Hollywood Swinging

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"Hollywood Swinging"
Hollywood swinging by kool and the gang US single side-A (variation 1).png
One of side-A labels of US single
Single by Kool & the Gang
from the album Wild and Peaceful
B-side "Dujii"
ReleasedApril 6, 1974 [1] [ deprecated source ]
Recorded1973
Genre
Length4:35
Label De-Lite Records
Songwriter(s) Bell, Bell, Brown, Mickens, Smith, Thomas, Westfield
Producer(s)
Kool and the Gang singles chronology
"Jungle Boogie"
(1973)
"Hollywood Swinging"
(1974)
"Higher Plane"
(1974)

"Hollywood Swinging" is a 1974 song by R&B/funk band Kool & the Gang from their album Wild and Peaceful . It was written by Robert "Kool" Bell, Ronald Bell, George M. Brown, Robert "Spike" Mickens, Claydes Charles Smith, Dennis R. Thomas and Rick A. Westfield.

Contents

"Hollywood Swinging" was the group's first number one R&B single, reaching that position in June 1974. The single was a successful crossover hit, peaking at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart as well. [4]

In 2015 Nile Rodgers stated that Chic's 1979 song "Good Times" was partly inspired by "Hollywood Swinging". Rodgers is the cousin of Robert Mickens. [5]

Track listing

De-Lite Records – DE-561: [6]

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Hollywood Swinging" (From the album Wild and Peaceful ) Kool and the Gang & Rick Westfield 4:35
2."Dujii" (From the compilation album Kool Jazz) Rick Westfield 6:02

Critical reception

Record World said "These guys have to be funk personified. Make way for their next million seller." [7]

Daryl Easlea of the BBC wrote "Hollywood Swinging packs appropriate punch". [8] Andrew Hamilton of Allmusic called Hollywood Swinging "a slightly faster than mid-tempo song with whistles, festive ambiance and lead vocals by keyboardist Ricky West." [9]

Charts

Chart (1974)Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100 [10] 6
US Hot Soul Singles ( Billboard ) [11] 1

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [12] Gold1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Notable appearances in other media

"Hollywood Swinging" appears in the game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas as well as the game's soundtrack during the dance sequences in the mission "Life's a Beach". [13] It also appears in the Academy Award-winning documentary O.J.: Made in America in a montage detailing Simpson's rise to fame in the late 1970s. [14] The song is also one of the official themes for the WWE Premium Live Event WrestleMania 39 .

Covers and samples

The song has been sampled in several rap songs, including:

Brian Culbertson featuring Musiq Soulchild and Gerald Albright covered "Hollywood Swinging" on Culbertson's 2008 album Bringing Back the Funk . [17] In 1982 the Big Boys released the Fun, Fun, Fun... EP containing a cover of "Hollywood Swinging".

The group Brockhampton covered "Hollywood Swinging" in 2022 for the soundtrack of the animated film Minions: The Rise of Gru , which consisted primarily of contemporary artists covering 1970s music. [18]

Jamiroquai versions

"Hollywood Swinging"
Single by Kool & the Gang featuring Jamiroquai
from the album In Store Jam and The Hits: Reloaded
B-side
Released
  • November 6, 1997 (Jamiroquai)
  • December 8, 2005 (Kool & the Gang featuring Jamiroquai)
Recorded
  • 1997 (Jamiroquai)
  • 2004 (Kool & the Gang featuring Jamiroquai)
Genre
Length
  • 4:47
  • 4:28
Label Edel Records
Songwriter(s) Bell, Bell, Brown, Mickens, Smith, Thomas, Westfield
Producer(s) Jason Kay
Jamiroquai singles chronology
"(Don't) Give Hate a Chance"
(2005)
"Hollywood Swinging"
(00000036)
"Runaway"
(2006)

A version of "Hollywood Swinging" was originally recorded by British funk/acid jazz band Jamiroquai in 1997. The group released the recording, alongside three other tracks, on an exclusive Japanese MiniDisc entitled "Hollywood Swinging", which was available from November 6, 1997. This version also appeared on the group's compilation album, In Store Jam , which was only available for purchase in the US. In 2004, Kool & the Gang re-recorded "Hollywood Swinging" as a collaboration with the group, releasing it on December 8, 2005, having recorded it in 2004. The song was released as a single from their album of re-recorded songs, The Hits: Reloaded , and was released on several different formats. Despite strong radio airplay, the song failed to chart anywhere.

