Celebration: The Best Of Kool & The Gang 1979-1987 CD

Though Kool & the Gang was a fine hardcore funk outfit in the 1970s, the group decided, by the close of that decade, to reinvent their sound for pop radio. The result--a combination of slick production, R&B vocals, and the band's already well-honed grooves--made Kool & the Gang one of the biggest-selling and most beloved pop acts of the '80s. CELEBRATION: THE BEST OF KOOL & THE GANG collects 17 of the band's singles from this era, most of which will be immediately familiar to anyone even remotely familiar with '80s pop radio.

The Gang wrote numerous high-polish dance grooves featuring a heavy backbeat, staccato horn charts, and infectious vocal choruses that seem custom-built for group sing-alongs. The international smash "Celebration" is one such song (has there been more definitive party anthem?), as is the hard-grooving "Ladies Night," and the groove imperative "Get Down on It." The Gang also scored with their mid-tempo R&B ("Joanna"), funk-tinged soul ("Fresh"), and swelling ballads in the Adult Contemporary mode ("Cherish"). These showcase the Gang's superior vocalists (check out James "J.T." Taylor's butter-smooth croon on "Too Hot," for example). Those seeking a comprehensive collection of Kool & the Gang's '80s hits need look no further than this excellent compilation.

All tracks have been digitally remastered.

Universal. 1994.

Recorded between 1979 and 1987.

Personnel: Larry Gittens (vocals, trumpet, flugelhorn); James "J.T." Taylor (vocals); Rick Iantosca (guitar, keyboards, percussion); Charles Edward Smith, Brendan Harkin (guitar); Steve Greenfield (flute, alto saxophone); Dennis "D.T." Thomas (alto saxophone, hand claps, background vocals); Michael Ray (trumpet, background vocals); Chris Alberts, Jon Faddis, Robert "Spike" Mickens (trumpet); Clifford Adams (trombone, background vocals); Curtis "Fitz" Williams (keyboards, synthesizer); Deodato, Adam Epolito (keyboards); George "Funky" Brown (drums, background vocals); Jimmy Maelen (percussion).

Recording information: Compass Point Studios; House of Music; Media Sound, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Arranger: Rick Iantosca.

Kool & The Gang includes: James "J.T." Taylor (vocals).