Ultimate Music Database

	ULTIMATE MUSIC DATABASE
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	Last Update: November 1, 2025 Total of: 369 929 artists

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UK Singles
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In spite of great effort, the author is not capable to ensure the absolute data integrity. Any suggestions, supplementary information and proposals about the site contents and/or design are welcome as well as the offers of cooperation, sponsoring, advertising etc.

This web was launched on June 1, 2000.

© Miroslav Jurčeka (1989-2025)

KOOL AND THE GANG
New Jersey, USA
* 1969

Line-Up (2005):

Rodney Ellis - voc
Hakim Bell - voc
Clay Smith - g
Shawn McQuiller - g,voc
Robert "Kool" Bell - bg
Frank Hamilton - kb
Timothy Horton - ds
Clifford Adams - tr
Sennie Martin - tr,voc
Michael Ray - tr
Broderick Gittens - tr

Former Members:

James JT Taylor (voc, cca 9/79-1986); Skip Martin (voc, cca 1989); Odeen Mays (voc, cca 1989)
Moody Sparrow (g, do 1967)
Earl Thom Jr. (kb,voc, 1969-?); Rick West (kb, 1969-?); Kevin Bell (kb)
George Brown (ds, 1964-11/23); Robert Mickens (perc, 1969-?)
Dennis Thomas (fl,sax,voc, 1969-8/2021)
Ronald Bell (tr,kb,bg,sax,voc, 1969-cca 9/2005)

Albums Discography:

#	Title	Release Date	Label	Type	UK	USA
1.	Kool And The Gang	1969	De-Lite
2.	Let The Music Take Your Mind	1969	De-Lite
3.	Live At The Sex Machine	1971	De-Lite
4.	Best Of Kool And The Gang	1971	De-Lite
5.	Live At P.J.'s	1972	De-Lite
6.	Music Is The Message	1973	De-Lite
7.	Wild And Peaceful	9/1973	De-Lite
8.	Light Of The World	9/1974	De-Lite
9.	Greatest Hits	8/1975	De-Lite
10.	Spirit Of The Boogie	14.11.1975	Polydor
11.	Love And Understanding	6/1976	De-Lite
12.	The Force	1977	De-Lite
13.	Spin Their Top Hits	1978	De-Lite
14.	Everybody's Dancing	1978	De-Lite
15.	Ladies Night produced by: Eumir Deodato	9/1979	De-Lite			14
16.	Celebrate produced by: Eumir Deodato	10.10.1980	De-Lite			12
17.	Steppin' Out	1981	De-Lite
18.	Something Special	10/1981	De-Lite		10	10
19.	As One	24.09.1982	De-Lite		49
20.	Twice As Kool	5/1983	De-Lite		4
21.	In The Heart	09.12.1983	De-Lite		18	29
22.	Emergency	12/1984	De-Lite		47	13
23.	Forever	12/1986	Mercury			25
24.	Everything's Kool And The Gang	8/1988				109
25.	The Singles Collection	11/1988			28
26.	Sweat	1/1989	Metronome
27.	Kool Love	10/1990			50
28.	Kool & the Gang Spin Their Top Hits	17.10.1990	Mercury
29.	Unite	1992
30.	The Ballad Collection	?	?
31.	State Of Affairs	29.07.1996	Curb
32.	Greatest Hits Live	07.10.1996	Milan/BMG
33.	Live	08.09.1997	Going For A Song/Bellaphon
34.	All-Time Greatest Hits	29.06.1998	Curb/EMI
35.	Very Best Of Kool And The Gang	23.03.1999
36.	12-Inch Collection & More	18.05.1999
37.	20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection	01.02.2000	Chronicles
38.	Kool Funk Essentials	23.10.2001	spinART
39.	Gangthology	19.05.2003	Universal
40.	All the Hits	29.07.2003	Intercontinental
41.	Live	16.09.2003	St. Clair
42.	The Hits Reloaded	14.06.2004	Virgin		56
43.	Odyssey	20.07.2004	edel
44.	Gangland: Deluxe Sound & Vision	12.10.2004	Universal International
45.	Best of Kool and the Gang: Live	23.11.2004	St. Clair
46.	Gold	01.03.2005	Mercury
47.	Anthology	30.08.2005	Double Classics
48.	Feel the Funk	10.01.2006	Rajon
49.	Golden Legends: Kool and the Gang Live	28.02.2006	Madacy
50.	Get Down on It: The Very Best of Kool & the Gang	27.03.2006	Universal
51.	I Feel Your Spirit & Clifford Adams	11.07.2006	BCS
52.	Best of Kool and the Gang: Live	01.08.2006	Direct Source
53.	Best of Kool & the Gang	15.08.2006	Disky
54.	Forever Gold	19.06.2007	St. Clair
55.	Still Kool	10.07.2007	New Door
56.	Kool & The Gang	14.08.2007	Madacy
57.	Reloaded (2CD)	27.08.2007	Recall
58.	Number 1's	28.08.2007	Island
59.	R&B Soul: Live & Bar-Kays	25.09.2007	Direct Source
60.	Silver Collection	19.11.2007	Spectrum
61.	Ultimate Collection	08.01.2008
62.	Absolutely Live!	31.03.2008	ZYX
63.	Very Best of Kool & the Gang	27.05.2008	Retro Music
64.	Colour Collection	03.06.2008	Universal
65.	Kool Is Back	26.03.2009	Le Smoke Disque
66.	Live At PJ's Hollywood California	21.07.2009	Reel Music
67.	Kool & The Gang At The BBC	29.04.2010	Spectrum
68.	The Very Best Of Live In Concert	20.05.2010	Ear Music
69.	Icon	01.03.2011	Island
70.	Back To Back & Boney M	11/2011	Universal
71.	Kool & the Gang	27.03.2012	P&C
72.	The Best of Kool & the Gang	26.06.2012	Universal
73.	Get Down on It: The Collection	23.10.2012	Spectrum Music
74.	Ballads	09.04.2013	Mercury
75.	Kool for the Holidays	05.11.2013	ATO
76.	Essential	06.05.2014
77.	Lo Mejor de Kool & the Gang	02.09.2014	Universal
78.	Live	26.05.2015	zyx
79.	The Ultimate Collection	05.08.2017	Mercury
80.	Perfect Union	8/2021
81.	People Just Wanna Have Fun	7/2023

