Release type
COMPILATION
Release options
© 2011 UMG Recordings, Inc.
-
1
Celebration
04:58
Lyrics availableSynced lyrics availablePopularity 0/10 -
2
Hollywood Swinging
04:36
Lyrics availableSynced lyrics availablePopularity 0/10 -
3
Jungle Boogie
03:04
Lyrics availableSynced lyrics availablePopularity 0/10 -
4
Get Down On It
04:50
Lyrics availableSynced lyrics availablePopularity 0/10 -
5
Ladies Night
03:27
Lyrics availablePopularity 0/10 -
6
Fresh
03:47
Lyrics availableSynced lyrics availablePopularity 0/10 -
7
Cherish
05:40
Lyrics availableSynced lyrics availablePopularity 0/10 -
8
Too Hot
05:03
Lyrics availableSynced lyrics availablePopularity 0/10 -
9
Joanna
03:59
Lyrics availableSynced lyrics availablePopularity 0/10 -
10
Take My Heart (You Can Have It If You Want It)
04:01
Lyrics availableSynced lyrics availablePopularity 0/10 -
11
Let's Go Dancin' (Ooh La, La, La)
06:41
Lyrics availableSynced lyrics availablePopularity 0/10 -
12
Open Sesame
03:48
Lyrics availablePopularity 0/10
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
1. Celebration
- Background Vocals
-
Earl Toon Jr.
Robert Spike Mickens
Ronald Nathan Bell
George Brown - Bass Guitar
- Robert Bell
- Lyricist
-
Ronald Nathan Bell
J.t. Taylor
Curtis Fitzgerald Williams
Charles Smith
Dennis Ronald Thomas
George Melvin Brown
Robert Spike Mickens - Drums
- George Brown
- Engineer
- Jim Bonnefond
- Guitar
- Charles Smith
- Performer
-
Adam Epolito
Eumir Deodato
Kevin Bell
Charles Smith
George Brown
Robert Bell
Earl Toon Jr.
James "j.t." Taylor
Robert Spike Mickens
Ronald Nathan Bell - Conductor
-
Eumir Deodato
Deodato - Producer
-
Eumir Deodato
Kool & The Gang
Deodato - Primary Artist
- Kool & The Gang
- Bass Guitar
- Robert Bell
- Keyboard
-
Ronald Nathan Bell
Kevin Bell - Saxophone
- Ronald Nathan Bell
- Vocals
- James "j.t." Taylor
- Composer
-
Charles Smith
Ronald Nathan Bell
Robert Spike Mickens
George Melvin Brown
Dennis Ronald Thomas
Curtis Fitzgerald Williams
J.t. Taylor - Recording Arrangement
- Eumir Deodato
- Studio Personnel
- Jim Bonnefond
- Additional Keyboards
- Adam Epolito
- Composer Lyricist
-
Dennis Ronald Thomas
J.t. Taylor
Ronald Nathan Bell
George Melvin Brown
Curtis Fitzgerald Williams
Charles Smith
Robert Spike Mickens
2. Hollywood Swinging
- Performer
-
Kool & The Gang Enterprises, Inc.
Kool & The Gang Enterprises - Primary Artist
- Kool & The Gang
- Composer
-
Ronald Nathan Bell
Robert Spike Mickens
George Brown
Robert Bell
Claydes Smith
Dennis Ronald Thomas
Richard Westfield - Lyricist
-
Robert Spike Mickens
Ronald Nathan Bell
George Brown
Robert Bell
Claydes Smith
Dennis Ronald Thomas
Richard Westfield - Engineer
-
Jeff Lesser
Harvey Goldberg - Inc.
- Kool & The Gang Enterprises
- Producer
-
Kool & The Gang Enterprises, Inc.
Kool & The Gang Enterprises - Recording Arrangement
-
Kool & The Gang Enterprises, Inc.
Kool & The Gang Enterprises - Studio Personnel
-
Harvey Goldberg
Jeff Lesser - Composer Lyricist
-
Robert Bell
George Brown
Dennis Ronald Thomas
Claydes Smith
Richard Westfield
Ronald Nathan Bell
Robert Spike Mickens
3. Jungle Boogie
- Background Vocals
- Donald Boyce
- Primary Artist
- Kool & The Gang
- Performer
-
Kool & The Gang Enterprises, Inc.
Donald Boyce
Kool & The Gang Enterprises - Composer
-
Ronald Nathan Bell
Robert Spike Mickens
George Brown
Robert Bell
Claydes Smith
Dennis Ronald Thomas
Donald Boyce
Richard Westfield - Lyricist
-
Robert Spike Mickens
Ronald Nathan Bell
George Brown
Robert Bell
Claydes Smith
Dennis Ronald Thomas
Donald Boyce
Richard Westfield - Engineer
-
Jeff Lesser
Harvey Goldberg - Inc.
- Kool & The Gang Enterprises
- Producer
-
Kool & The Gang Enterprises, Inc.
Kool & The Gang Enterprises - Recording Arrangement
-
Kool & The Gang Enterprises, Inc.
