gang's jazzier albums and a strong debut worth checking out, though less accessible than any of their later pop recordings.
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| 01. |  |
Power Of The Dollar |
6:30 |
|
| 02. | |
99 44/100% |
6:58 |
|
| 03. | |
King Of Funky |
8:22 |
|
| 04. | |
Starchild |
8:54 |
|
| 05. | |
Strut |
3:43 |
|
| 06. | |
Jitterbugs |
5:28 |
|
| 07. | |
US Consciousness |
2:53 |
|
| 08. | |
Boogie Band |
5:22 |
|
| 09. | |
Funkasize |
4:52 |
|
| 10. | |
Big Apple Boogie |
8:55 |
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| 11. | |
Shortage |
3:40 |
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| 12. | |
Crazy Sally |
5:33 |
|
12 Total Tracks, 71:10 Total Length
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Credits
- Kool & the Gang - Main Performer // Malcolm Addey - Engineer // Khalis Bayyan - Flute (Alto) // Khalis Bayyan - Sax (Soprano) // Khalis Bayyan - Sax (Tenor) // Khalis Bayyan - Vocals // Robert "Kool" Bell - Bass // Robert "Kool" Bell - Vocals // Cleveland "Clevie" Browne - Liner Notes // George "Funky" Brown - Percussion // George "Funky" Brown - Drums // George "Funky" Brown - Vocals // Robert "Spike" Mickens - Percussion // Robert "Spike" Mickens - Trumpet // Robert "Spike" Mickens - Flugelhorn // Robert "Spike" Mickens - Vocals // Gene Redd - Arranger // Gene Redd - Conductor // Gene Redd - Producer // Gene Redd - Liner Notes // Dennis "D.T." Thomas - Flute // Dennis "D.T." Thomas - Percussion // Dennis "D.T." Thomas - Sax (Alto) // Dennis "D.T." Thomas - Vocals // Ricky West - Piano // Ricky West - Vocals // Woody Sparrow - Guitar // Mitchell Kanner - Reissue Design // Gary N. Mayo - ? // Gary N. Mayo - Digital Remastering // Jerry Boulding - Liner Notes // Claydes E.X. Smith - Guitar // Robert Golden - Design
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