Kool & The Gang mp3

Kool & the Gang was a highly successful R&B/soul/funk/disco group. They originally formed in Jersey City, New Jersey in 1964. They went through several musical phases in their career. They started out as practitioners of R&B and funk, eventually went through a phase where they were a smooth disco ensemble, and wound up the successful period of their career recording tunes that were a mixture of pop and R&B.

The group first hit the pop charts with their debut, eponymous album. Though none of the three singles from the album went far on the pop charts, their R&B success was swift and massive. Several live and studio albums followed, but 1973's Wild and Peaceful broke into the mainstream with "Jungle Boogie" and "Hollywood Swinging". Many reviews see 1975 album The Spirit of the Boogie as the greatest achievement of the band. However, after that album the band abandoned deep funk-music and switched to disco. Albums after 1975 have not got such critical recognition as earlier ones.

The late 1970s saw a lull in Kool & the Gang's career that ended — after new lead singer James "JT" Taylor joined the group — with 1979's Ladies' Night, the title track from which spawned a 25-year-long tradition of ladies' nights in New Jersey dance clubs and bars. Their only #1 hit was 1980's "Celebration", off Celebrate!, produced by Eumir Deodato. More international hits followed in the early 1980s, including "Big Fun", "Get Down on It" and "Joanna". Their fame quickly diminished in the later part of the decade, though they continued releasing albums throughout the 80s and 1990s. Two of their more famous songs from this period were "Fresh" and the big hit "Cherish", part of their album Emergency.

Taken from wikipedia.org