Customer Reviews

Very Best of

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

With the exception of "Stone Love" the hits seem to be covered in this collection. The remixed version of "Celebration" is awful; the inclusion of it instead of "Stone Love" is a travesty.

As is often the case on these collections, you get the butchered "single" version of some songs instead of the album version. Unfortunately, on this disk "Too Hot" and "Ladies Night" are definitely the butchered versions. There may be others; those two I'm sure about.

The liner notes include a six paragraph bio of the band and the song listings give the highest billboard chart position for each song, and the album from which the song was taken.

A good collection from one of the few successful disco groups that wasn't driven to Europe when disco died in the U.S. Four stars instead of five because of the "Celebration" travesty.

THE greatest hits CD to own from one of the 80s top hitmakers. Never as groundbreaking as Michael Jackson or Prince, or as flamboyant as George Clinton or Earth, Wind, & Fire, Kool & The Gang earned a steady stream of Top 10 hits throughout the decade that, heard together, indicates how quietly prevalent their sound was.

Never as popular as the comparable Ohio Players at their mid-70s peak, Kool & The Gang with producer Eumir Deodato crafted a funk/R&B/pop formula that clicked literally as the clock struck midnight to begin the 80s. They hit equally with funkier tunes and lush ballads, many with one-word titles: "Fresh," "Misled," "Cherish," "Joanna," "Tonight," and the cliched #1 hit "Celebration" (refreshed little by a house remix).

You also hear the group's bass-heavy, influential and heavily rap-sampled early hits like "Funky Stuff," "Hollywood Swinging," and the "Pulp Fiction"-featured "Jungle Boogie." Together, these songs form nearly 15 years of hitmaking that, despite personnel changes that ultimately sunk the group, stands with the best in modern classic R&B. Recommended.

Overall, this is a very good compilation that should satisfy most listeners. However, if they really want to hear just how diverse and talented this band was, they should have included the classic, "Summer Madness" It was (and still is) a mind trip of massive Jazz/Funk/and R&B proportions. Any true Funk Aficionado should hunt for this song and give it a listen.
Also, Where is the disco era's "Open Sesame" ? The horns on this cut are ree-diculous, The nasty bass line propels this song like a freight train, and the soaring vocal harmonies are not to be missed.

I knew Kool and the Gang was an awesome band. I grew up listening to them. But I never realize the impact that they had on modern music until I got this collection. Just hearing the songs (hits) back to back, made me respect their work even more. In a time, where R&B artists actually wrote, produced, and played their own music, what set Kool and the Gang apart from others is they had alot of crossover hits. But they never lost their funkness or koolness. Get this collection and learn to love Kool and the Gang all over again.

Its important to have some R&B in your music collection. And one can not overlook the fabulous sounds of Kool And The Gang. What makes this band so legendary is that their styles range from the soft and romantic Cherish and Joanna to Funk/Dance Raves Funky Stuff, Hollywood Swingers, and Jungle Boogie to the ultimate good time party song Celebration. Regaae Dancing and Victory are two more underatted gems. Whetherits the vocal harmonies, snappy rhythms, funky horns, or overall great atmosphere these guys and this collection just rules. Grab it today.

If you enjoy Kool & the Gang, this is the CD for you. You won't find a more complete representation of their music anywhere else. With 21 songs, how can you go wrong! You definitely get your money's worth. From their classic dance hits (Celebrate, Get Down on It, Ladies Night) to their unforgettable ballads (Cherish, Joanna, Fresh) this collection will not disappoint.

KOOL & THE GANG-THE VERY BEST OF KOOL & THE GANG: A large, horn propelled unit led by bassist Robert "Kool" Bell, these charismatic cats could do it all---raw, urban monster-groove "funky stuff" (JUNGLE BOOGIE, HOLLYWOOD SWINGING), laid back MOR soul (CHERISH, TOO HOT), and in-the-designer-pocket dance floor shoutalongs (CELEBRATION, GET DOWN ON IT). It's all wrapped up here in one nifty li'l party-hearty package...although chronological order and a few more of their gritty underground classics wouldn't have hurt. Kool & the Gang's fortunes were made when they dropped their mostly instrumental ways in favor of oh-so-silky vocalist James "J.T." Taylor, losing a portion of their street cred en route. There's a stylistic chasm between the filthy gutteral chant of JUNGLE BOOGIE and the streamlined disco soul of LADIES NIGHT, but "Old School Kool" and "Taylor-made Kool" alike are equally welcome here.

RATING: FOUR FANCY STEPS

this is an excellent collection of their hits. of course, with 21 songs on this cd, the songs are the edited single versions, but that's okay. the only thing i'm confused about is why the song, "stone love", a top 10 hit in 1987, isn't included on this album. in its place is a remix of "celebration", which is ok, but not worth including over a song that made the top 10. it's still a great cd to listen to, and very conveinient to have (with one exception) all of their hits on one cd.

Though I Prefer their early 70's Stuff Better overall you can't go wrong here.Kool&The Gang had Grooves,Smooth Songs&Catchy Hooks&Production that Kept them Rolling.This Set Highlights Many of their 80's Jams.It's Cool Hearing The Bass Grooves&Their Underrated Horn Section.Check this Out.

Funky brass and guitar, awesome bass licks and the smooth voice of James "JT" Taylor remastered to high quality sound! "Jungle Boogie" makes me want to put on my dancing shoes as well as "Tonight" (The intro is just too cool!). If you like raw funk with some heavy hitting vocals and sheer elegance of romantic ballads, this one is smooth, good musical friends.