Kool & The Gang
Wikimp3 information about the music of Kool & The Gang. On our website we have 70 albums and 70 collections of artist Kool & The Gang. You can find useful information and download songs of this artist. We also know that Kool & The Gang represents Soul genres.
Biography
[Edit]Formed as a jazz ensemble in the mid-'60s, Kool & the Gang became one of the most inspired and influential funk units during the '70s, and one of the most popular R&B groups of the '80s after their breakout hit "Celebration" in 1979. Just as funky as James Brown or Parliament (and sampled almost as frequently), Kool & the Gang relied on their jazz backgrounds and long friendship to form a tightly knit group with the interplay and improvisation of a jazz outfit, plus the energy and spark of a band with equal ties to soul, R&B, and funk.
Robert "Kool" Bell and his brother Ronald (or Khalis Bayyan) grew up in Jersey City, NJ, and picked up the music bug from their father. A professional boxer, he was also a serious jazz lover and a close friend of Thelonious Monk. With Robert on bass and Ronald picking up an array of horns, the duo formed the Jazziacs in 1964 with several neighborhood friends: trombone player Clifford Adams, guitarists Charles Smith and Woody Sparrow, trumpeter Robert "Spike" Michens, alto saxophonist Dennis Thomas, keyboard player Ricky West, and drummer Funky George Brown (all of whom, except Michens and West, still remained in the group more than 30 years later).
The growing earthiness of soul inspired the Jazziacs to temper their jazz sensibilities with rhythms more akin to R&B, and the newly renamed Soul Town Band began playing clubs in Greenwich Village. After a mix-up with a club owner resulted in the group being billed Kool & the Flames, they moderated the title to Kool & the Gang and found a leg up with the tiny De-Lite Records. Three singles from their self-titled debut album hit the pop charts, and although the position wasn't incredibly high, Kool & the Gang became a quick success on the R&B charts. Always a staple of their appeal, the group's live act was documented on two 1971 LPs, Live at the Sex Machine and Live at P.J.'s, including left-field covers of "Walk On By" and "Wichita Lineman" (as well as the not so unusual "I Want to Take You Higher").
Studio albums followed in 1972 and 1973, but it was with Kool & the Gang's sixth LP, Wild and Peaceful, that they hit the big time. "Funky Stuff" became their first Top 40 hit at the end of 1973. Then both "Jungle Boogie" and "Hollywood Swinging" reached the pop Top Ten. During the next four years, however, Kool & the Gang could only manage an occasional Top 40 hit ("Higher Plane," "Spirit of the Boogie"), and though they did win a Grammy award for "Open Sesame" (from the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack), the rise of disco — a movement centered around producers and vocalists, in direct contrast to the group's focus on instrumentalists — had appeared to end their popularity.
Then, in 1979, the group added two new vocalists, Earl Toon, Jr. and, more importantly, James "J.T." Taylor, a former Jersey nightclub singer. Kool & the Gang also began working with jazz fusion arranger Eumir Deodato, who produced their records from 1979 to 1982. The first such album, Ladies Night, was their biggest hit yet, the first of three consecutive platinum albums, with the Top Ten singles "Too Hot" and the title track. Celebrate!, released in 1980, spawned Kool & the Gang's only number one hit, "Celebration," an anthem favored by innumerable wedding receptions since. With Deodato, the group produced several more hits, including the singles "Take My Heart (You Can Have It if You Want It)," "Get Down on It," and "Big Fun," and the albums Something Special in 1981 and As One a year later. After Deodato left the fold in late 1982, Kool & the Gang proved their success wasn't solely due to him; they had two immense hits during 1984-1985 ("Joanna" and "Cherish"), as well as two more Top Tens, "Misled" and "Fresh." The group's string of seven gold or platinum records continued until 1986's Forever, after which James "J.T." Taylor amicably left the group for a solo career.