Track listing

1997

Japanese mini single

  1. "Virtual Insanity" (Radio Edit) – 3:54
  2. "When You Gonna Learn" (Didgeridoo) – 3:48
  3. "Too Young to Die" (Radio Edit) – 3:19
  4. "Hollywood Swinging" – 4:47

2005

Spanish CD single

  1. "Hollywood Swinging" (feat. Jamiroquai) – 4:28

European CD single

  1. "Hollywood Swinging" (feat. Jamiroquai) (Ralphi Rosario's Old School Vocal) – 7:30
  2. "Hollywood Swinging" (feat. Jamiroquai) (Ralphi Rosario's Hollywood Rock Dub) – 9:10

UK CD single

  1. "Hollywood Swinging" (feat. Jamiroquai) – 4:28
  2. "Cherish" (feat. Ashanti)
  3. "Get Down on It" (feat. Blue & Lil' Kim)
  4. "Ladies Night" (feat. Sean Paul & Spanner Banner)

UK 12" vinyl

  1. "Hollywood Swinging" (feat. Jamiroquai) – 4:28
  2. "Hollywood Swinging" (feat. Jamiroquai) (Ralphi Rosario's Old School Vocal) – 7:30
  3. "Hollywood Swinging" (feat. Jamiroquai) (Ralphi Rosario's Hollywood Rock Dub) – 9:10

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kool & the Gang</span> American R&B, soul and funk band

Kool & the Gang is an American R&B, soul, and funk band formed in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1964. Its founding members include brothers Robert "Kool" Bell and Ronald Bell aka "Khalis Bayyan", Dennis "Dee Tee" Thomas, Robert "Spike" Mickens, Charles Smith, George Brown, Sir Earl Toon, Woodrow "Woody" Sparrow, and Ricky Westfield. They have undergone numerous changes in personnel and have explored many musical styles throughout their history, including jazz, rhythm and blues, soul, funk, disco, rock, and pop music. The group changed their name several times. Settling on Kool & the Gang, the group signed to De-Lite Records and released their debut album, Kool and the Gang (1969).

<i>Spirit of the Boogie</i> 1975 studio album by Kool & the Gang

Spirit of the Boogie is the sixth studio album by Kool & the Gang, released in 1975. It can be seen as a follow-up to Wild and Peaceful (1973); the instrumental "Jungle Jazz" uses the same basic rhythm track heard in "Jungle Boogie", but lets the players improvise on their instruments. References to earlier works can be noticed. "Spirit of the Boogie" features Donald Boyce, who was rapping on "Jungle Boogie". Some African influence can be felt, and the band even play in a West-Indian style on "Caribbean Festival", another instrumental track, with once more much room for improvisation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Let Me Clear My Throat</span> 1996 single by DJ Kool

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<i>Kool and the Gang</i> (album) 1969 studio album by Kool & the Gang

Kool and the Gang is the debut studio album by funk band Kool & the Gang. The album was released in December 1969, and reached No. 43 on the Billboard R&B albums chart.

<i>Wild and Peaceful</i> (Kool & the Gang album) 1973 studio album by Kool & the Gang

Wild and Peaceful is the fourth studio album, and sixth album of new material released by the funk band Kool & the Gang, and is their commercial breakthrough album. It was released in 1973 and was hugely successful on the Billboard R&B chart, reaching No. 6 and charting for 36 weeks. It also reached No. 33 on the Pop charts, making it the band's first entry into that chart's Top 40. The album spawned the band's first three Top 10 singles. "Funky Stuff" reached No. 5 R&B/No. 29 Pop. The hugely popular track "Jungle Boogie" soared to No. 2 R&B and No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, and "Hollywood Swinging" topped the Billboard Hot Soul Singles in June 1974 while reaching No. 6 Pop. The latter two singles both sold over a million copies and were certified Gold by the RIAA. The album itself was also certified Gold.

