Light of Worlds

Last updated
Light of Worlds
Light of Worlds by Kool and the Gang original LP.png
US LP variant of standard artwork
Studio album by
ReleasedSeptember 1974
Recorded1973–1974
Studio Mediasound, New York City
Genre Jazz-funk [1]
Length36:06
Label De-Lite
DEP-2014
Producer K. & G. Productions
Kool & the Gang chronology
Wild and Peaceful
(1973)
Light of Worlds
(1974)
Spirit of the Boogie
(1975)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Rolling Stone (favorable) [2]
Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [3]
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [4]
Stereo Review (favourable) [5]

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.

Contents

Light of Worlds is regarded as Kool & the Gang's most spiritual and sophisticated work, produced in the wake of the success of their previous album, Wild and Peaceful . While it was their seventh album of original material, the band considered Light of Worlds their ninth LP (counting two compilations), and therefore consciously chose nine songs for the album to represent the then nine planets in the Solar System. The album contains rock-inspired funk set to jazz-informed playing with afrobeat influences and a tinge of analogue synthesizing.

"Summer Madness" was later released as a single, with a follow-up titled "Winter Sadness" in Kool & the Gang's Spirit of the Boogie a year later. In 1991, the Hip-Hop duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince sampled elements of "Summer Madness" for their song "Summertime". A remake of "Summer Madness" was released on their 1993 album Unite titled "WKOOL/Summer".

Track listing

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Street Corner Symphony"Kool & the Gang, Amir Bayyan4:32
2."Fruitman"Kool & the Gang, Rick Westfield5:19
3."Rhyme Tyme People"Kool & the Gang, Penni Phynjuar Saunders, Dennis "D.T." Thomas3:19
4."Light of Worlds"Kool & the Gang, Charles "Claydes" Smith4:21
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
5."Whiting H. & G."Kool & the Gang, Bayyan3:17
6."You Don't Have to Change"Kool & the Gang, Robert "Spike" Mickens2:39
7."Higher Plane"Kool & the Gang, Bayyan4:57
8."Summer Madness"Kool & the Gang, Mickens, Alton Taylor4:16
9."Here After"Kool & the Gang, Bayyan2:54

Singles

SongR&B chartPop chart
"Higher Plane"No.1No.37
"Rhyme Tyme People"No.3No.63
"Summer Madness"No.36No.35

Personnel

Kool & the Gang

Additional personnel

[6]

Production

Reissue

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [7] Gold500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Notes

  1. Gorton, TJ (July 30, 2018). "BeatCaffeine's 100 Best Jazz-Funk Songs". BeatCaffeine. Archived from the original on August 25, 2018. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  2. Palmer, Bob (30 January 1975). "Light Of Worlds : Kool & the Gang : Review : Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on 23 February 2010.
  3. Hoard, Christian. "Review: Light of Worlds". Rolling Stone: 464. November 2, 2004.
  4. "Kool and the Gang: Light of Worlds". AllMusic.
  5. Chris Albertson (March 1975). "Kool and the Gang: Light of Worlds" (PDF). americanradiohistory.com. Vol. 34, no. 3. Stereo Review. p. 78.
  6. "Kool & the Gang - Light of Worlds". Discogs .
  7. "American album certifications – Kool & The Gang – Light of Worlds". Recording Industry Association of America.

Related Research Articles

<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.

<i>Secrets</i> (Herbie Hancock album) 1976 studio album by Herbie Hancock

Secrets is a jazz-funk fusion album by keyboard player Herbie Hancock. It is also Hancock's seventeenth album overall. Participating musicians include saxophonist Bennie Maupin and guitarist Wah Wah Watson.

<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>Music Is the Message</i> 1972 studio album by Kool & the Gang

Music Is the Message is the second studio album, and the fourth overall album, by the funk band Kool & the Gang. It was released in 1972.

<i>Good Times</i> (Kool & the Gang album) 1972 studio album by Kool & the Gang

Good Times is the third studio album, and fifth album of new material released by the funk band Kool & the Gang. The album was released in November 1972, but did not make the Billboard R&B album chart until March 1973; peaking at number 34 during a 6 week run.

<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>Open Sesame</i> (Kool & the Gang album) 1976 studio album by Kool & the Gang

Open Sesame is the eighth studio album by the funk band Kool & the Gang, released in 1976 on Mercury Records. The album reached No. 9 on the US Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 33 on the US Billboard Top Jazz LPs chart.

<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

The Force is the ninth studio album by the funk band Kool & the Gang, released in 1977 on De-Lite Records. The album peaked at No. 33 on the US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

<i>Thrust</i> (album) 1974 studio album by Herbie Hancock

Thrust is the fourteenth studio album by American jazz-funk musician Herbie Hancock, released in September 1974 on Columbia Records. The album reached No. 2 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 13 on the Billboard 200 chart. It is the second album featuring The Headhunters: saxophonist Bennie Maupin, bass guitarist Paul Jackson, drummer Mike Clark and percussionist Bill Summers.

<i>Angel</i> (Ohio Players album) 1977 studio album by Ohio Players

Angel is the ninth studio album by the Ohio Players, and the sixth album recorded for Mercury. The band grew from seven to eight members with the addition of Clarence "Chet" Willis on rhythm guitar.

<i>Reed Seed</i> 1978 studio album by Grover Washington Jr.

Reed Seed is the seventh studio album by the American jazz saxophonist Grover Washington Jr. It was released in 1978 on the Motown label.

<i>Melissa</i> (Melissa Manchester album) 1975 studio album by Melissa Manchester

Melissa is the third album by Melissa Manchester, released on the Arista Records label in 1975. It reached #12 on the Billboard Albums chart on the strength of her first U.S. Top Ten hit "Midnight Blue" (#6). In 2001, the album was re-released.

<i>Was (Not Was)</i> (album) 1981 studio album by Was (Not Was)

Was (Not Was) is the debut album by art-funk ensemble Was (Not Was); it was released in 1981. The album was re-released with additional material in 2004 under the name Out Come the Freaks. The art direction was by Maverse Players.

<i>Tender Togetherness</i> 1981 studio album by Stanley Turrentine

Tender Togetherness is a studio album by tenor saxophonist Stanley Turrentine, released in April 1981 on Elektra Records. The album reached No. 13 on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart.

<i>Love to the World</i> 1976 studio album by L.T.D.

Love to the World is the third studio album by Los Angeles, California -based band, L.T.D., released in 1976 on the A&M label.

<i>Make Your Move</i> (album) 1979 studio album by Captain & Tennille

Make Your Move is the fifth album by the American duo Captain & Tennille. Released in 1979, the album includes the #1 hit single "Do That to Me One More Time". The album was certified Gold by the RIAA. It is their first album on Casablanca Records.

<i>Keeping Our Love Warm</i> 1980 studio album by Captain & Tennille

Keeping Our Love Warm is the sixth studio album by the American duo Captain & Tennille. Issued in 1980, it was their final full-length release recorded for Casablanca Records.

<i>Leaving This Planet</i> 1974 studio album by Charles Earland

Leaving This Planet is a double album by organist Charles Earland that was recorded in 1973 and released on the Prestige label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Summer Madness (instrumental)</span> 1974 song by Kool & the Gang

"Summer Madness" is a song by American by R&B band Kool & the Gang, released on their 1974 album Light of Worlds. It reached number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 36 on the Hot Soul Singles charts. It has subsequently become one of the most sampled R&B compositions of all time, and was re-released and reissued as a CD and cassette single by Epic Records in 1996. As of 2018, over 145 recordings had sampled it.

References