When I was growing up, Kool & The Gang were on the radio quite a bit. Hits like “Ladies’ Night,” “Get Down On It” and of course “Celebration” got us through some strange periods, both back then and many times since then. Well, have there been times stranger than the ones we are currently experiencing? It has been nearly a decade since the last Kool & The Gang album, but, perhaps sensing that world could use a fresh dose of their joyful music, the group is now releasing Perfect Union, featuring all original material. The album’s title of course calls to mind the U.S. Constitution, and the way we are still today trying to fulfill that promise of a more perfect union, which seems more and more difficult. The album was produced by Kool & The Gang founding member, saxophonist Ronald Bell, who wrote a lot of the band’s popular songs and co-wrote all of this album’s material. Sadly, he died before getting to see the album completed. The album’s title, in addition to referring to the country and Constitution, refers to the two brothers, Kool and Ronald, and the combination of their talents in this band. The band, as you are probably already aware, has gone through a lot of changes over the years, and for this album original members Robert “Kool” Bell, Ronald Bell, George Brown and Dennis Thomas are joined by Walt Anderson on vocals, Michael Ray on trumpet, Ravi Best on trumpet, Eddie Allen on trumpet, Jermaine Bryson on trombone, Royal Bayyan on electric guitar, Amir Bayyan on electric guitar, Mark Bowers on electric guitar, Diego Leanza on bass and electric guitar, Alessandro Calemme on keys and electric guitar, Mark Smith on keys and electric guitar, Shaun Bass on bass, and Akene Dunkley on keys. Shawn McQuiller, Lavell Evans, Steve Lavell, and Jacqueline Reilly provide backing vocals.
Following the theme established by the album’s title, the album opens with a song titled “Pursuit Of Happiness,” the phrase of course coming from the Declaration of Independence. The lyrics address the dream of this country, calling for things to be as good as they could be. The opening lines are: “I want to live in a world full of peace/The color of skin, it just don’t matter/Let’s get along, and let’s get better.” Many other lines stand out, such as “Let’s uphold the Constitution” and “Lord, could you send somebody to help us/Someone to help us with the dream?” Though also mentioning several of the current and ongoing problems, this is a positive and optimistic song, just what we need now. Yes, it is a song with a message, but it is also a song you can dance to. At the end, there is a rap section by Keith Murray. Then “The Weekend” is pure fun, a song about celebrating, about enjoying ourselves. It has a funky rhythm, and some wonderful touches on horns. Most of us can relate to looking forward to the weekend, though the line “We ain’t gonna be doing much sleeping” might not apply to those of us who don’t get much sleep during the week. This song is totally enjoyable.
“Leave It On The Dance Floor” is another fun number that encourages dancing, taking us back to the disco era. I know a lot of us are looking forward to the moment when we can safely return to the dance floor and cut loose. So come on, folks, get vaccinated, so we can enjoy songs like this one out on the floor as intended. “And if you come dance with me/I could change your life/‘Cause I’m living good/Like I should/Let me tell you what it’s like.” That’s followed by “High,” a sweeter number. It’s a love song, but of course still has a beat you can move to. Things then get very cool with “Sexy (Where’d You Get Yours),” a song that Kool & The Gang released as a single back in 2016. A strong beat, an excellent vocal performance, and a delicious energy make this an undeniable highlight of the album. That’s followed by “All To Myself,” another love song. “How could, how could anyone ignore you/I would, I would do anything for you/I know, I know your heart has been broken/It’s okay, okay, ‘cause I need it to be open.” Then “R.O.Y.A.L.T.Y. (Kool & The Gang Mix)” delivers more delicious funky vibes. I’m not sure why the song’s title is written that way, for those letters don’t stand for anything, but no matter. This track has such a great bass line. “She said, I’m royalty, so give me anything I want, baby.”
We can all use words of encouragement these days, right? Well, Kool & The Gang offer some in “Hold On”: “Don’t you give up now/This is your song/Hold on/The sun’s not gone/Hold on/It won’t be long/Hold on/Just stay strong/Hold on.” And again, though there is a good message, there is also a good beat. That’s followed by “Good Time,” another song urging us to celebrate, to set aside our troubles, at least for the night. “So if you’re feeling bad today/Why not go and celebrate/So grab a glass and make a toast/To happiness, let’s make the most.” This track features a wonderful and prominent bass line, and that funky bass line is really at the heart of this tune. The album then ends as it began, with another version of “Pursuit Of Happiness.” This is a shorter version that seems to focus on the rap section by getting to it more quickly. This song urges us to take care of one another, as well as the planet. “I want to live in a world that’s full of hope and change/There’s a brighter day/And I want to go to a place called We The People/Where everyone’s treated equal.”
CD Track List
- Pursuit Of Happiness
- The Weekend
- Leave It On The Dance Floor
- High
- Sexy (Where’d You Get Yours)
- All To Myself
- R.O.Y.A.L.T.Y. (Kool & The Gang Mix)
- Hold On
- Good Time
- Pursuit Of Happiness (Rap Version)
Perfect Union is scheduled to be released on August 21, 2021 through Omnivore Recordings.
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