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Friday 14 July 2023

Kool & The Gang [2023] - People Just Wanna Have Fun [Astana Music] (Full Album)


We couldn't remember when Kool & The Gang last released a new album so had to check and of course it wasn't that long ago as they released "Perfect Union" in Aug 2021. Today they release their 34th studio album "People Just Wanna Have Fun".

We are told that this album includes some studio work by two now deceased founding members, horn players Ronald 'Khalis' Bell (d. 2020) and Dennis 'D.T. Thomas (d. 2021).

Their latest single "Let's Party" was released on 11 Jul which did nothing for us as the title says it all really! However, trawling through the album tracks our ears were pricked by "Movie Star" which sounds like Prince meets Parliament/Funkadelic if that sound floats your boat.

We're afraid to say that album didn't really float our boat. It's full of funk and party jams i.e. funky dance music that borders on pop but if that's your bag then perhaps you'll enjoy it. We thought that out of 15 tracks there would perhaps be some we could call remotely soulful but sadly only really one, "That's What I Love About You".

It came close with "Obsession" and "My Weakness" which goes off with some rock style guitar sections. A couple of tracks have a Latin or Caribbean flavour but in general there is not much of real interest to the soul listener apart from "That's What I Love About You" and perhaps the closing track "99 Miles To JC" which has some nice jazzy saxophone solos and a Latin feel but also has some Snoop Dogg style rap by an unnamed rapper who we believe is Ole' just to alert those who are adverse to rap! By the way, we assume JC refers to their home town Jersey City where they were formed in 1964.

Another anomaly on Amazon as it is listed for sale on vinyl and CD with a release date of 21 Jul, but doesn't appear to be available digitally (as yet).

Click on image below for link to where you can buy from.
Click icons below for further information or to connect with the artist. 

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Details
Rating: 7.4
Explicit: N
Genre/Style: New Soul / Funk
Format: Album
Media: Digital /CD / Vinyl
Label: Astana Music
Cat No: None
Date: 14/07/2023 / 21/07/2023
Price: £TBC /£13.31 / £29.22
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1 comment:

USMAN47 said...

Yes, we are far from the great Kool & The Gang of yesteryear. The true soul lover will go his way!!! Alas.

Yves