Tag Archives: De-Lite

Kool & The Gang: Love & Understanding

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In March 1976, “De-Lite” label released “Love & Understanding”, the seventh Kool & the Gang studio album. It was recorded in 1975, and was produced by Ricky West, Robert Bell, George Brown, Charles Smith, Dennis Thomas, Ronald Bell, Spike Mickens, Larry Gitten and Otha Nash.

Personnel:

  • Ricky West – piano
  • Charles Smith – guitar
  • Robert “Kool” Bell – vocals, bass
  • George Brown – vocals, drums, percussion
  • Dennis Thomas – vocals, alto saxophone, flute, conga
  • Ronald Bell – vocal, piano, tenor saxophone, alto flute, synthesizer
  • Otha Nash – vocal, trombone
  • Peter Duarte – alto saxophone
  • Dennis White – tenor saxophone
  • Spike Mickens – trumpet
  • Larry Gitten – vocal, trumpet, flugelhorne
  • Ray Wright – trombone
  • Kevin Bell – guitar
  • Don Boyce, Royal Jackson, Something Sweet, Tomorrow’s Edition – backing vocals
  • B. Clearwater, Harvey Goldberg – engineer
  • Terry Rosiello – engineer, mixing
  • Earl Williams – mastering
  • Frank Daniel – mastering
  • Simon De Cherpitel, Bill Peronneau – photography
  • Khalis Bayyan – executive producer

Track listing:

  1. Love & Understanding – Claydes Smith, Khalis Bayyan, Ricky West, Robert Bell, George Brown, Charles Smith, Dennis Thomas, Ronald Bell, Spike Mickens, Larry Gitten, Otha Nash
  2. Sugar – George Brown, Ricky West, Robert Bell, Charles Smith, Dennis Thomas, Ronald Bell, Spike Mickens, Larry Gitten, Otha Nash
  3. Do It Right Now – Otha Nash, Ricky West, Robert Bell, George Brown, Charles Smith, Dennis Thomas, Ronald Bell, Spike Mickens, Larry Gitten
  4. Cosmic Energy – Claydes Smith, Khalis Bayyan, Ricky West, Robert Bell, George Brown, Charles Smith, Dennis Thomas, Ronald Bell, Spike Mickens, Larry Gitten, Otha Nash
  5. Hollywood Swinging (live) – Ricky West, Robert Bell, George Brown, Charles Smith, Dennis Thomas, Ronald Bell, Spike Mickens, Larry Gitten, Otha Nash
  6. Summer Madness (live) – Alton Taylor, Robert “Spike” Mickens, Robert Bell, George Brown, Charles Smith, Dennis Thomas, Ronald Bell, Larry Gitten, Otha Nash
  7. Universal Sound (live) – Khalis Bayyan, Robert Bell, George Brown, Charles Smith, Dennis Thomas, Ronald Bell, Spike Mickens, Larry Gitten, Otha Nash
  8. Come Together – Charles Smith, Robert Bell, George Brown, Dennis Thomas, Ronald Bell, Spike Mickens, Larry Gitten, Otha Nash

Kool & The Gang: Open Sesame

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In November 1976, “De-Lite” label released “Open Sesame”, the eighth Kool & the Gang studio album. It was recorded in 1976, and was produced by Robert Bell, George Brown, Claydes Smith, Ronald Bell, Dennis Thomas, Larry Gittens, Robert Mickens and Otha Nash.

Personnel:

  • Claydes Smith – guitar, percussion
  • Otha Nash – vocals, percussion, trombone
  • Ronald Bell – vocals, saxophone, flute, clavinet, synthesizer, keyboards, percussion, vibraphone, strings
  • Dennis Thomas – vocals, saxophone, flute, percussion, congas
  • Larry Gittens – trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Robert Mickens – trumpet, flugelhorn, percussion
  • Robert “Kool” Bell – vocals, bass, percussion
  • George Brown – drums

Track listing:

All tracks by  Robert Bell, George Brown, Claydes Smith, Ronald Bell, Dennis Thomas, Larry Gittens, Robert Mickens and Otha Nash, except where noted.