James T. Taylor:

1. Master Of The Game
2. Feel The Need

Clifford Adams:

#	Title	Release Date	Label	Type	UK	USA
1.	Cliff Notes	24.09.2002	Orpheus
2.	Love's Gonna Get You	31.08.2004	Orpheus
3.	I Feel Your Spirit & Kool And The Gang	11.07.2006	BCS

Skip Martin:

#	Title	Release Date	Label	Type	UK	USA
1.	Miles High	22.08.2006
2.	Speakeasy Blues	15.02.2011	Montpellier
3.	Scheherajazz / Swingin with Prince Igor	15.02.2011	Flare
4.	Let's Do It	15.11.2011	Montpellier
5.	Love Notes	03.02.2017	Independent

Singles Discography:

#	SP/EP Title	Release Date	Label	UK	USA
1.	Kool And The Gang	8/1969	De-Lite		59
2.	The Gang's Back Again / Kool's Back Again	12/1969	De-Lite		85
3.	Let The Music Take Your Mind	6/1970	DeLite		78
4.	Funky Man	9/1970	DeLite		87
5.	Who's Gonna Take The Weight (Part 1)	1/1971	De-Lite		113
6.	Music Is The Message	?	DeLite
7.	Funky Stuff	8/1973	DeLite		29
8.	Jungle Boogie	11/1973	DeLite		4
9.	Hollywood Swinging	4/1974	DeLite		6
10.	Higher Plane	8/1974	De-Lite		37
11.	Rhyme Tyme People	12/1974	De-Lite		63
12.	Spirit Of The Boogie / Summer Madness	07.03.1975	De-Lite		27
13.	Caribbean Festival	10/1975	DeLite		55
14.	Love And Understanding (Come Together)	26.03.1976	De-Lite		77
15.	Universal Sound	6/1976	De-Lite		101
16.	Open Sesame (Part 1)	10/1976	De-Lite		55
17.	Super Bad / Open Sesame	4/1977	De-Lite		101
18.	Slick Superchick	4/1978	De-Lite		102
19.	Ladies Night	9/1979	De-Lite	8	4
20.	Too Hot	18.01.1980	De-Lite	19	5
21.	Hangin' Out	5/1980	De-Lite	52	103
22.	Celebration	17.10.1980	De-Lite	5	1
23.	Jones Versus Jones / Summer Madness / Funky Stuff	2/1981	De-Lite	17	39
24.	Take It To The Top	5/1981	De-Lite	15
25.	Take My Heart (You Can Have It If You Want It)	10/1981	De-Lite	12	17
26.	Steppin' Out	10/1981	De-Lite	12	89
27.	Get Down On It	12/1981	De-Lite	2	10
28.	Big Fun	7/1982	De-Lite	14	21
29.	Ooh La, La, La (Let's Go Dancing)	10/1982	De-Lite	6	30
30.	Hi De Hi, Hi De Ho	12/1982	De-Lite	20
31.	Joanna / Tonight	10/1983	De-Lite	2	2
32.	Straight Ahead	02.12.1983	De-Lite	15
33.	Tonight	2/1984			13
34.	(When You Say You Love Somebody) In The Heart	30.03.1984	De-Lite	7
35.	Fresh	11/1984	De-Lite	6	9
36.	Misled	11/1984	De-Lite	21	10
37.	Cherish	5/1985	De-Lite	4	2
38.	Emergency	10/1985	De-Lite	50	18
