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Kool & The Gang -- the James "J.T." Taylor years When the 1970s funk, mostly instrumental band found this young session singer in 1979, Kool & the Gang were transformed into the soul/pop band that was the most successful soul group in the 1980s. However, it's strange that when that particular period of music is mentioned their names get somewhat lost in the mix -- if not in some cases derided. I would like to start a discussion on the 1979-87 Kool & The Gang. [Edited 10/1/06 21:59pm] THE TRAFFIC JAMMERS, The Org's house band: VAINANDY -- lead singer; NAJEE -- bass; THE AUDIENCE -- guitar; PHUNKDADDY -- rhythm guitar; ALEX de PARIS -- keyboards; Da PRETTYMAN -- keyboards; FUNKENSTEIN -- drums. HOLD ON TO YOUR DRAWERS! | |
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I can hardly believe it's the same group. | |
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I don't care what anyone says -- I love the J.T. years! "Take My Heart (You Can Have It)," "Ladies Night," "Too Hot," "Get Down on It," "Let's Go Dancin' (Ooh, La, La, La)," "Misled," "Fresh," "Celebration," "Tonight," "Joanna," "Cherish," "Victory"...  "Whitney was purely and simply one of a kind." ~ Clive Davis | |
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I'm telling you, I LOVED "Take My Heart (You Can Have It)" when I was in school. I was playing it just recently.
There seems to be quite a bit of retro-backlash toward the J.T. years, particularly among soul music fans. Whenever I'm talking to some people, the usual names come up -- Cameo, The Time, The GAP Band, New Edition, even Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, etc. -- but Kool & The Gang was the most successful of them all. [Edited 10/1/06 21:58pm] THE TRAFFIC JAMMERS, The Org's house band: VAINANDY -- lead singer; NAJEE -- bass; THE AUDIENCE -- guitar; PHUNKDADDY -- rhythm guitar; ALEX de PARIS -- keyboards; Da PRETTYMAN -- keyboards; FUNKENSTEIN -- drums. HOLD ON TO YOUR DRAWERS! | |
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Najee said: I'm telling you, I LOVED "Take My Heart (You Can Have It)" when I was in school. I was playing it just recently.
There seems to be quite a bit of retro-backlash toward the J.T. years, particularly among soul music fans. Whenever I'm talking to some people, the usual names come up -- Cameo, The Time, The GAP Band, New Edition, even Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, etc. -- but Kool & The Gang was the most successful of them all. [Edited 10/1/06 21:58pm] Very true 
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Najee said: I'm telling you, I LOVED "Take My Heart (You Can Have It)" when I was in school. I was playing it just recently.
There seems to be quite a bit of retro-backlash toward the J.T. years, particularly among soul music fans. Whenever I'm talking to some people, the usual names come up -- Cameo, The Time, The GAP Band, New Edition, even Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, etc. -- but Kool & The Gang was the most successful of them all. [Edited 10/1/06 21:58pm] YEAH AND JOURNEY OUTSOLD MOUNTAIN SO WHAT P o o |/, P o o |\ | |
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I never really understood the backlash against JT Taylor.He was arguably the best vocalsit they ever had and the music they made during this period was excellent.Beginning in 1979,Kool and The Gang released one kickass jam after another.Some of my favorites...
"Ladies Night" (1979) "Got You Into My Life" (1979) "Hangin' Out" (1979) "Too Hot" (1979) "Celebration" (1980) "Jones Vs. Jones" (1980) "Take It To The Top" (1980) "Take My Heart" (1981) "Steppin' Out" (1981) "Get Down On It" (1981) "No Show" (1981) "Big Fun" (1982) "Let's Go Dancing (Ooh La La La)" (1982) "Joanna" (1983) "Tonight" (1983) "Misled" (1984) "Emergency" (1984) "Victory" (1986) "Stone Love" (1986) No,the music wasn't as funky as their 70s stuff but it was very good.In the 80s,many of the funk bands changed their sound to fit the changing times (The Commodores,Earth Wind and Fire,etc).Some say they "sold out",but I disagree. | |
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POOK said: "YEAH AND JOURNEY OUTSOLD MOUNTAIN
SO WHAT " And what is your point for making this statement? Kool & The Gang was the most successful soul band of the 1980s, bar none. It's not merely a matter of record sales, either. I agree with SoulAlive. What's particularly galling is that some people like to overlook Kool & The Gang's run as a jazz/funk ensemble already had run its course before James "J.T." Taylor became the group's first lead man. Before "Ladies' Night," the group had gone several years without a hit single. [Edited 10/2/06 19:50pm] THE TRAFFIC JAMMERS, The Org's house band: VAINANDY -- lead singer; NAJEE -- bass; THE AUDIENCE -- guitar; PHUNKDADDY -- rhythm guitar; ALEX de PARIS -- keyboards; Da PRETTYMAN -- keyboards; FUNKENSTEIN -- drums. HOLD ON TO YOUR DRAWERS! | |
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SoulAlive said: "No,the music wasn't as funky as their 70s stuff but it was very good.In the 80s,many of the funk bands changed their sound to fit the changing times (The Commodores,Earth Wind and Fire,etc). Some say they 'sold out,' but I disagree."