Although Taylor did reasonably well with his solo recordings (many of which were produced by Ronald Bell), Kool & the Gang quickly sank without him. They replaced Taylor with three vocalists, Skip Martin (formerly of the Dazz Band), Odeen Mays, and Gary Brown, but failed to chart their albums Sweat (1989) and Unite (1993). Taylor finally returned to the group in 1995 for the release of a new album, State of Affairs. They continued well throughout the 2000s, releasing 2001's Gangland, 2004's The Hits: Reloaded, and 2007's Still Kool (recorded after the 2006 death of co-founder Charles Smith). They often collaborated with new and well-known younger talent.
Title: Songs of Kool & the Gang
Artist: Kool & The Gang
Title: Les 50 Plus Belles Chansons (Cd2)
Artist: Kool & The Gang
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Dancefloor, Pop
Title: Kool & The Gang, LIVE! (Live)
Artist: Kool & The Gang
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Jazz, Rock, Funk
Title: Everything Is Kool & The Gang: Greatest Hits and More
Artist: Kool & The Gang
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Funk
Title: Funk Essentials: Kool & The Gang - The 12" Collection and More
Artist: Kool & The Gang
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Disco, Funk
Title: Ladies' Night
Artist: Kool & The Gang
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Rock, Dancefloor, Disco, Dance Pop, Funk
Title: Kool For the Holidays
Artist: Kool & The Gang
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Traditional Pop Music, Funk
Title: Jump Up On The Rhythm & Ride - Single
Artist: Kool & The Gang
Genre: Electronica, Dancefloor, Dance Pop
Title: Celebration'88 (S. A. W. Remix) (Maxi-Single)
Artist: Kool & The Gang
Title: Celebration / Morning Star - Single
Artist: Kool & The Gang
Title: The 12" Collection and More (Funk Essentials)
Artist: Kool & The Gang
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul
Title: The Best of Kool & the Gang! (Live)
Artist: Kool & The Gang
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Jazz, Rock, Dancefloor, Disco, Pop, Dance Pop, Funk
Title: All Time Greatest Hits
Artist: Kool & The Gang
Title: A Night With Kool & the Gang (Live)
Artist: Kool & The Gang
Title: Kool and the Gang - Greatest Hits
Artist: Kool & The Gang
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Pop, Funk
Title: In The Heart
Artist: Kool & The Gang
Genre: Electronica, Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Rock, Disco, Funk
Collections
Title: Do The Funk Vol. 5
Title: Simply The Best Disco (CD2)
Title: 12inch 80s Classics
Genre: Pop
Title: 120 Hits - Greatest Hits Soul And R&B (CD7)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Disco, Funk, Psychedelic
Title: 120 Hits - Greatest Hits Soul And R&B (CD8)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Disco, Funk, Psychedelic
Title: Maxi Funk, Vol. 1
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Funk
Title: Maxi Funk, Vol. 2
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Funk
Title: Dance Classics Volume 9 & 10
Title: 12'' 80s Grooves (CD02)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Pop, Funk
Title: Grand 12-Inches 1 (CD2)
Title: The Funk Box (CD2)
Title: 120 Hits Disco Funk (CD1)
Genre: Hard NRG, Disco, Italo Disco, Eurodisco
Title: I Love Disco - Grand Prix 70's (CD1)
Genre: Hard NRG, Disco, Italo Disco, Eurodisco
Title: Joey Essex Presents Party Anthems (CD3)
Genre: Industrial, Club/Dance, EBM
Title: Disco Inferno 70's Collection (CD1)
Genre: Hard NRG, Disco, Italo Disco, Eurodisco
