TCCDM Pulls One Out..."Open Sesame" - Kool And The Gang (1976)

"Open Sesame" - Kool And The Gang (1976)

     I like Kool and the Gang albums. The early funky stuff, anyway.  However, "Open Sesame" doesn't deliver any of that.  It's not bad. KatG can play, but it crushed my expectations.  The album lacks the tasty concrete funk the band's so good at and deals a hand that swims off into the shallow end of the disco pool.  I'm not a disco snob, but I was hoping for more "Hollywood Swinging" and "Spirit Of The Boogie" funk, and it never arrived.

     Kool and the Gang execute their work tools fine, but "Open Sesame" just isn't my jam.  That's on me.  The title track did make it onto the historic "Saturday Night Fever" soundtrack, so Kool was definitely pushing the right buttons heading down the path of bigger things yet to come.  And if you like that kinda thing, you might want to take this square out for a spin.  Take a listen to the title track below and see if it's your tea.  The album is a two-dollar holler every day of the week if it is.

"Open Sesame" - Kool And The Gang (back)

"Open Sesame" - Kool And The Gang (inside gatefold)

Favorites include:
"Open Sesame"

     The album has a nice gimmix sleeve that opens from the middle, revealing the band members in Aladdin garb.  The record slides in and out from the top.  And the front cover itself is lovely.  The back cover has printed, "May The Peace And Blessings Of All Mighty God Be Upon You All.  Thank You For Your Gift Of Love And Your Faith In Us."  The vinyl is pressed on the De-Lite Records label.

De-Lite Records label

Cat #
DEP 2023
SIDE A  DEADWAX
DEP-2023-A  K5  MASTERING BY FRANKFORD/WAYNE PHILA.  NS  
SIDE B  DEADWAX
DEP-2023-B  K6  MASTERING BY FRANKFORD/WAYNE PHILA.  NS 

"Open Sesame" - Kool And The Gang" / "Open Sesame" (1976)

TRACKS:
A1  "Open Sesame" 3:48
A2  "Gift Of Love" 4:10
A3  "Little Children" 5:32
A4  "All Night Long" 4:55
B1  "Whisper Softly" 6:05
B2  "Super Band" 5:56
B3  "L-O-V-E" 3:23
B4  "Sunshine" 3:29

PERSONNEL: 
Ronald Bell -  vocals, keyboards, clavinet, ARP synthesizer, ARP String Ensemble, percussion, vibraphone, tenor saxophone, alto flute, arrangements (A1, A2, B1, B2, B4)
Ricky West - vocals (A1), vibraphone (A3), keyboards (A4, B4)
Claydes Charles Smith - acoustic guitar, electric guitar, percussion, arrange (A3, A4)
Robert "Kool" Bell - bass, percussion, vocals
George Brown - drums, percussion, keyboards (B3), clavinet (B3), vocals (B3), arrange (B3)
Dennis Thomas - alto sax, flute, percussion, congas, vocals
Otha Nash - slide trombone, valve trombone, percussion, vocals
Larry Gittens - trumpet, flugelhorn
Robert "Spike" Mickens - trumpet, flugelhorn, percussion
ADDITIONAL:
Jimmy J. Jordan - special effects
Ellouise Vaughn - harp
Don Boyce - vocals
Cynthia Huggins - lead vocals (A2, B1, B3, B4)
Donna Johnson - lead vocals (2)
Something Sweet (Renee Connel, Cynthia Huggins, Joan Motley, Beverly Owens) - b-vocals 
Carry Muse - b-vocals (B3)

Good stuff.

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