Kool & The Gang Enterprises - Studio Personnel
-
Harvey Goldberg
Jeff Lesser - Composer Lyricist
-
Robert Bell
George Brown
Dennis Ronald Thomas
Donald Boyce
Claydes Smith
Richard Westfield
Ronald Nathan Bell
Robert Spike Mickens - Unknown Contributor Role
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Elliot Lurie
Jay Landers
Christopher B. Pearman
4. Get Down On It
- Alto Saxophone
-
Dennis Thomas
Steve Greenfield - Background Vocals
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Steve Greenfield
George Brown
Michael Ray
Robert Bell
James "j.t." Taylor
Robert Spike Mickens
Ronald Nathan Bell - Lyricist
-
Claydes Smith
Robert Bell
George Melvin Brown
Ronald Nathan Bell
Robert Spike Mickens
Eumir Deodato
J.t. Taylor - Engineer
- Jim Bonnefond
- Bass Guitar
- Robert Bell
- Bass Guitar
- Robert Bell
- Drums
- George Brown
- Flute
- Steve Greenfield
- Guitar
- Charles Smith
- Keyboard
-
Eumir Deodato
Ronald Nathan Bell
Brian Robert Jackson - Performer
-
Steve Greenfield
Eumir Deodato
Charles Smith
Clifford Adams
George Brown
Michael Ray
Robert Bell
Dennis Thomas
Brian Robert Jackson
James "j.t." Taylor
Robert Spike Mickens
Ronald Nathan Bell - Saxophone
- Ronald Nathan Bell
- Trombone
- Clifford Adams
- Trumpet
-
Michael Ray
Robert Spike Mickens - Vocals
- James "j.t." Taylor
- Composer
-
J.t. Taylor
Ronald Nathan Bell
Robert Spike Mickens
George Melvin Brown
Robert Bell
Claydes Smith
Eumir Deodato
Deodato - Studio Personnel
- Jim Bonnefond
- Composer Lyricist
-
Robert Bell
Eumir Deodato
Claydes Smith
J.t. Taylor
Ronald Nathan Bell
George Melvin Brown
Robert Spike Mickens - Primary Artist
- Kool & The Gang
- Producer
-
Kool & The Gang
Eumir Deodato
Deodato
5. Ladies Night
- Primary Artist
- Kool & The Gang
- Alto Saxophone
- Dennis Thomas
- Composer
-
George Brown
Ronald Nathan Bell
Meekaaeel Muhammed
Earl Toon
Dennis Ronald Thomas
Claydes Smith
Robert Bell
J.t. Taylor - Lyricist
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Earl Toon
Ronald Nathan Bell
George Brown
Dennis Ronald Thomas
Meekaaeel Muhammed
J.t. Taylor
Robert Bell
Claydes Smith - Additional Keyboards
- Andy Whitmore
- Bass Guitar
- Robert Bell
- Bass Guitar
- Robert Bell
- Drums
- Tim Horton
- Guitar
-
Andrew Smith
Charles Smith - Keyboard
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George 'funky' Brown
Khalis Bayyan - Performer
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Sennie "skip" Martin
Tim Horton
Charles Smith
Clifford Adams
Andrew Smith
Robert Bell
Andy Whitmore
Anthony Thompson
Dennis Thomas
George 'funky' Brown
James "j.t." Taylor
Khalis Bayyan - Tenor Saxophone
- Khalis Bayyan
- Vocal Arrangement
- Anthony Thompson
- Producer
-
Kool & The Gang
Eumir Deodato
Deodato - Trombone
- Clifford Adams
- Trumpet
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Clifford Adams
Sennie "skip" Martin - Vocals
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James "j.t." Taylor
Sennie "skip" Martin - Composer Lyricist
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Robert Bell
George Brown
Dennis Ronald Thomas
Earl Toon
Claydes Smith
J.t. Taylor
Ronald Nathan Bell
Meekaaeel Muhammed
6. Fresh
- Primary Artist
- Kool & The Gang
- Composer
-
George Brown
J.t. Taylor
Robert Bell
Claydes Smith
Curtis Fitzgerald Williams
James L. Bonnefond
Ronald Nathan Bell - Lyricist
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James L. Bonnefond
Robert Bell
Claydes Smith
Ronald Nathan Bell
George Brown - Author
- Sandy Linzer
- Producer
-
Kool & The Gang
Jim Bonnefond
Khalis Bayyan
Ronald Nathan Bell - Composer Lyricist
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Robert Bell
George Brown
Claydes Smith
Ronald Nathan Bell
James L. Bonnefond
7. Cherish
- Primary Artist
- Kool & The Gang
- Composer
-
Curtis Fitzgerald Williams
Dennis Ronald Thomas
Clifford Adams
James Warren Taylor
Ronald Nathan Bell
James L. Bonnefond
George Brown
Charles Jay Smith - Lyricist
-
Ronald Nathan Bell
