Love & Understanding

Love & Understanding
Studio album by Kool & the Gang
Released	March 1976
Recorded	1975
Genre	Funk
Length	41:26
Label	De-Lite
Producer	Kool and the Gang
Kool & the Gang chronology
Spirit of the Boogie (1975) Love & Understanding (1976) Open Sesame (1976)

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.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]

Record World said of the title track that "Kool's combination of chanting vocals, horns and electronics forms a patented style all his own." ^[2]

Track listing

Side one

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Love & Understanding"	Claydes Smith, Khalis Bayyan, Kool & the Gang	7:51
2.	"Sugar"	George Brown, Kool & the Gang	5:37
3.	"Do It Right Now"	Otha Nash, Kool & the Gang	3:55
4.	"Cosmic Energy"	Smith, Bayyan, Kool & the Gang	3:11

Side two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Hollywood Swinging" (live)	Ricky West, Kool & the Gang	5:40
2.	"Summer Madness" (live)	Alton Taylor, Robert "Spike" Mickens, Kool & the Gang	8:01
3.	"Universal Sound" (live)	Bayyan, Kool & the Gang	4:04
4.	"Come Together"	Smith, Bayyan, Kool & the Gang	2:48

Personnel

• Bass, vocals – Robert "Kool" Bell
• Drums, percussion, vocals – George Brown
• Guitar – Claydes Smith, Kevin Bell
• Piano – Ricky West
• Alto saxophone – Peter Duarte
• Alto saxophone, vocals, flute, congas – Dennis Thomas
• Tenor saxophone – Dennis White
• Tenor saxophone, alto flute, piano, vocals, ARP synthesizer – Ronald Bell
• Trombone – Ray Wright
• Trombone, vocals – Otha Nash
• Trumpet – Spike Mickens
• Trumpet, flugelhorn, vocals – Larry Gitten
• Backing vocals – Don Boyce, Royal Jackson, Something Sweet, Tomorrow's Edition

Production

• Arranged and Produced by Kool & the Gang
• Executive Producer – Khalis Bayyan
• Engineers – B. Clearwater, Harvey Goldberg and Terry Rosiello.
• Mixed by Terry Rosiellio
• Mastered by Earl Williams
• Design – Frank Daniel
• Photography – Simon De Cherpitel and Bill Peronneau

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1976) Peak position US Billboard 200 [3] 68 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [4] 9

Year-end charts Chart (1976) Position US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [5] 43

References

1. Hanson, Amy. "Kool & the Gang: Love & Understanding > Review" at AllMusic. Retrieved October 29, 2011.
2. "Single Picks" (PDF). Record World. February 21, 1976. p. 12. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
3. "Kool & the Gang Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
4. "Kool & the Gang Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
5. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1976". Billboard. Retrieved March 8, 2021.