The Very Best of Kool & the Gang

by Kool & the Gang

Overview

Spanning the band's early-'70s genesis as an unhinged funk congregation and their later resurgence with urbane R&B balladry and synth-inflected disco, The Very Best of Kool & the Gang may not be a unified collection, but it is the first to offer every hit that's expected -- as well as a few that aren't -- from the band's long career. The emphasis is definitely on their peak as a pop group, from 1979 to 1986, with pride of place going to the hits "Celebration," "Get Down on It," "Ladies Night," "Too Hot," "Misled," and "Joanna." Fans of the funk get only three tracks ("Funky Stuff," "Hollywood Swinging," and "Jungle Boogie," all from 1973's Wild and Peaceful), which won't cause anyone to sell their copies of The Best of Kool & the Gang 1969-1976, but does give pop fans a glimpse of their mid-'70s greatness. All in all, this lengthy collection doesn't transition well from hit to hit, but then again, chronological order would've forced legions of pop fans to forward through the funk material to get to their favorites. ~ John Bush

Product Details

Release Date:	03/23/1999
Label:	Mercury / Def Jam / Island / Universal Music
UPC:	0731453805828
Rank:	1681

Tracks

1. Celebration
2. Get Down on It
3. Fresh
4. Too Hot
5. Let's Go Dancin' (Ooh La La La)
6. Take My Heart (You Can Have It If You Want It)
7. Jungle Boogie
8. Ladies Night
9. Cherish
10. Funky Stuff
11. In the Heart
12. Steppin' Out
13. Joanna
14. Hollywood Swinging
15. Tonight
16. Misled
17. Take It to the Top
18. Hi De Hi, Hi De Ho
19. Big Fun
20. Victory
21. Celebration

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Kool & the Gang   Primary Artist
Rick Iantosca   Keyboards,Percussion
Eumir Deodato   Conductor

Technical Credits

Kevin Reeves   Digital Remastering
James "J.T." Taylor   Composer
Clifford Adams   Composer
Jim Bonnefond   Composer
Eddie Arkin   Composer
Bas Hartong   Compilation Producer
Earl Toon   Composer
Donald Boyce   Composer
James Taylor   Composer
Robert "Kool" Bell   Composer
Robert "Spike" Mickens   Composer
Ronald Bell   Composer
Sandy Linzer   Composer
Meekaaeel Muhammad   Composer
Michael Ray   Composer,Composer
Kool & the Gang   Composer
Dennis "D.T." Thomas   Composer
Richard Westfield   Composer
Michael Cohen   Compilation Producer
Kevin Bell   Composer
Rick Iantosca   Arranger
Diane Covucci   Project Coordinator
Richard Aaron   Photography
Curtis "Fitz" Williams   Composer
Eileen Cleary   Project Coordinator
George "Funky" Brown   Composer
James L. Bonnefond   Composer
Eumir Deodato   Composer
Claydes Smith   Composer
George Brown   Composer
Charles Smith   Composer