Gold [2 CD]

wow awesome music cd

After watching the Hall of Rock and Roll of Fame induction ceremony; seeing and hearing the great songs of Kool and the Gang gave me a yearning to go back to when most of these songs were at the top of the list for dance clubs. I had to buy this collection!

This album brought back so many memories of living in So. Philly in the 70’s and dancing to this music. Especially to Cherish. Thanks Kool & the Gang.

Brought back some Kool memories :-)

Recognition of a musical group's successful accomplishments normally arrives in a compendium covering their history. In the old days, we called them Greatest Hits albums. Thus "Kool & the Gang - Gold" represents such a prized collection. Because I was around when these guys released their earlier recordings, Robert "Kool" Bell, the leader of this ever-smiling, energetic bunch of music makers, landed on R&B/POP like a big rock. Along with a tight, rock-solid group: brother Ronald Bell (sax), George Brown (drums), Robert Mickens (trumpet), Dennis "DT" Thomas (alto), C. Charles Smith (guitar), Rick Westfield (keyboards), and Kool on bass, they had no problem getting audiences excited with big sound dynamics.Most people don't know about their roots in jazz: in high school Kool formed the "Jazziacs" in Jersey City and family acquaintances with Thelonius Monk and their relationship with jazz singer, Leon Thomas to name a few. These experiences served them well in the music business where survival, sustainability and success are needed.You know their earliest hits, "Jungle Boogie" and "Hollywood Swinging", their transition to disco and rebirthing with the addition of James "JT" Taylor in the late 70s who ushered in "Ladies Night." Well, "Kool and the Gang - Gold" chronicles it all including the world wide hit, "Celebration."During their chart-topping tenure, I was hoping they would have followed the mysteriously fluid hit, "Summer Madness" with a cool album of what has now become cool jazz. But this hit and several others have lived beyond the Gang's originals in numerous samplings by artists and soundtracks to movies over the years.Finally, while in LA in the 80s working on a commercial project, I bumped into the group at the hotel. We met when I was in radio years ago, and quick exchanges took place. No camera to chronicle that association, but the word "amazing" was still in order as they played to a standing room audience that night. Still Kool.Investment in the CD is a must for your collection.

It is a double disc CD…. The first Cd is older Kool and Gang… The second is incredible!!!

This CD is as the seller described and it arrived sooner than estimated.Oh the memories of back in the days when I was growing up as a teen… neighborhood dance parties on Saturday nights… good times.After many many many years of my collected vinyl being in storage I finally got my audio system back up. Kool And The Gang was one of many.When CD’s came about, I forgot I had this on a CD but didn’t realize it was “Live” until I recently played it… I’ve never been a fan of music recordings in live version, so I had to buy this CD with the old and new Kool And The Gang songs… I LOVE this CD! Played it twice in three days… got me dancing again at 65yrs of age… waiting for my new speakers to break in so I can crank them up to this CD… oh I’ll play it again before that… it’s a must… enjoy.

The music was clear and just as good as I remembered it when I first heard it years ago.The music was clear and just as good as I remembered it when I first heard it years ago.