Reply With QuoteYes, The Cools Notes were a very good UK band, who started out doing Lover's Rock (British soulful Reggae) in the early '70s. It's well worth grabbing their LP.
Advance Promo Copy [Level 3]
anyone remember "the cool notes"?
they had a hit around 85: "spend the night"
Is it worth to buy the album "have a good forever"? Or can someone give me a little desription what it's like? are there some other good tracks besides "spend the night"...
Gold Record [Level 7]
Yes, The Cools Notes were a very good UK band, who started out doing Lover's Rock (British soulful Reggae) in the early '70s. It's well worth grabbing their LP.
Chart Hit [Level 6]
Re: the cool notes
Hey, if you don't want it, I'll take it:-)
I've managed to get about 9 or 10 of their songs as mp3's - HOT! They remind me of the all the great early/mid 80's mid tempo songs from people like Windjammer, Real to Reel, Five Special, Nick Martinelli productions, or Paul Laurence/ Kashif type stuff or all those Malavasi/Petrus productions, and if that's not enough to convince you, take comfort in knowing that Cool Notes LP's aren't that easy to come by, I haven't found any yet.
And there are other groups I've discovered recently that have a similiar sound (and are also hard to find) you might want to check them out also....
Hi Tension
and
Breakwater
:-)
Q.D. Earl
Unlimited Music Merchants
Q.D. Earl on Stickam
Q.D. Earl on Mixcrate
"The Problem is....Choice."
Advance Promo Copy [Level 3]
Thanks for your answers...
early/mid 80's mid tempo songs, nick martinelli, malavasi/petrus..sounds all good! that's what i'm looking for :-)
I've already found a copy on ebay, not even expensive.
Since they were a UK band, there are a few copies around here in europe.
Or the seller didn't know what good and rare stuff he was selling :-P
Gotta check Hi Tension and Breakwater as well
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcuUQ...h=cool%20notes
Chart Hit [Level 6]
The Japanese pressings of the 2 Breakwater Cds are not that uncommon in the U.S. and are well worth the money. I've had mine for about 5 years and the group the 2 groups they sound closest to is Maze and Earth, Wind, and Fire. They do some nice falsettos and have that working vibe that only Maze had.
I've heard some samples of the Cool Notes while on that certain mystery song scavender hunt. I wasn't real impressed although the mid 80's is not my favorite era.
Gold Record [Level 7]
Double Platinum Record [Level 9]
Just a bit of trivia: did you know that the lead singer of Cool Notes is the mum of one of the guys in S Club 7?
...ya gotta beat the street......
Advance Promo Copy [Level 3]
Yeah :-)
We've already solved this one in another thread:
http://www.discomusic.com/forums/showthread.php/8212
Last edited by Bernie; September 22nd, 2011 at 02:12 PM.
Indie Release [Level 4]
Whoa...Cool Notes....Never heard of. If these guys sound anything like "Breakwater", I'm gonna have to look out for them though. I am a major fan of Arista's Breakwater with "Splashdown" being my favorite album. The self-titles album from 1978 was also very good...Must have in my opinion. Eddie hit the nail on the head with the comparisons. They do seem to have that sound that is very much related to Maze & E,W & F. As the cd prints are Japanese imports, Look forward to spending close to (if not over) $20.00 respectively for each disc but again as eddie said, well worth the money spent. "Hi Tension" I also never heard of.
**Funk Is It's Own Reward**
Test Pressing [Level 2]
Stock/Waterman produced a single for them in 1991 called "Make This a Special Night" -- at least I assume this is the same Cool Notes we're discussing.
Chart Hit [Level 6]
No the Cool Notes don't sound anything like Breakwater. The Cool notes who are from England employ mostly female vocals and resemble Klymaxx. "In my car" which was the track sample I heard was quite sing songy and not very soulful and definitely not funky!!
Chart Hit [Level 6]
Sound wise, The Cool Notes' only resemblence to Klymaxx would be the fact that they both have female leads, Klymaxx is more urban/funk oriented than Cool Notes, as is Breakwater, I never said they were carbon copies of each other, but they both have songs in a similiar vein, (production, arrangement, tempo...) As an example you mentioned "In My Car" by CN which is similiar to "Say U Love Me Girl" by Breakwater and "Girl I Betcha" by Hi TensionOriginally Written by eddie
It all depends on your preference, you focus more on the" funk" sound,(which CN and Breakwater part ways on) I listen more for smooth melodies (a.k.a "Quiet Storm) sound of which Cool Notes, Breakwater, & Hi Tension all have in common:-)
Q.D. Earl
Unlimited Music Merchants
Q.D. Earl on Stickam
Q.D. Earl on Mixcrate
"The Problem is....Choice."
Advance Promo Copy [Level 3]
Re: the cool notes
qdearl is right. it really depends on the preference.
from what I heard until now, musically the CN remind me of much of CHANGE and other Petrus/Malvasi productions from the early 80's. But additionally the CN have that special britfunk approach, similar to bands such as LIGHT OF THE WORLD, THE WARRIORS, and early INCOGNITO stuff.
That's how I would decribe it...
I'll get my CN record in the next few days :D
Chart Hit [Level 6]
I guess I'm really not at liberty to talk about about their Quiet Storm stuff. I heard about a 1 minute sample of "In my car" which sounds like its from 1986 and opted out of buying their rare Greatest hits CD for $40 as I didn't think their was much substance in the music. I have heard that their 1984 Lp sells typically for $150 and is probably stylistically different. But vocally I didn't think they were terribly strong but the key would then by finding appropriate material which isn't an impossible task.
