ARTIST SPOTLIGHT #15 - KOOL & THE GANG

[efunk_adelic]

For me KOOL & THE GANG's early part of their career was the best.... when I look at it now... I think they decided what was best for their future and decided to get away from their jazz/silly funk sides and put out some more meaningful songs that would touch the masses. And boy did it. Some of my favorite songs off the top of my head:


HIGHER PLANE
SUMMER MADDNESS
SPIRIT OF THE BOOGIE
OPEN SESAME

[DiscoMan]

I saw Kool and The Gang at the Mohegan Sun Casino in CT this past September and they were terrific. They rocked the house down with a performance of vitually all of their hits from early in their career through the end of their "hey day".

[markydefad]

I like most of their stuff...but my faves would be:

Ladies Night
Too Hot
Get Down On It

[DiscoMan]

They performed those three and they were smokin'!!!!!!!!!!! :D

[Mario]

I used to LOVE Kool & The Gang! :D My favorite was Jungle Boogie!!!! When I hear that song play, I get images of kids on American Bandstand doing The Bump! This song was released in that era just before 1970s disco grabbed a hold of dancing audiences. To this day when I hear the classic opening of "get down, get down" I'm instantly in the mood to dance!!!
And that ending Tarzan yell...Pure fun!!!! :lol:
Take Care...
Mario 8)

[K-Bee]

Summer Madness all the way...a classier song doesn't exists.
Kool even recorded it again in 1992, making it even more jazzy!! :)

I have a very odd favorite of Kool's also:
RainDrops from 1989 - with skip martin of the dazz band on lead vocals. I've never met anyone who has even heard this track :-?

[Forrrce]

Love 'em. Far too many favourites to mention, but I'll give a nod to:

'Kool's/The Gang's Back Again'
'Love The Life You Live'
'Hangin' Out'
'Summer Madness' - if jus for having the best stereo 'Rhodes panning, ever
'Chocolate Buttermilk'

[Nano]

From the first era: "Wild and peaceful", "Summer madness", "Funky stuff", "Good times", "Hollywood swinging", and many others.
From the J.T. era: "Take my heart", "Love festival", "Ladies night", "Too hot", "Get down on it", "Steppin' out"... Some of them I can't listen to because they were so played to death on the radio still now! :evil:
I went to dance with the J.T. combo and discovered the early records much later. They're great. Let's say they were great both in the funk and the disco class. 8)

[Videoskooter]

For me KOOL & THE GANG's early part of their career was the best....

I totally agree with that. The Jazz-Funk-period was super! The first discosongs were great but after a little while they became too commercial IMO. For me their all-time low was " Oh la la la, let's go dancing". And their 80's remixes were an insult to me.

Best of:
- Hollywood swinging
- Jungle Boogie
- Spirit of the boogie
- Open sesame pts. I & II
- N.T pts. I & II
- Jungle jazz
- Funky stuff
Only 2 commercial ones: "Ladies'night" and "Take my heart"