Kool & The Gang - Light Of Worlds

Year : 1974
Label : De-Lite
Genre : Soul
Style : Jazz Funk, Boogie Funk

"Light Of Worlds" keeps Kool & The Gang on the success road started with "Wild & Peaceful" in 1973. The fifth album of the band featuring the Pazant Brothers, includes the highlight song "Summer Madness". This song is a popular raw material for Hip-Hop samples from Gang Starr or Pete Rock &amp CL Smooth to Snoop Dogg. Titles include Boogie-Funk (Rhyme-Tyme People, Light Of The Worlds, Higher Plane), Jazz Funk (Street Corners Symphony) and pure R'N'B songs (Fruitman, Whiting H. & G, You Don't Have To Change).

MUSICIANS : Robert 'Kool' Bell - bass - Khalis Bayyan - tenor saxophone - Claydes E. X. Smith - guitar - Rick West - keyboards - Dennis 'D.T.' Thomas - alto saxophone - Robert 'Spike' Mickens - trumpet, flugelhorn - George 'Funky' Brown - drums - Alvin Pazant - trumpet - Eddie Pazant - oboe, alto saxophone

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Kool And The Gang (Self-Titled)

Year : 1970
Label : De-Lite
Genre : Jazz, Soul
Style :  Funk/Soul

Debut album of killer funk group from New Jersey recorded in 1969. Kool & The Gang were formed by the Robert & Ronald Bell brothers on the Jazziacs' ashes, a high-school jazz band founded in 1964. In 1969, they signed on De-Lite Records until the early eighties. In the late seventies, they recruit famous brasilian arranger Eumir Deodato and new lead singer James Taylor. They gain international audience in 1979 with the "Ladies' Night" album following the Disco explosion. Titles include only instrumental tracks whose their anthem "Kool & The Gang", declined in three variations, and "Give It Up" sampled by A Tribe Called Quest for "Scenario", Beastie Boys for "Professor Booty" and Cypress Hill for "The Phuncky Feel One".

MUSICIANS : Robert 'Kool' Bell - bass - Ronald 'Khalis' Bell - tenor & soprano saxophone, keyboards - Dennis 'DT' Thomas - alto saxophone, flute, percussions - Robert 'Spike' Mickens - trumpet - Claydes 'Charles' Smith - guitar - Georges 'Funky' Brown - drums

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Kool & The Gang - Spirit Of The Boogie

Year : 1975
Label : De-Lite
Genre : Soul
Style : Jazz Funk, Boogie Funk

The quintessence of groove by the forerunners of Boogie-Funk at their climax featuring Don Boyce, in the same way as their two previous albums. "Spirit Of The Boogie" can be seen as the third side of "Wild & Peaceful" including variations on "Let The Music Take Your Mind" (Ride The Rhythm), "Jungle Boogie" ("Jungle Jazz" where flute and trumpet replaced Don Boyce) and "Summer Madness" (Winter Sadness). The band welcomes some newcomers Amir Bayyan (credited as Kevin Bell), Ota Nash and backing vocals group "Something Sweet". Titles include also "Spirit Of The Boogie" feat. the deep tone from the Don Boyce's voice, the love ballad "Sunshine And Love", "Mother Earth" feat. Something Sweet and "Carribean Festival" to the african expressions.

MUSICIANS : Kool Bell - bass, vocals - Claydes Smith & Kevin Bell - guitar - Ronald Bell - piano, synthesizer, clavinet, tenor saxophone, flute, percussion - Rick West - clavinet, moog, vocals - George Brown - drums, percussion, vocals - Dennis Thomas - alto saxophone, flute, percussion, vocals - Robert Spike Mickens - trumpet, percussion, vocals - Ota Nash - trombone, vocals - Don Boyce - vocal

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Kool & The Gang - Wild And Peaceful

Year : 1973
Label : De-Lite
Genre : Soul, Jazz
Style : Funk/Soul, Boogie Funk

"Wild And Peaceful" is the fourth studio album released by Kool & The Gang, one of the greatest Boogie-Funk album record produced in the seventies, including the iconic "Jungle Boogie" (selected for the Pulp Fiction's soundtrack) featuring the Boogie Man, Don Boyce. The album of the breakthrough which was their first commercial success introducing their new sound direction. Titles include killer hits "Funky Stuff/More Funky Stuff", "Hollywood Swinging", the jazzy tunes "Heaven At Once" & "Wild And Peaceful". All tracks produced, composed & arranged by Kool & The Gang.

MUSICIANS : Kool Bell - bass, vocals - Clay Smith - guitar - Rick West - electric piano, vocals - Dee Tee Thomas - alto saxophone, flute, congas, vocals - Ronald Bell - tenor & soprano saxophone, vocals - Spike Mickens - trumpet, vocals - Funky George Brown - drums & percussion, vocals - Don Boyce - vocal

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