La storia di Kool & the Gang nasce tra i banchi di un liceo di Jersey City, a metà degli anni ’60: un gruppo di teenager preferisce studiare Miles Davis e James Brown al posto della matematica e della geografia, inizia a collaborare con alcuni musicisti e a suonare nei club.
E’ una storia che prende di volta in volta un nome diverso, da Jazz Birds a Jazziacs (alcuni dei nomi precedentemente utilizzati dal gruppo), ma che probabilmente nasce ancora prima, quando il piccolo Ronald ascolta un suono irresistibile provenire dalla stanza dei genitori. Da qualche giorno il padre aveva comprato un giradischi nuovo di zecca e le note che si sprigionavano dai solchi di quel vinile erano quelle di Round about midnight .
L’anno decisivo per i talentuosi amici è il 1969 . Kool & the Flames , ennesima trasformazione del gruppo, diventano Kool and the Gang , per evitare confusione con i Famous Flames di James Brown , ed incidono l’album omonimo.
La formazione è composta dai fratelli Robert “Kool” (basso) e Ronald (sax tenore) Bell, Claydes “Clay” Charles Smith (chitarra), George “Funky” Brown (batteria e percussioni), Dennis "Dee Tee" Thomas (alto sax), Robert "Spike" Mickens (trumpet), and Rick Westfield (keyboard), to which is added Clifford Adams on trombone.
discs recorded live after confirming the good things we say around the band, a true soul jazz orchestra, which has no need of singers on stage: it takes the wind to make their sound overwhelming.
The success comes in the standings with Wild & Peaceful (1973). The record of the De-Lite wanted something like Soul Makossa, which had obtained an incredible popularity. The band, annoyed by the request, it closes in the studio one day and pulled out three Bombs recorded one after the other: Jungle Boogie, Funky Stuff Hollywood and swinging . After the session, Robert is approached the record, and still angry but proud of the results obtained, says: "Here is your Soul Makossa."
The next album, Light of Worlds (1974), marks a change in style and behavior of the band, which reveals his spiritual side. A sort of revival, helped by the practice of yoga and Eastern philosophies, which can represent the beautiful Summer madness . Subsequently taken over by so many rappers and used in the soundtrack of Rocky, the song opens leads to a magical world where the securities of the group come up with the acute final discretion.
sirens approaching hard, but resist Kool & the Gang for a while 'the charm of the dance floor and remain faithful to their "message" with the album Spirit of the boogie and Love & Understanding .
In 1976, Ricky Westfield left the band in the same year released the album Open Sesame and the title track is included in the soundtrack of Saturday Night Fever . What did the brothers Bell next to the brothers Gibb?
What was happening was beginning to be clear. Earth Wind & Fire and the Commodores were based their success on a strong vocal presence, George Clinton and his groups Parliament and Funkadelic, were bringing the funk to another level. Could do was to take a new direction for the group to compete with the right weapons: by the hearings in the search for a vocalist, and here come directly from the nightclub, James JT Taylor, soul singer from the creamy voice and great personality .
fundamental choice which, together with the supervision of a new producer, Eumir Deodato , open to worldwide success and a new story , those who loved the first Kool & the Gang often repudiates.
From 1979 to 1986 The sales of their records, the hits in the standings and awards are countless. These are the years of Ladies 'Night, Too Hot, Celebration, Get Down On It, Steppin' Out, Fresh, Victory . Who has not danced any of these songs?
Of course, the sounds are easier and colder than the beginning, but it is fun to send each of these songs is evident by the smiling faces of the band, featured on the back of album covers from that period. After all this success, including economic, we had never lived in the first part of their career. Spent most of his life searching for the musical harmony of the group and almost ten years churning out pop dance hit. The album
Forever (1987), emblematic title, provides practically the end of the group, abandoned by Ronald Bell, and JT Taylor.
followed several attempts to reunite the band, the last in 2007 with the album Still Kool , but perhaps their best album is a collection of success recently, Reloaded: new versions of their most famous songs with the participation of artists such as Jamiroquai, Angie Stone, Redman, Lisa Stansfield, Youssou N'Dour and many others. Difficult task, because not all tracks are up, but definitely a good summary of the career of this band by the two sides. What
preferite?
Mr.Soundelicious
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