Kool and the Gang (album)
| Kool and the Gang | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | December 1969 | |||
| Studio | Bell Sound (New York City) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 32:12 | |||
| Label | De-Lite | |||
| Producer | Gene Redd | |||
| Kool & the Gang chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [1] |
| (The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide | [2] |
Kool and the Gang is the debut studio album by funk band Kool & the Gang released in December 1969 on De-Lite Records[3] This album peaked at No. 43 on the Billboard R&B albums chart.
Critical reception
JT Griffith of Allmusic declared, in a 3.5/5 stars review, "Though barely over a half an hour long, Kool and the Gang is a blast of a record containing strong elements that would become the band's trademarks: smooth melodies, suave rhythms, and brassy horns. This is one of Kool & the Gang's jazzier albums and a strong debut worth checking out."[1]
Singles
The singles, "Kool and the Gang" and "Let the Music Take Your Mind", both peaked at No. 19 on the Billboard Best-Selling Soul Singles chart.[4]
Track listing
De-Lite Records – DE-2003:
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Kool & the Gang" | Kool and the Gang | 2:54 |
| 2. | "Breeze & Soul" | Gene Redd & Kool and the Gang | 5:29 |
| 3. | "Chocolate Buttermilk" | Gene Redd & Kool and the Gang | 2:14 |
| 4. | "Sea of Tranquility" | Gene Redd & Kool and the Gang | 3:34 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Give It Up" | Gene Redd & Kool and the Gang | 3:40 |
| 2. | "Since I Lost My Baby" | Warren Moore & Smokey Robinson | 2:08 |
| 3. | "Kool's Back Again" | Gene Redd, Jimmy Crosby & Kool and the Gang | 2:48 |
| 4. | "The Gang's Back Again" | Gene Redd, Jimmy Crosby & Kool and the Gang | 2:46 |
| 5. | "Raw Hamburger" | Gene Redd | 3:36 |
| Total length: | 32:12 | ||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10. | "Let the Music Take Your Mind" | Gene Redd & Kool and the Gang | 2:58 |
| Total length: | 35:10 | ||
Personnel
- Robert "Kool" Bell – bass, vocals
- Khalis Bayyan aka "Ronald Bell" – tenor and soprano saxophones, alto flute, vocals
- George "Funky" Brown – drums, percussion, vocals
- Robert "Spike" Mickens – trumpet, flugelhorn, vocals
- Claydes Smith – guitars
- Woody Sparrow – guitars
- Dennis "D.T." Thomas – alto saxophone, flute, percussion, vocals
- Ricky West – keyboards, piano, vocals
Technical
- Malcom Addey – sound engineer
Design
- Robert Golden – album design
Singles
- "Kool & The Gang"/"Raw Hamburger" (#19 R&B/#59 pop) (1969)
- "The Gang's Back Again"/"Kool's Back Again" (#37/#85) (1969)
- "Let the Music Take Your Mind"/"Chocolate Buttermilk" (#19/#78) (1970)
References
- ^ a b Griffith, JT. "Kool & the Gang - Kool & the Gang". Retrieved April 6, 2025.
- ^ (The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon & Schuster. 2004. pp. 464–465.
- ^ "History - Kool and the Gang". koolandthegang.com. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
- ^ "Kool and the Gang Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
