Tag Archives: Dennis Thomas

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