  1. Open Sesame (Groove with the Genie) – Ronald “Khalis Bayyan, Robert Bell, George Brown, Claydes Smith, Ronald Bell, Dennis Thomas, Larry Gittens, Robert Mickens, Otha Nash.
  2. Gift of Love – Ronald “Khalis Bayyan” Bell, Donna Johnson, Robert Bell, George Brown, Claydes Smith, Ronald Bell, Dennis Thomas, Larry Gittens, Robert Mickens, Otha Nash
  3. Little Children – Claydes Charles Smith, Donna Johnson, Robert Bell, George Brown, Claydes Smith, Ronald Bell, Dennis Thomas, Larry Gittens, Robert Mickens, Otha Nash
  4. All Night Long – Claydes Charles Smith, Donna Johnson, Robert Bell, George Brown, Claydes Smith, Ronald Bell, Dennis Thomas, Larry Gittens, Robert Mickens, Otha Nash
  5. Whisper Softly – Ronald “Khalis Bayyan” Bell, Donna Johnson, Robert Bell, George Brown, Claydes Smith, Ronald Bell, Dennis Thomas, Larry Gittens, Robert Mickens, Otha Nash
  6. Super Band
  7. L-O-V-E – George Brown, Robert Bell, George Brown, Claydes Smith, Ronald Bell, Dennis Thomas, Larry Gittens, Robert Mickens, Otha Nash
  8. Sunshine – Robert “Spike” Mickens, Donna Johnson, Robert Bell, George Brown, Claydes Smith, Ronald Bell, Dennis Thomas, Larry Gittens, Robert Mickens, Otha Nash

Kool & The gang: Wild and Peaceful

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In September 1973, “De-Lite” label released “Wild and Peaceful”, the fourth Kool & the Gang studio album. It was recorded in 1973, and was produced by Robert “Kool” Bell, “Funky” George Brown, Ricky West, Clay Smith, Dennis “Dee Tee” Thomas, Ronald Bell and Robert “Spike” Mickens.

Personnel:

  • Clay Smith – guitar
  • Ricky West – vocals, electric piano
  • Robert “Kool” Bell – vocals, bass
  • “Funky” George Brown – vocals, drums, percussion
  • Dennis “Dee Tee” Thomas – vocals, alto saxophone, flute, congas
  • Ronald Bell – vocals, soprano and tenor saxophone
  • Robert “Spike” Mickens – vocals, trumpet
  • Harvey Goldberg, Jeff Lesser – engineer

Track listing:

All tracks by Robert “Kool” Bell, “Funky” George Brown, Ricky West, Clay Smith, Dennis “Dee Tee” Thomas, Ronald Bell and Robert “Spike” Mickens.

  1. Funky Stuff
  2. More Funky Stuff
  3. Jungle Boogie
  4. Heaven at Once
  5. Hollywood Swinging
  6. This Is You, This Is Me
  7. Life Is What You Make It
  8. Wild and Peaceful

Kool & The Gang: Spirit Of The Boogie

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In August 1975, “De-Lite” label released “Spirit of the Boogie”, the sixth Kool & the Gang studio album. It was recorded in 1975, at “Media Sound Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Amir-Salaam Bayyan, Khalis Bayyan, Robert “Kool” Bell, Donal Boyce and George “Funky” Brown.

Personnel:

  • Amir-Salaam Bayyan – guitar
  • Claydes E.X. Smith– guitar
  • Donal Boyce – vocals
  • Khalis Bayyan – vocals, piano, arranger, tenor sax, clavinet, kalimba, arp
  • Robert “Spike” Mickens – vocals, percussion, trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Otha Nash – vocals, trombone
  • Dennis “D.T.” Thomas – vocals, flute, alto sax
  • Ricky West – vocals, clavinet
  • Robert “Kool” Bell – vocals, bass
  • George “Funky” Brown – vocals, drums, percussion, piano
  • Something Sweet – backing vocals
  • Alec Head, Ray Janos – engineer
  • Ron Saint Germain – engineer
  • Harvey Goldberg – engineer, mixing
  • Godfrey Diamond – engineer, mixing
  • Terry Rosiello – engineer
  • Henry Arvinger – photography

Track listing:

  1. Spirit of the Boogie – Amir-Salaam Bayyan, Khalis Bayyan, Robert “Kool” Bell, Donal Boyce, George “Funky” Brown
  2. Ride the Rhythm – Amir-Salaam Bayyan, Khalis Bayyan, Robert “Kool” Bell, Donal Boyce, George “Funky” Brown
  3. Jungle Jazz – Amir-Salaam Bayyan, Khalis Bayyan, Robert “Kool” Bell, Donal Boyce, George “Funky” Brown
  4. Sunshine and Love – Amir-Salaam Bayyan, Khalis Bayyan, Robert “Kool” Bell, Donal Boyce, George “Funky” Brown
  5. Ancestral Ceremony – Amir-Salaam Bayyan, Khalis Bayyan, Robert “Kool” Bell, Donal Boyce, George “Funky” Brown
  6. Mother Earth – Amir-Salaam Bayyan, Khalis Bayyan, Robert “Kool” Bell, Donal Boyce, George “Funky” Brown
  7. Winter Sadness – Amir-Salaam Bayyan, Smith, Khalis Bayyan, Robert “Kool” Bell, Donal Boyce, George “Funky” Brown
  8. Caribbean Festival – Amir-Salaam Bayyan, Khalis Bayyan, Robert “Kool” Bell, Donal Boyce, George “Funky” Brown