<i>Light of Worlds</i> 1974 studio album by Kool & the Gang

Light of Worlds is the fifth studio album, and seventh album of new material by the American R&B group Kool & the Gang. Released in 1974, it was later remastered by Polygram and was a second success for the band, reaching number 16 in the R&B chart and number 63 in the pop chart. It was a landmark in the funk/jazz fusion genre of the 1970s.

<i>Love & Understanding</i> 1976 studio album by Kool & the Gang

Love & Understanding is the seventh studio album by the funk band Kool & the Gang, released in 1976. The album had mild success. Three tracks, "Hollywood Swinging", "Summer Madness" and "Universal Sound" were recorded live at the Rainbow Theatre in London, England.

<i>The Force</i> (Kool & the Gang album) 1977 studio album by Kool & the Gang

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Get Down on It</span> 1981 single by Kool & the Gang

"Get Down on It" is a 1981 song by American band Kool & the Gang. It was originally released on their Something Special album in 1981. The single was certified Gold by the RIAA.

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<i>In-Store Jam</i> 1997 compilation album by Jamiroquai

In-Store Jam is the second compilation album released by British funk/acid jazz band Jamiroquai. Released as a promotional album in 1997, the record features a selection of tracks from all three of the group's early studio albums, as well as an additional live recording of Kool & the Gang's "Hollywood Swinging". All of the tracks from the album have, or been considered to become, singles. The album was only released in the United States. Two versions of the release were available: a standard CD, and a cassette tape release, retitled Sampler, with the addition of an extra track.

"Higher Plane" is the name of a hit song by R&B/funk band Kool & the Gang and written by Robert Earl Bell, Ronald Nathan Bell, George Melvin Brown, Robert Spike Mickens, Claydes Charles Smith, Dennis Thomas and Rick Westfield. From the album Light of Worlds, the single spent one week at number one on the R&B singles chart in October, 1974. It also peaked at number 37 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. The song was included on the 1975 Kool & the Gang Greatest Hits! record.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spirit of the Boogie (song)</span> 1975 single by Kool and the Gang

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"Funky Stuff" is a funk song written, produced, and recorded by Kool & the Gang for their 1973 album Wild and Peaceful. Released as a single, the song reached No. 5 on the US Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart and No. 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

"Caribbean Festival" is a song recorded by Kool & the Gang for their 1975 studio album Spirit of the Boogie. It was produced by the band and with writing credited to Ronald Bell along with the group.

References

  1. "Hollywood Swinging/Dujii". Rate Your Music . Retrieved November 4, 2016.
  2. "100 Greatest Funk Songs". Digital Dream Door. August 7, 2008. Archived from the original on September 25, 2010. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  3. Marsh, Dave (1989). The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made. Plume. p. 415. ISBN   0-452-26305-0.
  4. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1992–2004. Record Research. p. 332.
  5. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine : "Nile Rodgers Discusses Legendary Bassline of "Good Times," Sampling & FOLD! Festival". YouTube.
  6. "Hollywood Swinging/Dujii". Discogs . Retrieved November 4, 2016.
  7. "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. April 13, 1974. p. 1. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  8. Easlea, Daryl (2009). "Kool & The Gang Wild And Peaceful Review". bbc.co.uk. BBC.
  9. Hamilton, Andrew. "Kool & the Gang: Wild and Peaceful > Review at AllMusic . Retrieved 28 October 2011.
  10. "Kool The Gang Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  11. "Kool & the Gang Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard .
  12. "American single certifications – Kool & The Gang – Hollywood Swinging". Recording Industry Association of America.
  13. Scheper, Judith. "10 Best songs from GTA San Andreas". We Speak Music. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  14. "O.J.: Made in America (TV Mini-Series 2016– ) – IMDb". IMDb.
  15. "Kool and the Gang: Hollywood Swinging". the-breaks.com.[ permanent dead link ]
  16. Powell, Jon (October 14, 2022). "2 Chainz wants you to "2 Step" to his latest single" . Retrieved December 7, 2022.
  17. "Kool and the Gang: Hollywood Swinging". secondhandsongs.com.
  18. "Brockhampton Covers Kool & The Gang's "Hollywood Swinging"". HotNewHipHop. June 17, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.