Kool amp the Gang - Light of Worlds (9 tracks) +Album Reviews

Light of Worlds...

D. S. HARDEN | L.A.,CA USA | 10/14/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It was the fall of 1974, I was a junior in high school, and I owned no music at that time. My mother frowned upon me listening to that type of "sound" at the time.

Well, I gotta tell ya, I heard "Light of Worlds/Rhyme Time People" on AM radio and my mind was blown away by the sound I heard.

I didn't buy it.

Next, I heard "Light of Worlds/Summer Madness" on AM radio and flipped out, but still,

I didn't buy it.

Finally, I heard "Light of Worlds/Higher Plane" on AM radio.

Right then and there, I decided that my mom was just going to have to "kick my behind." I marched down to VIP Records on Crenshaw Blvd. (between Adams Blvd. and 28th Street - for the curious), paid my $3.88 and proudly took the wax home.

I walked through the door, and guess who was waiting for me? Yep, my mother. I stood there and waited for the fireworks to start, but to my surprise and relief - she said absolutely nothing. But, she gave me that "look" that all moms (and dads) can give kids when they are sorely displeased.

I sat the LP in front of the Family Stereo. It was the first album that I ever owned, and I was in heaven everytime I played it. 32 years later, whenever I hear any of the music from the album (or "Summertime" by Will Smith, who sampled and up-tempoed it for his rhymes), I think of that day when I brought "Light of Worlds" home. Kool & the Gang, thank you for the memories (and the music). I'd give you 10 stars if I could, but I'll settle for the five that Amazon offers!!

Five stars!!

P.S., The second album I ever owned was "That's the Way of the World" by Earth, Wind and Fire!!"

"Light of Worlds"

K. R Sadler | Philadelphia, PA United States | 02/13/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I purchased this album in November 1974. It is one of the best R & B albums ever! During this era of their careers they were playing serious R&B with a Jazz overtone. The title track is unbelievable. "Summer Madness" is a standard. In fact it was recently used in the movie "Baby Boy". However, this track did not make it to the soundtrack. We used to do the "Bump" to "Higher Plane". I was a sophomore in high school when this came out. "Light of Worlds" brings back many fond memories."

"Summer Maddness"

Gwendolyn Burnett | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania United States | 04/19/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The very first time I heard Kool and the Gang, I was at a house party. They had a destinct sound of Jazz and R&B. During this time many bands were in competition with one another. However, Kool and the Gang never waivered and when they played they really made it look so effortless. Their music was so smooth that you could listen or dance to it. It was a priviledge to watch them grow. I remember seeing them on TV, singing their song Hollywood Swingin, and guess what? They were really in Hollywood, they finally made it! No one puts it down like Kool."

Kool & The Gang On A Higher Plane!

Andre' S Grindle | Bangor,ME. | 09/08/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Musically this has to be one of Kool & The Gang's strongest

overall peformances as a band!On "Street Corner Symphony","Rhyme

Tyme People" and "Higher Plane" the band stretch out into some

kind of unreachably funky place-blasting horns and all!On

"Fruitman" and "Whiting H & G" they look to a more vintage soul

direction saddled with meaningful lyrics (the former nodding to vegetarianism) while "Summer Madness" is simply unbelievable,as

is the brilliant title song-building to a climax of funky spirituality.This is a deep record-not only in terms of the music

but the lyrical content and maintains a strong connection to the

person on the street-speaking to K&TG's ever evolving ability to

communicate with it's audiance.

If this album has one minor flaw it's that of every

single pre JT Taylor Kool set released-the band members are very

weak as vocal soloists and only seem to work well in ensamble

situations,which is what they often do.But that little gaffe aside 'Light Of Worlds' is an essencial part of what writer

Ricky Vincent refers to as the 'united funk era',when bands could

both produce popular songs that had alot of meaning.And I don't

think the genre of funk,fusion or soul in general has had as much

bubbling under the surface since these times.Hard to believe it's

true-this is a gold nugget of an era showerd with them!"

Kool & The Gang Get The Funk Out

Alan Caylow | USA | 02/28/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A good five years or so before Kool & The Gang brought onboard singer James "JT" Taylor and became a non-stop hit-making machine for most of the 80's, they were still very much a jammin', funk & R&B collective who leaned more on their instrumental prowess than on their vocal abilities. What's more, they weren't afraid to go into experimental jams that could even be categorized as "art rock," thanks to their use of that good 'ol art-rock instrument, the mellotron, the keyboard that could simulate a full string orchestra at the press of a key. Kool & The Gang's 1974 album "Light Of Worlds" is definitely an R&B masterpiece. The undeniable high point of the album is the timeless, classic instrumental "Summer Madness," a mesmerizing soundscape that sees the band jamming for four glorious minutes, spearheaded by that signature synthesizer passage that goes higher and higher and higher still into the heavens. It's also been widely sampled or covered over the years (most notably by Will Smith, aka the Fresh Prince, for his hit song "Summertime"), so you know this track is an undisputed classic. But there's more to "Light Of Worlds" than just "Summer Madness." "Fruitman" is a fun song about eating right, the title song is uplifting & spiritual, and the group also get the funk out on such winners as "Street Corner Symphony" "Higher Plane," and the sparkling instrumental "Whiting H & G," which has it's own share of heavenly sounds & textures. Granted, I dig the later "Celebration" Kool & The Gang just fine. They made a lot of catchy, groovy tunes during the 80's, and the skillful, soulful voice of JT Taylor was a very welcome addition to the band. But the original Kool & The Gang made awesome, jammin' music too, and I want to hear more. "Light Of Worlds" is a brilliant album, with some of the best funk & R&B that I've ever heard, and it's a great place to start your K&G collection with. I guarantee you will be amazed by this early treasure from Kool & The Gang, "Summer Madness" and all."

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	Kool & the Gang Light of Worlds Genres: Pop, R&B Track Listings (9) - Disc #1 Street Corner Symphony Fruitman Rhyme Tyme People Light Of Worlds Whiting H. & G. You Don't Have To Change Higher Plane Summer Madness Here After
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