KC & the Sunshine Band - 25th Anniversary Edition

In 1999, Rhino celebrated the 25th anniversary of KC & the Sunshine Band's formation with this two-CD anthology. But technically, 1999 was their 26th anniversary -- the soul/funk/disco band was formed in 1973, not 1974. For the casual listener and the budget-minded, a better and more concise choice would be Rhino's 1990 CD The Best of KC & the Sunshine Band, which summarizes their contributions with 16 tracks. But if your interest in KC goes beyond casual, 25th Anniversary Collection isn't a bad release to have. The set contains all of the essential '70s hits offered on The Best of KC & the Sunshine Band, including "Get Down Tonight," "(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty," "That's The Way (I Like It)," "I'm Your Boogie Man," and "Keep It Comin' Love," as well as "Wrap Your Arms Around Me," "I Like To Do It," and the ballad "Please Don't Go." But 25th Anniversary Collection also has its share of material that is enjoyable though less than essential -- you need to be a seasoned, diehard KC fanatic to fully appreciate the Spanish-language version of "Please Don't Go" (titled "Por Favor, No Te Vayas"), Tom Moulton's 1994 remix of "Get Down Tonight," or KC and Teri DeSario's 1980 cover of Martha & the Vandellas' "Dancin' in the Streets." And if you're that much of a collector, you'll appreciate Brian Chin's comprehensive, informative liner notes -- the writer has no problem articulating why KC's music was so popular in the '70s and why his classic grooves excited many hip-hop, dance-pop and house enthusiasts in the '90s. Rock critics might have dismissed KC in the '70s, but time has made it clear that KC's admirers -- not the critics who gave him scathing reviews -- were the smart ones. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide

Name Credits Al Ciner Guitar Alan Estes Percussion Alexander Prilutchi Strings Alfredo Oliva Strings Althea Tate Vocals Anthony Battaglia Vocals, Arranger, Keyboards, Guitar, String Arrangements Antony Desantis Project Assistant Barbara Rooney Horn Engineer Betty Wright Vocals Beverly Champion Vocals, Arranger Bill Darlington Mixing Bill Inglot Producer Bill Purse Rhythm Arrangements, Keyboards, String Arrangements Bill Reichenbach Jr. Trombone Blue Weaver Keyboards Bob Emmer Project Assistant Bob Fisher Remastering Bobby Finch Bass Bogdan Chruszcz Strings Brett Murphey Trumpet Brian Chin Liner Notes, Compilation Producer Bruce Lofgren Arranger Carlos Vega Drums Charles Chalmers Saxophone, Vocals Charles Williams Trombone Dalton Smith Trumpet Dan Bonsanti Saxophone David Chappell Strings David Everhart Strings David Leonard Horn Engineer David McLees Compilation Producer David Vance Photography Debra Spring Strings Denise King Vocals Dennis Belfield Bass Denvil Liptrot Saxophone Dick Hyde Trombone Donna Rhodes Vocals Emeridge Jones Keyboards Emmanuel Taylor Bass Erik Zobler Engineer Ernest Stewart Keyboards Eugene Timmons Saxophone Fermin Goytisolo Conga, Percussion, Arranger, Timbales Garson Foos Project Assistant Gary Herbig Saxophone Gary King Arranger, Bass Gary Peterson Discographical Annotation George Massenburg Engineer George McCrae Vocals George Terry Guitar Greg Robinson Arranger Guy Weddle Strings Gwen McCrae Vocals Harold Seay Drums Harry Wayne "K.C." Casey Vocals, Arranger, Producer, Horn Arrangements, Keyboards Hugh Brown Art Direction Humberto Gatica Mixing Ishmael Ledesma Guitar James "J.T." Taylor ? James Weaver Trumpet Jeanette Williams Vocals Jerome Smith Guitar Jerry Hey Trumpet, Horn Arrangements Jerry Peel French Horn Jim Horn Saxophone Jimmy Magnole Guitar Joe Galdo Drums Joe Singer French Horn Joey Carbone Vocals John Avarese Programming, Piano, Overdubs John Luongo Remixing Jorge Orbon Strings Julia Waters Vocals Ken Wadenpfuhl French Horn Kenneth Faulk Trumpet Kim Hutchcroft Saxophone Larry Hall Horn Arrangements Lawrence Dermer Keyboards Margaret Reynolds Vocals Marguerit Haldeman Strings Marjorie Lash Strings Mark Aguilar Guitar Maxine Willard Waters Vocals Michael Aharon Guitar Michael Boddicker Synthesizer Michael Katz Trombone Michael Mancini Mixing Michael Ochs Photography Mike Lang Keyboards Mike Lewis Sax (Tenor), String Arrangements, Horn Arrangements Milan Bogdan Engineer, Mixing Mitch Holder Guitar Nancy L. Hopkins Artwork Neal Bonsanti Saxophone, Oboe Omar Martinez Drums Patricia Henderson Vocals Paul Harris Keyboards, String Arrangements Paul Lewis Saxophone Paulinho Da Costa Percussion Quincy Newell Project Assistant Richard Finch Drums, String Arrangements, Arranger, Percussion, Guitar (Bass), Horn Arrangements, Engineer, Producer Rick Webb Percussion Robert Basso Strings Robert Johnson Drums Robert Phillips Strings Robert Walker Producer, Mixing Robin Platzer Photography Ron Taylor Keyboards, Engineer, Producer, Mixing Ronnie Smith Trumpet Roslind Lang Strings Sandra Chalmers Vocals Sandra Rhodes Vocals Sid Sharp Concert Master Steve Argy Bass Steve Kimball Mixing, Engineer Steve Madaio Trumpet Stuart McDonald Strings Sunshine Band Performer Susan Oltman Strings Ted Myers Project Director Teri DeSario Performer, Vocals Timmy Thomas Keyboards Tom Hensley Keyboards Tom Moulton Remixing Valerie Von Pechy Harp Vinnie Tanno Trumpet W.G. Snuffy Walden Guitar Wendi Cartwright ? Whit Sidener Clarinet (Bass), Saxophone, Sax (Baritone)