Kool & The Gang's hit songs during that period ran the gamut of styles. "Celebration" was a classic anthem; "Big Fun" was a party song along the lines of Con Funk Shun's "Fun;" "Ladies Night" and "Get Down on It" were hard-charging dance tunes. They also scored hits with 1960s-style R&B ("Joanna"), funk-tinged soul ("Fresh"), rock-edged urgency ("Misled"), adult contemporary ballads ("Cherish") and street-corner harmony ("Take My Heart (You Can Have It)"). Had it not been for James "J.T." Taylor, Kool & The Gang likely would not have survived. J.T. had a flexible vocal style that made the group's sound very accessible and opened them up to try other musical phrasings. He really does not quite get the credit he deserves. [Edited 10/3/06 5:24am] THE TRAFFIC JAMMERS, The Org's house band: VAINANDY -- lead singer; NAJEE -- bass; THE AUDIENCE -- guitar; PHUNKDADDY -- rhythm guitar; ALEX de PARIS -- keyboards; Da PRETTYMAN -- keyboards; FUNKENSTEIN -- drums. HOLD ON TO YOUR DRAWERS! | |
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CinisterCee said: I can hardly believe it's the same group.
I know what you mean. 
Got nothing against the JT-era band. They put in work and deserve the success. It's just that I personally prefer the raw/funkier early version of the group. Some folks don't even know they existed prior to Ladies Night or Celebrate. tA  Tribal Disorder
http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431 "Ya see, we're not interested in what you know...but what you are willing to learn. C'mon y'all." | |
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theAudience said: Got nothing against the JT-era band. They put in work and deserve the success.
It's just that I personally prefer the raw/funkier early version of the group. Some folks don't even know they existed prior to Ladies Night or Celebration. Quite frankly, the Kool & The Gang to which you're referring stopped having success way before James "J.T." Taylor joined the group. Some people also assume that Kool & The Gang still were cranking out hits like "Funky Stuff" and "Hollywood Swinging" before he came on board. [Edited 10/3/06 5:10am] THE TRAFFIC JAMMERS, The Org's house band: VAINANDY -- lead singer; NAJEE -- bass; THE AUDIENCE -- guitar; PHUNKDADDY -- rhythm guitar; ALEX de PARIS -- keyboards; Da PRETTYMAN -- keyboards; FUNKENSTEIN -- drums. HOLD ON TO YOUR DRAWERS! | |
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I was listening to "Misled" yesterday what a perfect,well-produced pop song. | |
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SoulAlive said: I was listening to "Misled" yesterday
what a perfect,well-produced pop song.I agree, very funky!!! I will forever love and miss you...my sweet Prince. | |
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Najee said: SoulAlive said: "No,the music wasn't as funky as their 70s stuff but it was very good.In the 80s,many of the funk bands changed their sound to fit the changing times (The Commodores,Earth Wind and Fire,etc). Some say they 'sold out,' but I disagree."
Kool & The Gang's hit songs during that period ran the gamut of styles. "Celebration" was a classic anthem; "Big Fun" was a party song along the lines of Con Funk Shun's "Fun;" "Ladies Night" and "Get Down on It" were hard-charging dance tunes. They also scored hits with 1960s-style R&B ("Joanna"), funk-tinged soul ("Fresh"), rock-edged urgency ("Misled"), adult contemporary ballads ("Cherish") and street-corner harmony ("Take My Heart (You Can Have It)"). Had it not been for James "J.T." Taylor, Kool & The Gang likely would not have survived. J.T. had a flexible vocal style that made the group's sound very accessible and opened them up to try other musical phrasings. He really does not quite get the credit he deserves. [Edited 10/3/06 5:24am] Agreed. Without J.T. Taylor, Kool and the Gang would not have had the success it had in the 80's. What happened to Kool and the Gang's contemporaries at this time? They tended to fade out. J.T. had smooth vocals, a rich sound. Most people who were not funk fans were introduced to Kool and the Gang at this time. Who's the better singer? J.T. or Lionel Ritchie? Luthor might pick J.T.  
