With a cannon of more than 20 albums, Kool & the Gang are one of the most sampled Bands in music history. From their roots in the mid-late '60s, the Band has explored many musical styles from jazz and soul, funk and rock, R&B/Pop, with Gene Redd at the helm for their first handful of albums. Formed by brothers Robert "Kool" Bell (Muhammad Bayyan) and Ronald Bell (Khalis Bayyan) and five close friends, Kool & the Gang signed to De-Lite Records in 1969, releasing their eponymous debut album, "Kool And The Gang" worldwide the following year, having reached the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart with the title track. In 1973, Kool & the Gang reached the Billboard Top 30 for the first time with 'Funky Stuff', which was swiftly followed by 'Jungle Boogie' and 'Hollywood Swinging', which both reached the US Top 10. These are two of their most instantly recognisable earlier recordings, due to them being sampled and featured in present day TV commercials. More hits followed, including 1975's 'Summer Madness', again instantly recognisable from DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince's (aka Will Smith) global hit 'Summertime' in 1991. However, it was the inclusion of their 1976 track 'Open Sesame' on the 50 million selling units "Saturday Night Fever" soundtrack, that they really gained worldwide commercial popularity and recognition. "The Albums 1 1970-1978" is the first of two box sets that cover the Band's first 20 years. The set contains 119 tracks across 13 CDs, from the Band's twelve studio and live albums, released worldwide from 1970's debut "Kool & the Gang" and 1978's "Everybody's Dancin'", as well as a bonus "Singles Selection" disc, containing singles edits and non-LP tracks. Kool & the Gang's musical legacy remains in full force with their brand of melodic jazz, funk soul and pop.

Tracklist:

Kool ; the Gang
Breeze ; Soul
Chocolate Buttermilk
Sea of Tranquility
Give It Up
Since I Lost My Baby
Kools Back Again
The Gangs Back Again
Raw Hamburger
Medley: What Would the World Be Like Without Music / Let the Music Take Your Mind
Walk on By
Chocolate Buttermilk
Trying to Make a Fool of Me
Who's Gonna Take the Weight Part 1 ; 2
Pneumonia
Wichita Lineman
I Want to Take You Higher
Funky Man
The Touch of You
N.T
Ricksonata
Sombrero Sam
Ronnie's Groove
Ike's Mood/You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling
Lucky for Me
Dujii
Music Is the Message
Electric Frog (Part 1)
Electric Frog (Part 2)
Soul Vibrations
Love the Life You Live (Part 1) } Segued As Per the Original LP
Love the Life You Live (Part 2)
Stop, Look ; Listen
Blowing with the Wind
Funky Granny
Good Times
Country Junky
Wild Is Love
North, East, South, West
Making Merry Music
I Remember John w. Coltrane
Rated X
Father, Father
Funky Stuff
More Funky Stuff
Jungle Boogie
Heaven at Once
Hollywood Swinging
This Is You, This Is Me
Life Is What You Make It
Wild and Peaceful
Street Corner Symphony
Fruitman
Rhyme Tyme People
Light of Worlds
Whiting H. ; G
You Don't Have to Change
Higher Plane
Summer Madness
Here After
Spirit of the Boogie
Ride the Rhythm
Jungle Jazz
Sunshine and Love
Ancestral Ceremony
Mother Earth
Winter Sadness
Caribbean Festival
Love ; Understanding
Sugar
Do It Right Now
Cosmic Energy
Hollywood Swinging [Live]
Summer Madness [Live]
Universal Sound [Live]
Come Together [Live] ^1
Open Sesame ^1
Gift of Love ^1
Little Children ^1
All Night Long ^1
Whisper Softly ^1
Super Band ^1
L-O-V-E ^1
Sunshine ^1
A Place in Space ^1
Slick Superchick ^1
Just Be True ^1
The Force ^1
Mighty Mighty High ^1
Oasis ^1
Life's a Song ^1
Free ^1
Everybody's Dancin' ^1
Dancin' Shoes ^1
Big Chief Funkum ^1
I Like Music ^1
You Deserve a Break Today ^1
At the Party ^1
Stay Awhile ^1
It's All You Need ^1
Peace to the Universe ^1
Raw Hamburger ^1
Let the Music Take Your Mind ^1
Can't Stop (Doing It to You) ^1
Kool It (Here Comes the Fuzz) ^1
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 ^1
Who's Gonna Take the Weight (Part One) ^1
Pneumonia ^1
The Penguin ^1
Higher Plane ^1
Spirit of the Boogie ^1
Caribbean Festival ^1
Caribbean Festival (Disco Version) ^1
Get Down with the Boogie ^1
Open Sesame (Groove with the Genie) ^1
Love ; Understanding (Come Together) ^1
Super Band ^1
Slick Superchick ^1
Everybody's Dancin'

UPC: 740155730239
Label: Edsel Records
Release Date: 6.17.22
Format: CD

Kool & The Gang - Albums Vol. 1 (1970-1978) (Box) (Uk) (CD)