Both of these bands careers are quit similar. They started way before they became known to the world in the early to mid 70s. (Players in 59 and Kool in 64.)

Both started out as somewhat Jazz bands, and eventually developed into hard funk outfits. Both released their first (major label) singles and albums in the late 90s (Players in 67 and the album the next year and Kool in 69 for both.)

Both bands went through some changes before they hit their commercial peak and both have a number one pop single in Celebration and Love Rollercoaster.

At one time or another, they were the biggest Funk band in the land.

If you could only pick one band to make the Cleveland institute, who would it be.

The Ohio Players or Kool & The Gang?

Kool & The Gang. Why?

The "Godfather" endorsement...

"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



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KOOL N THE GANG muah love those guys

mjscarousal said:

KOOL N THE GANG muah love those guys

My head says Kool and the Gang but my heart says the Ohio Players. I just can't forgive Kool and the Gang for that sappy pop music they churned out in the eighties.

rialb said:

My head says Kool and the Gang but my heart says the Ohio Players. I just can't forgive Kool and the Gang for that sappy pop music they churned out in the eighties.

I agree...and if they get in, that's all you're going to hear during the ceromony and performance. You won't hear, Jungle Boogie, Open Sesame, etc. They are going to appeal to the mainstream for ratings.

The one that had a naked lady on their cover

theAudience said:

Kool & The Gang. Why?

The "Godfather" endorsement...

"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



Music for adventurous listeners


tA

Tribal Records

Just curious..why not Ohio Players?

rdhull said:

The one that had a naked lady on their cover

Flawless and unimpeachable logic.

Kool & The Gang.

Hmm...both groups had their corny moments. But Kool & The Gang were cornier.

And James Brown spent decades high on that 'caine; ain't no tellin' what he was

thinking when he endorsed 'The Gang.

missfee said:

Just curious..why not Ohio Players?

Nothing against the Ohio Players. I dig some of their material also.

I'd almost go with them based on some of Sugarfoot's antics alone.

I've had a few personal dealings with Kool & The Gang over the years.
Plus i'm a big fan of their early material.

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duccichucka said:

Hmm...both groups had their corny moments. But Kool & The Gang were cornier.

And James Brown spent decades high on that 'caine; ain't no tellin' what he was

thinking when he endorsed 'The Gang.

'Caine or nocaine, endorsement or no endorsement, early Kool & The Gang was bangin'.

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rialb said:

My head says Kool and the Gang but my heart says the Ohio Players. I just can't forgive Kool and the Gang for that sappy pop music they churned out in the eighties.

Good point...I'm not a big fan of the JT era.

It's a tough choice but Imma still have to go with Kool.

OHIO PLAYERS!!

Two words: "Summer Madness"

I got a lotta love for both, but I must go with The Ohio Players. I remember playing my uncle's 45 of 'Love Rollercoaster' and pretending to be in the band! Sugarfoot has one of the most recognizable and imitated voices ever. Plus those three Westbound lps with Junie Morrison made them the funkiest band on the planet after Sly and before Parliament...

To top it all off, they had the greatest album covers in all of popular music!!!

Kool & The Gang will be in the R&RHOF ahead of Ohio Players.

Think about it. K&TG had 2 eras in the music history which were the horn-driven funk era AND the r&b/crossover pop era. Ohio Players only had one era.

TonyVanDam said:

Kool & The Gang will be in the R&RHOF ahead of Ohio Players.

Think about it. K&TG had 2 eras in the music history which were the horn-driven funk era AND the r&b/crossover pop era. Ohio Players only had one era.

You are correct sir. Their music even had a resurgence of sorts in the 90's, based on 'Jungle Boogie' being played in 'Pulp Fiction'. "Summer Madness' sampled on Will Smith joint. 'Sea Of Tranquility' interpolated by D'angelo on 'Send It On'. They just finished a successful tour run opening up 50 shows for Van Halen. 'Celebration' is still one of the most played songs anywhere. Sporting events, parties, political conventions. There's room for both, but they won't put that much funk in there. What about the Isley Brothers?

Kool & The Gang just for J. T. alone

rdhull said:

The one that had a naked lady on their cover

yes sa'!!!