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The JT Taylor ERA is the only era!!! He is Kool & The Gang, everything else is just fake horseshit!
I got a new dvd by them and they didn't say who the lead singer was, and of course is wasnt JT, and the dvd pretty much sucked. JT rocked!  | |
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Najee said: theAudience said: Got nothing against the JT-era band. They put in work and deserve the success.
It's just that I personally prefer the raw/funkier early version of the group. Some folks don't even know they existed prior to Ladies Night or Celebration. Quite frankly, the Kool & The Gang to which you're referring stopped having success way before James "J.T." Taylor joined the group. Some people also assume that Kool & The Gang still were cranking out hits like "Funky Stuff" and "Hollywood Swinging" before he came on board. The "success" I was referring to was during the time JT was a member. 
tA Tribal Disorder
http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431 "Ya see, we're not interested in what you know...but what you are willing to learn. C'mon y'all." | |
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theAudience said: "The 'success' I was referring to was during the time JT was a member.
"You misunderstood my statement. The Kool & The Gang model of the 1970s did not have hit songs for several years -- in fact, founding member Ronald Bell nearly quit the group -- prior to James "J.T." Taylor's arrival. I know you prefer their music in the 1970s, but the group experienced newfound -- and greater -- success in the 1980s. By adding J.T., the group kept itself from going the way of 70s counterparts like Brick, B.T. Express and the Jeffrey Osborne-less L.T.D. I feel at times some people are slightly overrating Kool & The Gang's '70s stature in soul music and very much underrating their '80s stature. [Edited 10/3/06 17:51pm] THE TRAFFIC JAMMERS, The Org's house band: VAINANDY -- lead singer; NAJEE -- bass; THE AUDIENCE -- guitar; PHUNKDADDY -- rhythm guitar; ALEX de PARIS -- keyboards; Da PRETTYMAN -- keyboards; FUNKENSTEIN -- drums. HOLD ON TO YOUR DRAWERS! | |
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Najee said: When the 1970s funk, mostly instrumental band found this young session singer in 1979, Kool & the Gang were transformed into the soul/pop band that was the most successful soul group in the 1980s. However, it's strange that when that particular period of music is mentioned their names get somewhat lost in the mix -- if not in some cases derided. I would like to start a discussion on the 1979-87 Kool & The Gang.
[Edited 10/1/06 21:59pm] My childhood was during the 80's. And the JT Taylor years were freaking great, IMO. As a band, Kool & The Gang were as big as individuals like Michael Jackson & Prince (and maybe their equal in terms of pop culture impact for that beief moment in time?!?). My favorite dance cuts and videos from this era are: Get Down On It, Tonight, Misled, & Fresh. The only real drawback from the JT Taylor years that I've notice is as far as The Funk is concern, Kool & The Gangs could NEVER, EVER compose a funk track that could match their 70's tracks like Funky Stuff, Jungle Boogie OR The Spirit Of The Boogie. | |
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AlexdeParis said: I don't care what anyone says -- I love the J.T. years! "Take My Heart (You Can Have It)," "Ladies Night," "Too Hot," "Get Down on It," "Let's Go Dancin' (Ooh, La, La, La)," "Misled," "Fresh," "Celebration," "Tonight," "Joanna," "Cherish," "Victory"...
Damn right. THAT band own the 1980's (at least 80-87). | |
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theAudience said: CinisterCee said: I can hardly believe it's the same group.
I know what you mean.
Got nothing against the JT-era band. They put in work and deserve the success. It's just that I personally prefer the raw/funkier early version of the group. Some folks don't even know they existed prior to Ladies Night or Celebrate. tA Tribal Disorder
http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431 It took a movie soundtrack like Pulp Fiction to remind people that Jungle Boogie was (and still is) THE freaking jam! [Edited 10/3/06 17:57pm] | |
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Najee said: You misunderstood my statement. The Kool & The Gang model of the 1970s did not have hit songs for several years -- in fact, founding member Ronald Bell nearly quit the group -- prior to James "J.T." Taylor's arrival.