39.	Victory	10/1986	Mercury	27	10
40.	Stone Love	1/1987	Mercury	45	10
41.	The Throw Down Mix / Stone Love	3/1987
42.	Holiday	6/1987			66
43.	Special Way	10/1987			88
44.	Peacemaker	11/1987
45.	Rags To Riches	8/1988
46.	Strong	12/1988
47.	Celebration '88	12/1988		56
48.	Raindrops	7/1989
49.	1990 Kool & The Gang Hitmix	4/1990
50.	Get Down On It '91	6/1991		69
51.	Rhythm & Ride	12/1992
52.	Ladies Night & 7T	06.05.1996	Intercord
53.	Salute To The Ladies feat. J.T. Taylor	01.07.1996	Curb/edel
54.	In The Hood	09.09.1996	Curb/edel
55.	Summer	29.09.1997	MCA
56.	Always (Timewriter remix)	08.06.1998	UCA
57.	Celebrate & Bill Clinton	18.01.1999	white label
58.	Always (Centrefold, Timewriter remixes)	15.03.1999	Classic Tune/Intergroove
59.	Summer (Centrefold, AK Hunter, Peter Ries mixes)	23.08.1999	Clip
60.	Funky Collector Part 5 EP (Funkybebop / Be My Lady) & Veen Zee	18.12.2000	Universal
61.	Funky Collector Part 13 (Fresh (US remix) / Be Free) & Dr Togo	27.02.2001	Universal
62.	Summer	01.10.2001	Luxury House
63.	NT Parts 1 & 2 / Summer Madness (Live) (reissue)	11.02.2002	S12
64.	Magnum Opus 3 (Love To Love You Baby (12" version) / Jungle Boogie (album version) / Strange Games & Things) & Kool And The Gang & Love Unlimited Orchestra	14.04.2003	Universal
65.	Gangthology EP (Funky Stuff / NT / Ladies Night / Summer Madness)	05.05.2003	Universal
66.	Summer & Guests	31.05.2004	Time
67.	Featured Artist Album Sampler (No Show / Cherish / Jungle Boogie / Hollywood Swingin')	14.06.2004	Sony
68.	Ladies Night / Stressin' & Spanner Banner & Sean Paul	21.06.2004	edel
69.	Fresh feat Liberty X	19.07.2004	Scorpio
70.	Get Down On It & Blue	1/2005
71.	Ladies Night (Ziegler, Jerome & Suez's Dubless Crazy Lady mix, Gorge vs Taste T Amused mix, Aqute Ladies Night remix) & 7T	18.07.2005	Luxury House
72.	Hollywood Swinging' & Jamiroquai	08.08.2005	Simply
73.	Funky Stuff / Jungle Boogie / Hollywood Swinging (reissue)	16.04.2007	Urban
74.	Sweet Power Your Embrace / Summer Madness Live (Onur Engin edit) & Onur Engin & James Mason	25.10.2012	Gamm
75.	Summer Madness EP (Get Down On It (long version) / Summer Masness (original studio version))	16.11.2012	De-Lite
76.	She's Fresh Aktar feat. Assala	09.09.2014	Universal
77.	Sexy (Where'd You Get Yours)	7/2016