Clifford Adams
George Brown
Charles Jay Smith
Curtis Fitzgerald Williams
Dennis Ronald Thomas
James L. Bonnefond
James Warren Taylor - Producer
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Ronald Nathan Bell
James L. Bonnefond
Kool & The Gang - Composer Lyricist
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George Brown
Dennis Ronald Thomas
Clifford Adams
Ronald Nathan Bell
Curtis Fitzgerald Williams
James L. Bonnefond
James Warren Taylor
Charles Jay Smith
8. Too Hot
- Primary Artist
- Kool & The Gang
- Composer
- George Melvin Brown
- Lyricist
- George Melvin Brown
- Producer
-
Kool & The Gang
Eumir Deodato
Deodato - Composer Lyricist
- George Melvin Brown
9. Joanna
- Primary Artist
- Kool & The Gang
- Composer
-
Claydes Smith
Curtis Fitzgerald Williams
Clifford Adams
Ronald Nathan Bell
James L. Bonnefond
George Brown
J.t. Taylor
Robert Bell - Lyricist
-
James L. Bonnefond
Clifford Adams
George Brown
J.t. Taylor
Robert Bell
Claydes Smith
Curtis Fitzgerald Williams
Ronald Nathan Bell - Producer
-
Khalis Bayyan
Ronald Nathan Bell
Kool & The Gang
Jim Bonnefond - Composer Lyricist
-
Robert Bell
George Brown
Clifford Adams
Claydes Smith
J.t. Taylor
Ronald Nathan Bell
Curtis Fitzgerald Williams
James L. Bonnefond
10. Take My Heart (You Can Have It If You Want It)
- Composer
-
Ronald Nathan Bell
Eumir Deodato
George Brown
J.t. Taylor
Robert Bell
Claydes Smith
Deodato - Primary Artist
- Kool & The Gang
- Lyricist
-
Ronald Nathan Bell
Eumir Deodato
George Brown
J.t. Taylor
Robert Bell
Claydes Smith - Engineer
- Jim Bonnefond
- Producer
-
Eumir Deodato
Kool & The Gang
Deodato - Studio Personnel
- Jim Bonnefond
- Composer Lyricist
-
Robert Bell
George Brown
Eumir Deodato
Claydes Smith
J.t. Taylor
Ronald Nathan Bell
11. Let's Go Dancin' (Ooh La, La, La)
- Primary Artist
- Kool & The Gang
- Composer
-
Cliff Adams
George Brown
Michael Ray
Curtis Williams
James Taylor
Amir Bayyan
Claydes Smith
Robert Spike Mickens
Ronald Nathan Bell
Robert Bell
Eumir Deodato
Deodato - Lyricist
-
Ronald Nathan Bell
James Taylor
Eumir Deodato
Cliff Adams
George Brown
Michael Ray
Curtis Williams
Robert Bell
Amir Bayyan
Claydes Smith
Robert Spike Mickens - Producer
-
Eumir Deodato
Kool & The Gang
Deodato - Composer Lyricist
-
Robert Bell
George Brown
Curtis Williams
Eumir Deodato
James Taylor
Michael Ray
Claydes Smith
Cliff Adams
Ronald Nathan Bell
Amir Bayyan
Robert Spike Mickens
12. Open Sesame
- Primary Artist
- Kool & The Gang
- Performer
-
Donald Boyce
Kool & The Gang - Vocals
- Donald Boyce
- Composer
-
Robert Bell
Claydes Smith
Dennis Ronald Thomas
George Melvin Brown
Ronald Nathan Bell - Lyricist
-
Ronald Nathan Bell
Robert Bell
Claydes Smith
Dennis Ronald Thomas
George Melvin Brown - Producer
-
K.g. Productions
Mr. Vee Productions
Kg-productions - Recording Arrangement
- Kool & The Gang
- Composer Lyricist
-
Robert Bell
Dennis Ronald Thomas
Claydes Smith
Ronald Nathan Bell
George Melvin Brown
Technical Specifications
- Volume
- 1 volume only
- Tracks
- 12 tracks available
- Type
- COMPILATION
- Format
- Digital Media
- Duration
- 54 minutes and 13 seconds
- Explicit
- None
- Coverart
- Available and up to 1500x1500 px
- Booklet
- Not available
- Max Quality
CD Quality (Lossless)
16bit / 44.1 kHz
Stereo
- Audio Extension
Lossless: FLAC, M4A, WAV, WV, AIFF
Lossy: AAC, MP3, M4A, MP4, OGA, OGG, OPUS, WMA
- Archive Format
- Available in these formats: ZIP, TAR, RAR
- Lyrics
- All tracks have lyrics
- Synchronized Lyrics
- 10/12 tracks have synced lyrics
- Genres
- R&B, Soul, Disco, Funk, Rock
- Label
- Island Def Jam
- Music Distribution Service
- UMG Global
- Country
United States- Language
- English (United States)
- Popularity
- Popularity 2/10
- Release Date
- Mar 29, 1999
- Track Preview
- Available
- Delivery Charge
- Free
- Delivery Method
- Digital download link via Email or Personal Dashboard on this site
- UPC
- 602567830733
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