Search - Kool & the Gang :: Kool Funk Essentials

Mystery Kool & the Gang Rhythm well worth the unknown mixer

Dm Otis | vancouver | 11/10/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"yes this release is serioulsy sparse on information -- but it sounds great. the main feature is really the funky rhythm guitar strumming (tracks are mostly instrumental, BTW). whoever did this with whatever K&TG tracks did it right. All tracks are just extended riffs, but the mixer knows the right places to let it ride. Danceable funky grooves -- what more do ya want??!"

Just for your info......

Low-Ranking Reviewer | US of A | 10/22/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a pretty good, funky collection of supposedly unreleased instrumental jams from the early 70's/pre-J.T. incarnation of Kool & the Gang. It all sounds pretty good(check out the sound samples), and at such a cheap price, it seems like a no-brainer purchase if you like 70's funk. However, when i received my copy, this is what it says exactly on the cd sleeve/liner notes:



"original recordings produced by Ronald Bell

compilation produced by Brian Brinkerhoff

remixed by Kip Kaplan & Brian Brinkerhoff"



That 'remixed' part is what makes me wonder...are these the exact recordings digitally re-mastered, or are they remixed or 'new stereo recordings' of the originals(the very cheap asking price might be another indicator). I still recommend you buy it, but some of the songs just sound too sanitized or cleaned-up. But it is still mostly funky and raw and i'm glad i bought it. Makes for a nice companion to their best of cd's.

"

BUY THE 2 CD VERSION!!!

John T. Feret | 01/08/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The US release has less than half the tracks the UK 2CD version does!!! Look for that version, which contains every one of these tracks, plus another dozen or so tracks."