[img:$uid]http://wfnk.com/ohioplayers/hony-in.jpg[/img:$uid]

HuMpThAnG said:

rdhull said:

The one that had a naked lady on their cover

yes sa'!!!

[img:$uid]http://wfnk.com/ohioplayers/hony-in.jpg[/img:$uid]

^ Everytime I see that cover I can't help but think about the rumor that was circulating at the time, I was a kid so I never got the full story, but I remember it was a big rumor.

I'm gonna have to go with Jersey....I mean "Kool And The Gang"! If I had been asked this question two years ago I would've said "The Ohio Players" without a doubt. But I have since discovered KATG's 1970's catalog! 'nuff said.

-

Kool and the Gang.

rialb said:

My head says Kool and the Gang but my heart says the Ohio Players. I just can't forgive Kool and the Gang for that sappy pop music they churned out in the eighties.

Although some people may not want to admit it, Kool & The Gang was the most successful band in black popular music in the '80s. The group was struggling by the time James "J.T." Taylor came on board and his presence and vocal style took the group to a different, larger audience.

While EWF, The Isley Brothers and Parliament/Funkadelic struggled to change with the landscape of the genre, Kool & The Gang rolled out an impressive string of hits (most of them major, memorable hits) from late 1979 to mid-1987:

* "Ladies Night"

* "Too Hot"

* "Celebration"

* "Take It To The Top"

* "Take My Heart (You Can Have It)"

* "Steppin' Out"

* "Get Down On It"

* "Big Fun"

* "Let's Go Dancin' (Ooh La, La, La)"

* "Joanna"

* "Tonight"

* "Misled"

* "Fresh"

* "Cherish"

* "Emergency"

* "Victory"

* "Stone Love"

* "Holiday"

All but "Take It To The Top" and "Steppin' Out" landed in the top 10 of the Billboard R&B singles charts and six of them ("Ladies Night," "Celebration," "Take My Heart (You Can Have It)," "Joanna," "Fresh" and "Cherish") landed at No. 1. Kool & The Gang was the only black popular music band that consistently registered platinum albums during that period. The majority of their songs were so ubitquitous on the pop and soul formats that I feel that is the basis for some of the backlash of the J.T. years.

And while a good part of the band's songs went toward that middle of the road style ("Cherish" being the most egregious, IMO), some songs did go into other areas. "Misled" had strong rock elements; "Take My Heart (You Can Have It)" and "Too Hot" touched into elements of soul; "Joanna" harkened back to the doo-wop days, etc. As much as some of Kool & The Gang's music made me turn the dial during its '80s run, looking back I have to give the band credit for repackaging itself -- adding J.T. and molding its style to the emerging crossover R&B paid off big time.

[Edited 8/28/12 16:54pm]

Def Kool and the Gang.

Sheeeeeeeit............BOTH!!!!!!

I know U said only ONE, but why not both of them b4 they put some corny ass Disco Singer or Group in???

There's NO WAY ABBA should b in b4 ANYONE, much less K & TG or OP!!!!

[Edited 8/27/12 17:36pm]

woogiebear said:

Sheeeeeeeit............BOTH!!!!!!

Personally, a third band should be entered into this conversation of '70s black popular music bands who are fringe hall of fame acts:

[Edited 8/27/12 18:05pm]

MusickMan said:

woogiebear said:

Sheeeeeeeit............BOTH!!!!!!

Personally, a third band should be entered into this conversation of '70s black popular music bands who are fringe hall of fame acts:

[Edited 8/27/12 18:05pm]

True that. Kool & The Gang had 2 eras of success which is hard to duplicate.

I love OP and i'll admit i'm not really heavy into their Westbound catalog

and their Mercury run was great but brief. After the Angel album is was all

but over and that was 1977. Personal problems dogged the group and the

material that came after was mediocre save for a few cuts on Jas Ay laydee

and Everybody up. I would definitely go with Kool on this one.

[Edited 8/27/12 19:43pm]

Kool and The Gang stands a better chance of getting in because they lasted on into the 1980s and had much bigger crossover success than The Ohio Players. I'm not for crossing over by any means, but it's the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame we're talking about here and they love crossover artists.