Light of Worlds

Artist: Kool & the Gang
Label: Polygram Records
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Format: Original recording reissued
Media: Audio Cassette

UPC: 731453219441
EAN: 0731453219441
ASIN: B000001EKF

Release Date: 1996-03-19

Light of Worlds

Related Categories:

General

| R&B | Styles | Music

General

| Soul | R&B | Styles | Music

General

| Funk | R&B | Styles | Music

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Tracks:

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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Customer Reviews:

Kool & The Gang Get The Funk Out.......2007-02-28

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.

Light of Worlds..........2006-10-14

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!!

Finally found the haunting Summer Madness.......2006-08-11

For many years I heard this beautiful instrumental song, but couldn't find the name of it. I heard it in the beginning of the original Rocky and thought maybe it was on the soundtrack.

When I ended up purchasing Will Smith's Greatest Hits, I knew the song Summertime borrowed a rift from this song. I finally found out it was called Summer Madness by Kool & the Gang, which led me to the Light of Worlds CD.

To my delight, the entire CD was fantastic. But finally being able to find the song Summer Madness was the icing on the cake. It's just as beautiful now as when I first heard it. It's great to have on the car CD player when the sun is setting after a hot Summer day.

I highly recommend this CD to anyone who loves sophisticated jazz.

Ultra Funky.......2006-04-17

If you are true funk fan then you must have this album in your collection. This is Kool & the Gang at their best. I think Summer Madness was hot, but other cuts on that album are sizzling hot. If you know anything about black lights, and velvet panther posters and other's (you know what I mean), you know the cuts we listened to under the lights. Pick it up if you don't own this piece of funk history I know you are going to love it.
Keep Funk Alive

Kool & The Gang On A Higher Plane!.......2004-09-09

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!

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