James JT Taylor:

#	SP/EP Title	Release Date	Label	UK	USA
1.	All I Want Is Forever	3/1990
2.	Long Hot Summer Night	7/1991	MCA	63
3.	Feel The Need	11/1991		57
4.	Follow Me	4/1992		59
5.	Sex On The Beach	30.03.1999

Robert "Kool" Bell:

#	SP/EP Title	Release Date	Label	UK	USA
1.	Jungle Boogie & Yojo Working	02.11.1998	Virgin

Videos:

1. Tonight - 1984, 84 min
2. Best of Musikladen - 15.06.1999, DVD
3. Gold Collection: The Videos - 05.03.2007, UM3

Bibliography:

George Brown: Too Hot: Kool & the Gang & Me (7/2023)

Awards:

2003 MOBO Awards - Outstanding Achievement Award
2008 Pioneer Awards - Group Award
2016 Grammy Hall Of Fame (SP "Celebration", 1980)
2024 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame

Various:

original name Soul Town Review
1964-67 The Jazziacs
1967-? New Dimensions
The New Flames
Kool And The New Flames

Compilation Appearances:

"Ladies Night" on OST "Undercover Brother" (21.5.02, Hollywood)

appeared on the LP:

Jimmy Cliff: Black Magic (24.8.04, Artemis)

Press References:

Melodie
Year	Issue	Date	Page	Column	Type
1983	10		297
1990	11		341	Melodie ze světa - Montreux Jazz Festiv	gig review
1993	6		34	Recenze	album review
Melody Maker
Year	Issue	Date	Page	Column	Type
1974	52	28.12.1974	27	Albums	album review
1975	6	08.02.1975	24	Caught In The Act	gig review
1975	6	08.02.1975	59
1975	50	13.12.1975	45	Soul Food	album review
1976	10	06.03.1976	34	Soul Food	album review
1976	27	03.07.1976	23	New Albums	album review
1980	3	19.01.1980	19	Singles	single review
1980	18	21.06.1980	18	Single File	single review
1980	36	11.10.1980	5	News
1980	43	06.12.1980	19	Albums	album review
1981	46	14.11.1981	29	Caught In The Act	gig review
1982	6	06.02.1982	16		interview
1982	36	04.09.1982	27	Datelines
1982	41	09.10.1982	11		interview
1982	41	09.10.1982	22	Albums	album review
1982	43	23.10.1982	27	Caught In The Act	gig review
1983	49	03.12.1983	4	Fast Forward - Record News
1983	49	03.12.1983	27	Singles	single review
1983	50	10.12.1983	4	Fast Forward - Record News
1984	1	07.01.1984	23	Albums	album review
1984	5	04.02.1984	47	Singles	single review
1984	44	15.12.1984	17	It's Alive	gig review
1994	25	25.06.1994	37	Albums - Silver Surfer	album review
1996	12	23.03.1996	11	A.W.O.L.
New Musical Express
Year	Issue	Date	Page	Column	Type
1974	0	09.03.1974	33	Soul
1975	0	08.02.1975	39	On The Town	gig review
1975	0	01.03.1975	2	News Desk - Recording News
Rock & Pop
Year	Issue	Date	Page	Column	Type
1991	11	07.06.1991	4	Pelmel	interview
2003	7		78	Recenze CD	album review
2004	7		78	Recenze+	album review