Apologies for the mediocre photo
Dug out a few favorite LPs from Kool & the Gang, pre-Jungle Boogie era, when they were more of an instrumental jazz and funk ensemble. Instrumentation was way too ill back then. Don’t get it twisted, there were some great later records from them during the mid to late 70s, but the earlier stuff trumps them all in my opinion. Enjoy. Download links are highlighted beneath stream. More after the jump.
Soul Vibrations | Sampled by Joe Budden, ATCQ, LL Cool J and Jaz
Funky Granny | Sampled by ATCQ & Beastie Boys
Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart) | Sampled by Statik Selektah f. Styles P, Termanology & Q-Tip
Chocolate Buttermilk | Sampled by Special Ed, EPMD, Eric B & Rakim and of course, Pete Rock & CL Smooth
Give It Up | Sampled by Gang Starr, NWA, The Jimmy Castor Bunch & Eric B & Rakim
Sea of Tranquility | Sampled by D’Angelo
Dujiii | Sampled by Chi Ali, Gang Starr & Pete Rock & CL Smooth
N.T. | Sampled by EVERYONE. One of my favorite drum breaks, and of course, the horns to It Ain’t Hard To Tell
DOWNLOAD: BML: Kool & the Gang – The Early Years
Always loved the breakdown into the beat flip on the last third of the Sea of Tranquility beat. The NT beat and horns have always been a favorite too. 45 King did a dope flip of NT for Chill Rob G back in the Wold Pitch Records days. Great post! DJs like me still twist these breaks, riffs, horn licks, etc in the mix today
Live at PJs is way 2 fonky!