Perfect Union is a 2021 studio album by American disco and funk band Kool & the Gang. The album was the first new music from the group in over a decade[1] and was last to feature founding member Ronald Bell before his death.[2]
| Perfect Union | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | August 20, 2021 | |||
| Genre | Disco, funk | |||
| Length | 36:12 | |||
| Label | Omnivore | |||
| Producer | Ronald Bell, with several co-producers on select tracks | |||
| Kool & the Gang chronology | ||||
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Reception
editEditors at AllMusic rated this album 2.5 out of 5 stars, with critic Mark Deming writing that the band's music suffered from the loss of Ronald Bell, but also writing that "the interplay among the musicians is lively".[3]
Singles
edit"Sexy" peaked at No. 16 on the US Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart in October 2016.[4]
Track listing
edit- "Pursuit of Happiness" (Walter Anderson, Robert "Kool" Bell, Ronald Bell, Celina Gray, Balewa Muhammad, Jahqae Muhammad, Keith Murray, and Dennis "Dee Tee" Thomas) – 5:13 [5]
- "The Weekend" (Anderson, Ronald Bell, B. Muhammad, and J. Muhammad) – 3:08
- "Leave It on the Dance Floor" (Anderson, Ronald Bell, and Gabriele Falanga) – 3:18
- "High" (Anderson and Ronald Bell) – 4:46
- "Sexy (Where’d You Get Yours)" (Anderson, Ronald Bell, and Alessandro Calemme) – 2:48
- "All to Myself" (Anderson, Ronald Bell, and Calemme) – 3:34
- "R.O.Y.A.L.T.Y." (Kool & the Gang mix) (Anderson, Shaun Bass, Hakim Bell, Ronald Bell, and Hamza Lee) – 3:11
- "Hold On" (Anderson, Robert "Kool" Bell, and Ronald Bell) – 3:35[5]
- "Good Time" (Anderson, Bass, H. Bell, Ronald Bell, Akene Dunkley, and Saint) – 3:21
- "Pursuit of Happiness" (rap version) (Walter, Robert "Kool" Bell, Ronald Bell, Gray, B. Muhammad, J. Muhammad, Murray, and Thomas) – 3:18
Personnel
editKool & the Gang
- Robert "Kool" Bell – bass guitar, drums, electric guitar, keyboard, tenor saxophone, backing vocals
- Ronald Bell – mixing, production, executive production
- George "Funky" Brown – percussion
- Timothy Horton – drums, percussion
- Shawn McQuiller – vocals
- Michael Ray – trumpet, vocals
- Dennis "Dee Tee" Thomas – alto saxophone
Additional personnel
- Eddie Allen – trumpet
- Greg Allen – project assistance
- Walt Anderson – vocals, vocal arrangement, production on "Sexy (Where'd You Get Yours)"
- Shaun Bass – bass guitar
- Amir Bayyan – electric guitar
- Royal Bayyan – electric guitar
- Hakim Bell – production on "R.O.Y.A.L.T.Y." (Kool & the Gang Mix)
- Ravi Best – trumpet
- Audrey Bilger – project assistance
- Mark Bowers – electric guitar
- Jermaine Bryson – trombone
- Alessandro Calemme – bass guitar, electric guitar, keyboards, organ, production on "All to Myself" and "Sexy (Where'd You Get Yours)"
- Dutch Cramblitt – project assistance
- Akene Dunkley – guitar, keyboards, production on "Good Time"
- Lavell Evans – backing vocals
- Chris Gehringer – mastering
- Joy Graves – project assistance
- Gabri Hell – production on "Leave It On the Dancefloor"
- Steve Lavell – vocals
- Diego Leanza – bass guitar, electric guitar
- Hamza Lee – production on "R.O.Y.A.L.T.Y." (Kool & the Gang Mix)
- Lee Lodyga – project assistance
- Balewa Muhammad – vocals
- Rashad Muhammad – engineering, mixing
- Keith Murray – rapping on "Pursuit of Happiness" (rap version)
- Cheryl Pawelski – project assistance
- Jacqueline Reilly – backing vocals
- Brad Rosenberger – project assistance
- Saint – guitar, keyboards, production
- Mark Smith – production on "Good Time"
- Robert Stringer – trombone
- Kendal Stubbs – engineering, mixing
Charts
edit| Chart (2021) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[6] | 47 |
References
edit- ^ Blistein, Jon (July 6, 2021). "Kool & the Gang Preview New Album 'Perfect Union' With 'Pursuit of Happiness'". Music. Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
- ^ Daniel, Christopher A. (August 20, 2021). "50 Years Later, Kool & The Gang Are Still Celebrating The "Pursuit Of Happiness" On New Album 'Perfect Union'". News. Grammy Awards. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
- ^ Deming, Mark (n.d.). "Kool & the Gang – Perfect Union". AllMusic. RhythmOne. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
- ^ "Kool & the Gang Chart History (Adult R&B Songs)". Billboard. n.d. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
- ^ a b Blistein, Jon (July 6, 2021). "Kool & the Gang Preview New Album 'Perfect Union' With 'Pursuit of Happiness'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
- ^ "Kool & the Gang: Perfect Union" (in Swiss High German). Hitparade. August 9, 2021. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
External links
edit- Perfect Union at MusicBrainz (list of releases)
- Review from mxdwn
- Review from Soultracks
