Formed by Robert "Kool" Bell (bass, vocals), his brother Ronald Bell (tenor and soprano sax, keyboards) and Robert “Spike “Mickens (trumpet, flugel horn and vocals) and a bunch of their New Jersey teenage friends in the mid-60s (then called the Jazziacs). They played traditional jazz in regional venues for several years, slowly morphing their style to incorporate emerging funk sounds of Sly and the Family Stone and James Brown. By 1969 they chose the name and they were signed by the De-Lite label in the early 70s and gathered a small but loyal national following (particularly for their 1971 release Live at the Sex Machine). The group's fortunes exploded in 1974 with Wild and Peaceful, an infectiously raw album that spawned three smash hits, "Funky Stuff," "Hollywood Swinging," and "Jungle Boogie," all featuring great instrumentation and lyrics virtually shouted by the group. However, as quickly as they rode to fame, Kool & the Gang faded, their rough sound appearing out of place against the slick, dance-oriented sounds that began to dominate popular radio in the late 70s. In 1977 they released “The Force” and in 1978 “Everybody’s dancing” (Both now re-issued by PTG Records) These albums are now recognized as the two albums between the group’s two periods of success. It was after a string of hits in the early and mid seventies and before their second life in the early eighties. Meanwhile these album are much wanted by Kool and the Gang fans because they have never been released on CD before.   

Kool & the Gang was an afterthought in the music world in 1979 when they brought in the honey-sounding lead James J.T. Taylor and pop/jazz producer Eumir Deodato for one last gasp, a shiny dance album called Ladies Night. Deodato simplified and sweetened the group's jazz stylings in a heavily produced package, fronted by Taylor's irresistible tenor voice. It was an across-the-board smash, leading to two top hits, the title cut and the midtempo "Too Hot." It was also the beginning of a nearly unprecedented string of top 10 pop and soul hits for the group that would make Kool & the Gang the top selling soul group of the 80s. Ladies Night was followed by the even bigger Celebration, the joyous title cut of which became the theme song of countless sports teams in the 80s and one of the most played songs of the past 25 years. The next five years brought hit after hit, including chart toppers "Misled," "Cherish," "Take My Heart," "Joanna," "Fresh" and "Let's Go Dancin'." The infectious innocuousness of their music sometimes went to a silly extreme ("Get Down On It"), but the group clearly created a catalogue of enjoyable, well performed cuts, both during Deodato's tenure as producer and after they took over the production of their albums in 1983 -- songs that have generally aged well. Their 1987 album, Forever, was another smash, but also provided warning sign that the fresh sounds Kool and the Gang introduced in 1979 had run their course and had begun to sound formulaic.

In 1987 Taylor left the group to pursue a modestly successful solo career (he had one major hit with "All I Want Is Forever," a duet with Regina Belle), and the group continued on but never had another chart hit. They spent the next decade on the oldies circuit. Now Kool and the Gang consists of brothers Robert "Kool" Bell, Ronald Bell (Khalis Bayyan), George Brown, Dennis Thomas and Charles Smith (all original group members), the group tours internationally, and has still large following worldwide.



The Force is the eleventh studio album released in 1977. It failed to generate any major impact, and is now recognized as one of two albums between the group's two periods of success. It was after the first string of hits in the mid and early 1970’s, and before the group hit it big in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. The two albums “Everybody’s dancin’ (also re-issued on PTG)  and “The Force” are their only albums which have never been released on CD before. Thanks to PTG Records all K&G fans worldwide can finally make their CD collection complete.

1.    A Place In Space 4:49 (Donal Boyce)
2.    Slick Superchick 4:05 (George Brown)
3.    Just Be True 4:21 Ronald Bell                        
4.    The Force 4:26 (Donal Boyce)
5.    Mighty, Mighty High     6:51
6.    Oasis 6:06  (John Davis Cynthia Huggins)
7.    Life's A Song 2:58   (John Davis Arthur Capehart)            
8.    Free 2:11 (Ronald Bell)

Recorded at: De-Lite Recorded Sound Studio, Phila., Pa.
Mastering: Sterling Labs, New York City
©℗ 1977 De-Lite Records Inc.

Label: PTG Records
Cat. nr: PTG 34139
Barcode: 8717438197395
(C) & (P): PTG Records 2012