Title: NOW Thats What I Call 80s Hits (CD5)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rock, Pop
Title: Dance Classics Gold II (CD1)
Title: This Is The Sound Of... Soul
Genre: Soul
Title: True Disco
Title: True Soul (CD2)
Title: True Mellow (CD2)
Title: 12 " / 80s Classics (CD2)
Title: 1000 Klassiekers De Absolute Top Vol. 6 (CD2)
Genre: Club/Dance
Title: Best Pop Ballads (CD2)
Genre: Pop
Title: Retro Nostalgia 90 (CD1)
Genre: Dancefloor, Disco, Pop, Dance Pop
Title: I Love Hits 80's 90's Vol. 2 (CD1)
Genre: Dancefloor, Disco, Pop, Dance Pop
Title: The Best Of 80-90 (CD1)
Genre: Club/Dance, Disco House
Title: When A Love Loves A Woman (CD2)
Genre: Post Disco, Hip Hop/R&B, Jazz, Funk
Title: Dance Classics - Pop Edition Vol. 12 (CD2)
Genre: Eurodance, Dancefloor, Pop, Dance Pop
Title: Dance Classics - Pop Edition Vol. 9 (CD2)
Genre: Eurodance, Dancefloor, Pop, Dance Pop
Title: Dance Classics - Pop Edition Vol. 10 (CD2)
Genre: Eurodance, Dancefloor, Pop, Dance Pop
Title: Dance Classics - Pop Edition Vol. 11 (CD2)
Genre: Eurodance, Dancefloor, Pop, Dance Pop
Title: Old School Jams (Gold) (CD2)
Genre: Freestyle Music, Soul, Disco, Funk
Title: Greatest Ever! Mum: The Definitive Collection (CD1)
Genre: Pop
Title: '80s Gold (CD1)
Title: 12'' Club Classics - 80s Grooves
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Disco, Funk
Title: Return Of The Pusherman - Hustlin' Soul (CD1)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Disco, Funk
Title: The Trip Part 2
Title: One Shot Disco (Volume 3) (CD1)
Genre: Disco
Title: One Shot Disco (Volume 2) (CD2)
Genre: Disco
Title: One Shot Disco (Volume 5) (CD2)
Genre: Disco
Title: Greatest Ever 70s Groove (CD2)
Genre: Rock & Roll, Reggae, Disco, Pop
Title: 70's Soul Number 1's
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul
Title: Hot Dance Retro Vol. 12 (CD2)
Genre: Rock, Dancefloor, Pop, Dance Pop
Title: Best Of Retro Dance (CD2)
Genre: Rock, Dancefloor, Pop, Dance Pop
Title: 100 Hits Girls Night (CD2)
Title: Key To The Groove (CD2: Love. I Never Had It So Good)
Genre: Electronica, House, Soul, Jazz, Disco
Title: Number 1's - '70s Soul
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Disco, Funk
Title: The 80-90’ Retro Hits (CD1)
Title: 100 Hits: 70s Pop
Genre: Pop
Featuring albums
Title: Boogie Oogie - Internacional
Artist: Vários Artistas / Varios Artistas
Genre: Theatre/Soundtrack
Title: J.T. Taylor: Greatest Hits
Artist: James J. T. Taylor
Title: Saturday Night Fever [The Original Movie Soundtrack]
Artist: Bee Gees
Genre: Electronica, Rock, Dancefloor, Disco, Pop, Pop Rock, Theatre/Soundtrack
Title: Pure Funk
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Electronica, Hip Hop/R&B, Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Dancefloor, Disco, Pop
Title: Las Vegas: Original Television Soundtrack
Artist: Various
Genre: Electronica, Hip Hop/R&B, Rock, Dancefloor, Pop, Dance Pop, Theatre/Soundtrack
Title: 17 Again: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Theatre/Soundtrack
Title: Disco Fever
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Electronica, Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Dancefloor, Disco, Dance Pop, Kids
Title: Grandes Éxitos de los 80's, Vol. 1 / Grandes Exitos de los 80's, Vol. 1
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Rock
Title: Down Town Funk (Original Soundtrack) (CD1)
Artist: Ministry Of Sound
Genre: Soul, Disco, Theatre/Soundtrack, Funk
Title: Credit To The Edit - Volume One
Artist: Greg Wilson
Genre: Industrial, Electro, Soul, Dancefloor, Disco, Nu Disco, Dance Pop, Funk, EBM