Kool & the Gang
Daddy Cool - Kool & the Gang,James Brown,The Commodores,Stevie Wonder,Aretha Franklin,Miscellaneous Performers Album Review
Album Review
Funk -soul- blues brothers unite on a unique double CD collection aimed at (older) Father's Day. Deliberately geared for cool dads to relive their 'boogie - shoes' days from the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. This whopping 40 song tracklisting includes some of the best known songs of all time, mostly from the Soul and Northern Soul genres. The majority are out and out classics, though the odd turkey does appear. Nevertheless, it's a very impressive line-up of absolute gems that should grace everyone's record collection, which is also perfect for mobile DJ's across the nation. Funk features Kool And The Gang's lesser known Jungle Boogie which broke them in the USA as a major act in 1974, before they evolved into a smooth disco ensemble. Parliament's ultra-smooth P Funk, which never charted in the UK, is an odd inclusion and not a dance track in any shape or form. The Equals' Funky Like A Train is a definite turkey. UK club hits Brick House (a double A-side from 1977- # 32) by the Commodores and Sugarhill Gang's Rappers Delight, #3 in 1979 are top class examples of commercial funkiness.
Disco gets are fair old dusting down too - Jocelyn Brown's Somebody Else's Guy, EWF's Let's Groove, and KC's Boogie Shoes lead the dancefloor attack, whereas one -hit -wonders Wild Cherry, provide a funk-rock edge from October 1976.
Soul standards hold up the rearguard - Sam (Moore) And Dave (Prater's) '67 stirring classic Soul Man, Marvin Gaye's US hit Can I Get A Witness, and Eddie Floyd's continuing floor-filler Knock On Wood prove to be the best.
In a mellower mode, blue-eyed soul siren Lynda Lyndell's 1968 VOLT gem Whatta Man ( later popularised by Salt'n'Pepa in 1993) leads the pack, followed by ( Reverend ) Al Green's second UK hit Let's Stay Together, ( Dr.) Nina Simone's 1994 Feeling Good and anthemic wonder Stand By Me by former Drifter Ben.E.King.
Best track by a mile, is the groundbreaking psychedelic Soul monster Papa Was A Rollin' Stone (1973) by the incomparable Temptations.
Gigs
- Tue 23rd Jun 2009
- Wed 24th Jun 2009
- Thu 25th Jun 2009
- Fri 26th Jun 2009
- Sat 27th Jun 2009
- Sun 28th Jun 2009
You may also be interested in
- Sun 23rd Nov 2008
- Mon 24th Nov 2008 to Wed 26th Nov 2008
- Mon 24th Nov 2008 and Tue 25th Nov 2008
- Mon 24th Nov 2008 and Sun 29th Mar 2009
- Mon 24th Nov 2008
- Mon 24th Nov 2008 to Mon 29th Dec 2008
- Mon 24th Nov 2008
- Tue 25th Nov 2008
- Wed 26th Nov 2008
- Imelda MayThe Musician (Leicester)Under £10!
- Imelda MayThe Musician (Leicester)
- Thu 27th Nov 2008
- Imelda MayThe 12 Bar (Swindon)Under £10!
- Imelda MayThe 12 Bar (Swindon)
