Kool & The Gang ”Music Is The Message”

Kool & The Gang

”Music Is The Message”
( LP De-Lite Records, 1972 )
Catalog # DEP-2011

Tracklisting:
A1 Music Is The Message (5:45)
A2 Electric Frog (Part 1) (3:34)
A3 Electric Frog (Part 2) (3:02)
A4 Soul Vibrations (4:42)
B1 Love The Life You Live (Part 1) (3:01)
B2 Love The Life You Live (Part 2) (2:48)
B3 Stop, Look & Listen (3:29)
B4 Blowin’ With The Wind (2:32)
B5 Funky Granny (5:57)

Personnel & Credits:
Khalis Bayyan Flute (Alto), Sax (Tenor), Vocals
Robert "Kool" Bell Bass, Vocals
Cleveland Brown Liner Notes
George "Funky" Brown Percussion, Drums, Vocals
Mitchell Kanner Harp, Package Redesign
Kool & the Gang Arranger, Producer
Gary N. Mayo Digital Remastering
Robert "Spike" Mickens Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Vocals
Gene Redd, Jr. Arranger, Producer
Alfredo Seville Liner Notes, Photography
Claydes E.X. Smith Guitar
Dennis "D.T." Thomas Flute, Percussion, Sax (Alto), Vocals
Harry Weinger Liner Notes
Harp – Assunta Dell’Aquila
Producer, Arranged By – Gene Redd , Kool & The Gang

Notes:
Recorded at Bell Sound Recording Studios.
Format: Vinyl, LP
Country: US
Released: 1972

Review:

Kool & the Gang's fourth album — but only their second studio record — was just as strong and joyous as its live predecessors, though it featured a few more vocals and emphasized strong musicianship over hard grooves. (Of course, the band always did pretty well at both.) The title track and "Love the Life You Live" were two more great party jams to add to their repertoire, despite the growing similarity of Robert "Kool" Bell's basslines. The two-part "Electric Frog" was a squelchy instrumental spotlighting an Arp synthesizer and some great ensemble playing on the chorus, while the band reserved a great feature for trumpeter Robert "Spike" Mickens on "Blowin' with the Wind." "Love the Life You Live" was the most fully realized early Kool & the Gang jam, and the one that most looks forward to their parade of hits to come ("Funky Stuff," "Hollywood Swinging"). Ending the album with a smile (if not style) was "Funky Granny," a lightweight but hilarious sequel to their 1970 hit "Funky Man.
By John Bush (AMG)

By Pier