Album
Music Is The Message
1972 · Jazz, Funk / Soul
Rare pressing on Gatefold
Music Is The Message is a Soul & Funk album by Kool & The Gang, originally released in 1972. On Gatefold: 17 pressings tracked.
About
Music Is the Message is the fourth album of the funk-band Kool & the Gang. The album was released by Polyram on 26 September 1972. Personnel Robert (Kool) Bell (bass, vocals) Claydes Smith (guitar) Dennis (D.T.) Thomas (alto saxophone, percussion, flute; vocals) Khalis Bayyan (tenor saxophone, flute, vocals) Robert (Spike) Mickens (trumpet, flugelhorn, vocals) Rick West (piano, arp synthesizer, vocals) George Brown (drums, percussion, vocals) Additional personnel: Assunta Dell'Aquila (harp) 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.".
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The Clerk knows this whole record — the pressing quirks, the credits, the take.
Tracklist
- 1Music Is the Message5:19
- 2Electric Frog (Pt. 1)3:43
- 3Electric Frog (Pt. 2)3:02
- 4Soul Vibrations4:40
- 5Love the Life You Live (Pt. 1 & 2)5:41
- 6Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)3:26
- 7Blowin With the Wind2:31
- 8Funky Granny5:55
Sound DNA
- Soul & Funk
- Funk
- warm
- celebratory
- funky
Credits
The people behind it.
Performers
- Assunta Dell'AquilaHARP HARP , OTHER
- Claydes SmithGUITAR
- Dennis D.T. ThomasALTO SAXOPHONE, PERCUSSION, FLUTE, VOCALS
- George BrownDRUMS, PERCUSSION, VOCALS
- Khalis BayyanTENOR SAXOPHONE, ALTO FLUTE, VOCALS TENOR SAXOPHONE, FLUTE , VOCALS
- Ricky WestPIANO, SYNTHESIZER , SOLOIST, VOCALS PIANO, SYNTHESIZER , VOCALS
- Robert Kool BellBASS, VOCALS
- Robert Spike MickensTRUMPET, FLUGELHORN, PERCUSSION, VOCALS TRUMPET, FLUGELHORN, VOCALS
- Ronald BellTENOR SAXOPHONE, ALTO FLUTE, VOCALS TENOR SAXOPHONE, FLUTE , VOCALS
Rare pressing on Gatefold · 17 pressings tracked on Gatefold
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