Kool & the Gang Songs Ranked
Kool & the Gang is an American band formed in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1964 by brothers Robert “Kool” Bell and Ronald Bell, with Dennis “D.T.” Thomas, Robert “Spike” Mickens, Charles Smith, George Brown, and Ricky West. They have undergone numerous changes in personnel and have explored many musical styles throughout their history, including jazz, soul, funk, rock, and pop music. After settling on their name following several changes, the group signed to De-Lite Records and released their debut album, Kool and the Gang Kool & the Gang have won numerous awards, including two Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, and, in 2006, a Music Business Association Chairman’s Award for artistic achievement. As well the band has been inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame and been bestowed with a Soul Train Legend Award, the Marian Anderson Award, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. During 2018, the Bells, Brown, and Taylor were also inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Their discography includes 23 studio albums and almost 70 singles. They have sold 7.5 million and 4.5 million RIAA-certified albums and singles, respectively, in the US. Worldwide, they have sold 70 million albums. Here are all of Kool & The Gang songs ranked.
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20. Victory (Forever, 1986)
“Aside from the coolness of the vinyl, early jazz-funk-soul kool and the gang is some of the best music ever committed to wax. Kool & the Gang’s first album is completely instrumental.”
19. Take My Heart (You Can Have It If You Want It) (Something Special, 1981)
“A little too limp, especially when compared with their other early ’80s output. Even though it predates Thriller by over a year, every time I hear it, it sounds like a demo for Michael Jackson.”
18. Stone Love (Forever, 1986)
“Kool and the Gang is one of the most successful rhythm and blues bands that was first established in 1964. Listening to this album for the first time in a couple of decades I find much more joy than what I had in 1980s. Surely this album needs to be re-appreciated.”
17. Steppin’ Out (Best Of, 1985)
“It finds a groove and settles into it right at the outset…after which the song spools out for about four minutes and then fades out. Pleasant but unmemorable to an almost shocking degree.”
See more: Kool & The Gang Albums Ranked
16. Big Fun (As One, 1982)
“The music is more disco than funk, so if you try to listen to it as funk, you will be disappointed. This is what had happened to the aforementioned journalist, but of course not me.”
15. Take It to the Top (Celebrate!, 1980)
“Take It to the Top” teases with it’s horns and guitar in the intro and the instrumental sections, but for whatever reason it doesn’t maintain a funk groove.”
14. Hollywood Swinging (Ladies Night, 2012)
“A solid funk workout from Kool and the Gang here. They’d have to wait a few more years to really get rollin’ once the disco craze came around, though.”
13. Open Sesame (Open Sesame, 1976)
“Here is where things started to fall apart. While the title-track is a last stand of horn-heavy funk jazz jammin’, the remainder of ‘Open Sesame’ is really bland, and, at times, downright cheesy.”
12. Cherish (Emergency, 1984)
“Cherish” is among the very best songs with a masterfully mixed entrance: romantic, smooth, light, and “singable. ” Since way back in the eighties it has been a favorite!”
11. Tonight (In the Heart, 1983)
“Love ole skool music. Kool and the Gang are one of my favorites – their music makes you want to get up and dance. Makes you put in a real good mood.”
10. Chocolate Buttermilk (Kool and the Gang, 1969)
“One of the songs only true K&TG fans will know about; early instrumental cut, long before the commercialized singing K&TG hit the popular airwaves in the 80s. When I listen to it, it reminds me of my hometown”
9. Misled (Emergency, 1984)
“It’s less a Michael Jackson ripoff, and more simply a song that took some lessons from “Beat It” and “Billie Jean”. In short, yeah, feel free to crank up the rock guitar for your hook, and feel free to sing about a woman in a rather confused/mysterious/frightened way. Doing so added some heft to K&tG’s usual pop sensibilities, and as such, it’s a pretty solid slice of rock/R&B crossover.”
8. Ladies’ Night (Ladies’ Night, 1979)
“A definite turn to pop for Kool & The Gang who cleverly anticipated the move into the 80s chart success. The songs are so familiar, throwaway but essentially fun.”
7. Celebration (Greatest Hits, 1992)
“Very catchy, loved, party track that has progressed well with the times.”Celebration” was the last of the disco #1 hits of the disco era, delivered by one of the genre’s most acclaimed practitioners, Kool and the Gang.”
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6. Fresh (Emergency, 1984)
“Kool etc ups the pop and downplays the funk here, but it’s still catchy and enjoyable. A rare example of an established artist jumping on a hip catchphrase without falling flat on their face.”
5. Jungle Boogie (Wild and Peaceful, 1973)
“Not knowing when this song was released, I was surprised to see a date as early as November 1973. Jungle Boogie sounds like a funky disco anthem but it was at least two or three years ahead of the flood of songs in that style. By my reckoning, that makes Jungle Boogie a very progressive bit of dance music.”
4. Get Down on It (The Ultimate Collection, 2016)
“Get Down On It by Kool and The Gang has been characterized by some as a four word song and I had the same reaction at first, but what it may lack in lyrical depth. It more then makes up for in terms of motivational tunes.”
3. Joanna (In the Heart, 1983)
“Joanna’s a little too one-note and predictable for me, though I do like the boogie woogie keyboards on it. Place For Us is the better track, with a fun, uplifting vibe that I can get behind. Overall though not much originality in this single”
2. Summer Madness (Light of Worlds 1974)
“Some music reminds us of times that seemed simpler and of loved ones that are no longer with us. This brings back memories of summers as a kid when all of my family and friends were still around.”
1. Too Hot (Ladies’ Night, 1979)
“Too Hot is one of the greatest songs in the Kool and the Gang collection. In fact I can’t think of a better one. Straight Ahead is another one I like a lot (from another album), but it’s nowhere near as good as Too Hot. Too Hot was the reason for my buying this album. I still love that song, it’s enough to stop you in your tracks and just listen to how great it is. Wonderful singing, beautiful music, heartfelt, and what a great great song. Album OK, Too Hot simply awesome. Love it.”