I also make strange metaphoric analogies and compare music from different eras and also appreciate the Quiet Storm which is my main focus of collecting. I see the 70's progressive funk and roots that Visuals collects and didn't want to reccomend something he wouldn't dig!!!
Advance Promo Copy [Level 3]
I finally got the CN album "Have a good forever" and I listened to it several times.
They have a great sound and are very good musicians, and the ladies know how to sing. Tight boogie drums in an early eighties style, sparkling rhodes, funky guitar, sweet synths and nice backing vocal harmonies. But the songwriting is not outstanding.
The band is very likeable. On the sleeve notes every member of the group drops a few lines about their personal musical taste and influences, which is mainly: Maze, EW&F, Dazz Band, Atlantic Starr and Jeff Lorber. The Influence is all there. Their sound also remind me of D-Train, Larry Wu (Let me show you), George Benson (Give me the night), the slower songs are very similar to Jaki Grahams work with Derek Bramble.
I have to admit I'm a little bit disapointed because of the songs...spend the night is by far the best track on this album.
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Underground Hit [Level 5]
The Cool Notes In my car was an o.k. track but most of there stuff copied the style of r&b around in the U.S at that time. Hi-Tension are a more interesting band .There self titled first single was a major club hit over here as was the second British Hustle. There early style copied Brass Construction with percussion added. Hi-tension the first single came out on Island in the States but the european mix is better.For there later releases they changed style infact they did a very good version of Surface -Happy.
Gold Record [Level 7]
:-o
Jesus!! Is that right? I hope not. I've had a copy on vinyl for years...Maybe I ought to sell it.
Acetate [Level 1]
I think I heard a great jazz-funk instumentul, possibly called the sound of
summer on an old episode of the smooth groovers podcast.
Was that the Coolnotes? That track alone would be worth having a cd for!
Advance Promo Copy [Level 3]
There are two 12" singles from the album "have a good forever", both of them containing nice jazzfunk instrumentals on the b-side which aren't on the album. Maybe that's the one you're looking for...
secrets of the night
http://www.discogs.com/release/158343
halu (spring)
http://www.discogs.com/release/171503
I guess it would be difficult to find them on cd
Acetate [Level 1]
Cool Notes are pretty much my favorite band.. Stumbled acroos their music on Christmas a few years back and have been on the hunt for EVERYTHING they have.. I agree they have a similar vibe as Hi Tension.. but Im not too sure if they sound like Breakwater.. Breakwater sounds a little more rough.. But Cool Notes are very gifted and original on the synthesizer.. my most favorite.. that is how i can tell CN from other bands.. if i say they sound like anyone.. it would be Rah Band - Messages From tthe Stars?? My favorite songs by CN would have to be Youre Never Too Young, All I Wanna Do, My Love is Hot, Spend the Night, Look What Youve done to Me.. at first listen they were a little too bubble gum but i slowed down the tempo between 12 and 16% and the songs sound COMPLETELY different.. can be mixed with a number of different songs and not to mention the Synth sounds.. all i have is good things to say about COOL NOTES.. hope this helps.. BTW.. im on Soulseek everyday with the same name.. please help me find the rest of the CN treasures... Cheers!
Acetate [Level 1]
Could have been Natral Energy too..
Acetate [Level 1]
For me they are my favourite R&B group of the 80s!! They are from UK but they sound just like US!! They hade dancing beats and rhythm, funky guitars and amazig synth melodies!!:icon_biggrin:
Somebody says they copied song and music...Tell me, witch song today doesn´t sound just like the other one??:icon_mad:
Since I first hear "In you car", I fotunatlly get to download and collect all other hits + Medley megamix, witch was really professionally made, with a lot of sampling and scratching!!
So I must say - The Cool Notes are one of the "coolest" R&B group!!
vectone
Advance Promo Copy [Level 3]
Yeah, the cool notes had a great sound.
But apart from "spend the night" and "in your car" their compositions haven't been very sensational imo. They better should have teamed up with a good producer like derek bramble who wrote some nice songs for UK singer jaki graham around that time.
Chart Hit [Level 6]
Speaking of the Cool-Notes again, I found them a little more appealing than Phoster does:icon_cool:
in addition to the songs he mentioned I think these songs are good also....
I Forgot
I Wanna Dance
You're Never Too Young
In 2 The Motion
My Love is Hot
Make This a Special Night
My Tune
I Don't Wanna Stop
Also, if anyone is interested, iTunes is now offering a Cool-Notes "Greatest Hits" of sorts, which includes most of the songs named here (and a few I haven't heard, which I'm going to go listen to now and see if they're any good:icon_smile: )
on a different note, anyone familiar with the group Copy-Right? I've got a song called Hypnotized that I think is off da hook! similiar sound to Cool-notes and I'd love to find some of their other stuff, if they have any!
http://www.discomusic.com/records-more/8466_0_2_0_C/
Q.D. Earl
Unlimited Music Merchants
Q.D. Earl on Stickam
Q.D. Earl on Mixcrate
"The Problem is....Choice."
Acetate [Level 1]
Copy-Right? never heard of them.. but im hot on their trail now.. and im off to Itunes to see what i can grab from the cool notes.. hopefully they have sugar,sugar by CN.. it gets pricey to be a fan..
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