I know you prefer their music in the 1970s, but the group experienced newfound -- and greater -- success in the 1980s. By adding J.T., the group kept itself from going the way of 70s counterparts like Brick, B.T. Express and the Jeffrey Osborne-less L.T.D. I feel at times some people are slightly overrating Kool & The Gang's '70s stature in soul music and very much underrating their '80s stature. Really, i'm not concerned with the number of hits they've had (in either period), but the music in general. But I think we've agreed on the pertinent point of J.T. being a major reason for their life extension into the 80s. As far as their 70s period being overrated, you might want to take that up with The Godfather... "They're the second-baddest out there...They make such bad records that you got to be careful when you play a new tape on the way home from the record store. Their groove is so strong you could wreck." ~~James Brown tA Tribal Disorder
http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431 "Ya see, we're not interested in what you know...but what you are willing to learn. C'mon y'all." | |
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ElectricBlue said: The JT Taylor ERA is the only era!!! He is Kool & The Gang, everything else is just fake horseshit!
Posts like this make me wanna claw my own eyes out. Nothing JT ever did could touch Summer Madness.
I got a new dvd by them and they didn't say who the lead singer was, and of course is wasnt JT, and the dvd pretty much sucked. JT rocked! But I will say for JT that he played on one of my favorite Kool & The Gang songs: Just Friends. | |
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Stymie said: Posts like this make me wanna claw my own eyes out.
Don't do that. Then you can't see me in a few weeks. 
tA Tribal Disorder
http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431 "Ya see, we're not interested in what you know...but what you are willing to learn. C'mon y'all." | |
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theAudience said: Stymie said: Posts like this make me wanna claw my own eyes out.
Don't do that. Then you can't see me in a few weeks.
tA Tribal Disorder
http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431 
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Stymie said: I am so stoked to see you again.
tA Tribal Disorder
http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431 "Ya see, we're not interested in what you know...but what you are willing to learn. C'mon y'all." | |
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I love both era's, the raw funk of the 70's and pop/soul of the 80's. | |
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Stymie said: ElectricBlue said: The JT Taylor ERA is the only era!!! He is Kool & The Gang, everything else is just fake horseshit!
Posts like this make me wanna claw my own eyes out. Nothing JT ever did could touch Summer Madness.
I got a new dvd by them and they didn't say who the lead singer was, and of course is wasnt JT, and the dvd pretty much sucked. JT rocked! But I will say for JT that he played on one of my favorite Kool & The Gang songs: Just Friends. That was the jam!!!!!
Never really lovverrss just friiieeenddsss!!! 
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theAudience said: "Really, i'm not concerned with the number of hits they've had (in either period), but the music in general.
But I think we've agreed on the pertinent point of J.T. being a major reason for their life extension into the 80s. As far as their 70s period being overrated, you might want to take that up with The Godfather..." At the end of the day, the 1970s Kool & The Gang lagged behind the supergroups (bands and vocal acts) of their period (EWF, P-Funk, The Isley Brothers, The O'Jays, etc.) Kool & The Gang would rate ahead of acts like Brick and B.T. Express because they had a longer run and better overall material in their prime (1973-76), but you couldn't rate them ahead of acts like The Brothers Johnson, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, The Spinners, etc., much less acts like The Jackson 5 and The Commodores. Their '70s period is slightly overrated by the critics slamming their '80s music because in the grand scheme of the '70s landscape, they weren't quite as relevant as some would leave you to believe. The reason why Kool & The Gang went in a new direction was because their old formula had stopped working for quite some time. If that model still worked, there wouldn't have been a need for James "J.T." Taylor in the first place. NOTE: I am a fan of their '70s music, so please don't misconstrue what I am saying. Songs like "Summer Madness," "Higher Plane," "Funky Stuff," "Jungle Boogie," etc. are still great tracks. However, in a rush to bash their '80s music some people are ready to elevate their '70s music a little higher than it should be. [Edited 10/4/06 4:30am] THE TRAFFIC JAMMERS, The Org's house band: VAINANDY -- lead singer; NAJEE -- bass; THE AUDIENCE -- guitar; PHUNKDADDY -- rhythm guitar; ALEX de PARIS -- keyboards; Da PRETTYMAN -- keyboards; FUNKENSTEIN -- drums. HOLD ON TO YOUR DRAWERS! | |
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"cherish" is quite possibally the corniest song of all time. | |
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 How ya gonna do it if ya really don't want to dance  ..... 99 44/100%  National Funk League✮✮ | |
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