Kool & The Gang Album: “Gold”

Kool & The Gang were undoubtedly one of the biggest and best acts of the 1970s' funk / dance movement, and their success continued well into the 1980s'. With hits like "Jungle Boogie", "Ladies Night", the classic "Celebration", "Get Down On It", "Joanna", "Fresh", "Cherish" and many others, Kool & The Gang set the charts as well as dance floors ablaze during their peak years.

"Gold" a 2 cd, 31 song collection of the group's biggest hits, is the ideal Kool & The Gang Collection. Every Top 10 hit they ever had is included (including their last big hit, 1987's "Stone Love", which is often left off most compilations of the band for some reason), as well as some minor hits that may have been forgotten about by those who are only familliar with the popular songs by the group.

The sound quality is fantastic, and the packaging and liner notes are excellent as well. Iff you only want one Kool & The Gang cd for your collection, than "Gold" is by far your best bet.

What a set! One disc of hardcore funk, and one disc of great 80s pop. Kool and the Gang's transformation is just as radical as Fleetwood Mac's was when Lindsey and Stevie joined, or when Talking Heads went from new wave to funk.

Disc one brought back a lot of memories for me; songs I had completely forgotten about, "Funky Stuff", "Hollywood Swingin'", "Higher Plane", "Summer Madness", and "Love and Understanding".

Allegedly the early stuff kept James Brown awake at night; the Gang was THAT funky. Proof's on disc one. The songs are mostly instrumental with a smattering of call/response. Their M.O. is simple, establish the groove and WORK IT.

And then James JT Taylor joined in 1979 and, thus disc two. The Gang is now a hit machine, cranking out the music like Ford turned out Thunderbirds: "Ladies Night", "Too Hot", "Celebration" (which will live long after you and I are gone), and on and on and on. Even in this phase they still etablish the groove and work it, as displayed on the almost 7 minute "Let's Go Dancing"... even that's too short!

Whoever put this together at Universal deserves a raise or something. The songs are chronological, well written band essay, ample credits. This two disc best of should be the standard to which other record companies strive.

Get yours today!

can someone post the timings of the songs on here as Amazon did not.

I would like to know the lengths of the songs before purchasing this CD

collection. I want to know I am getting the full length versions or just

settle with what I have from Kool and The Gang. Example: There is the

album version of Ladies Night that is about 6:36 that is on a Polygram

12" versions CD.

Kool and the Gang is most definitely one of the tightest and funkiest groups of the last 35 plus years. They exemplify what musicians should be like and about. These collection of tracks are self evident. I copped this one about a year ago and i already have most of the albums at home. I'm still going to go out and cop some more of the self titled ones though.

I love Kool and the Gang..I remember in the 70's wow they were the bomb. And I just had to purchase their CD for the memories...However its too bad Kool wont forgive JT and let it go and the Gang can get back together...Now that would be a great reunion....Come on Kool...please forgive and move on...your fans would like no love to see the Gang back together...BangieB625@aol.com