There weren't many bands in the 1980s that had the golden touch that Kool & The Gang had. With #1 smashes like "Ladies Night" and "Celebration," they could do no wrong from 1979 to 1986, and they toured the world around their platinum recording success.
By 1988 the normal arc of their second stint on top had progressed, and lead singer James J.T. Taylor left to pursue a solo career that failed to rekindle the success he enjoyed with the group. So in 1995 Taylor returned to the band for State of Affairs, an excellent but criminally underappreciated album that was filled with songs that could have been bit hits, had radio still been open to the group.
There weren't many bands in the 1980s that had the golden touch that Kool & The Gang had. With #1 smashes like "Ladies Night" and "Celebration," they could do no wrong from 1979 to 1986, and they toured the world around their platinum recording success.
By 1988 the normal arc of their second stint on top had progressed, and lead singer James J.T. Taylor left to pursue a solo career that failed to rekindle the success he enjoyed with the group. So in 1995 Taylor returned to the band for State of Affairs, an excellent but criminally underappreciated album that was filled with songs that could have been bit hits, had radio still been open to the group.
Though State of Affairs was not a commercial success, it gave fans some of the band's fans the finest recordings. One of these Lost Gems is the hot-summer-in-the-city jams, "In The Hood." We absolutely challenge you to keep your feet from moving or your mouth from smiling as you hear this one.
Enjoy "In The Hood" and, if you have a chance, check out all of State of Affairs.