Kool and the Gang (album)

Kool and the Gang
Studio album by Kool & the Gang
Released	December 1969
Studio	Bell Sound (New York City)
Genre	R&B soul jazz funk
Length	32:12
Label	De-Lite
Producer	Gene Redd
Kool & the Gang chronology
Kool and the Gang (1969) Live at the Sex Machine (1971)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
(The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide	[2]

Kool and the Gang is the debut studio album by funk band Kool & the Gang released in December 1969 on De-Lite Records ^[3] This album peaked at No. 43 on the Billboard R&B albums chart.

Critical reception

JT Griffith of Allmusic declared, in a 3.5/5 stars review, "Though barely over a half an hour long, Kool and the Gang is a blast of a record containing strong elements that would become the band's trademarks: smooth melodies, suave rhythms, and brassy horns. This is one of Kool & the Gang's jazzier albums and a strong debut worth checking out." ^[1]

Singles

The singles, "Kool and the Gang" and "Let the Music Take Your Mind", both peaked at No. 19 on the Billboard Best-Selling Soul Singles chart. ^[4]

Track listing

De-Lite Records – DE-2003:

Side one

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Kool & The Gang"	Kool and the Gang	2:54
2.	"Breeze & Soul"	Gene Redd & Kool and the Gang	5:29
3.	"Chocolate Buttermilk"	Gene Redd & Kool and the Gang	2:14
4.	"Sea of Tranquility"	Gene Redd & Kool and the Gang	3:34

Side two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Give It Up"	Gene Redd & Kool and the Gang	3:40
2.	"Since I Lost My Baby"	Warren Moore & Smokey Robinson	2:08
3.	"Kool's Back Again"	Gene Redd, Jimmy Crosby & Kool and the Gang	2:48
4.	"The Gang's Back Again"	Gene Redd, Jimmy Crosby & Kool and the Gang	2:46
5.	"Raw Hamburger"	Gene Redd	3:36
Total length:			32:12

CD release bonus track

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
10.	"Let The Music Take Your Mind"	Gene Redd & Kool and the Gang	2:58
Total length:			35:10

Personnel

• Robert "Kool" Bell – bass, vocals
• Khalis Bayyan aka "Ronald Bell" – tenor and soprano saxophones, alto flute, vocals
• George "Funky" Brown – drums, percussion, vocals
• Robert "Spike" Mickens – trumpet, flugelhorn, vocals
• Claydes Smith – guitars
• Woody Sparrow – guitars
• Dennis "D.T." Thomas – alto saxophone, flute, percussion, vocals
• Ricky West – keyboards, piano, vocals

Technical

• Malcom Addey – sound engineer

Design

• Robert Golden – album design

Singles

• "Kool & The Gang"/"Raw Hamburger" (#19 R&B/#59 pop) (1969)
• "The Gang's Back Again"/"Kool's Back Again" (#37/#85) (1969)
• "Let the Music Take Your Mind"/"Chocolate Buttermilk" (#19/#78) (1970)

References

1. Griffith, JT. "Kool & the Gang - Kool & the Gang" . Retrieved April 6, 2025.
2. (The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon & Schuster. 2004. pp. 464–465.
3. "History - Kool and the Gang". koolandthegang.com. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
4. "Kool and the Gang Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard .