Wild and Peaceful (Kool & the Gang album)
Wild and Peaceful is the fourth studio album, and sixth album of new material released by the funk band Kool & the Gang, and is their commercial breakthrough album. It was released in 1973 and was hugely successful on the Billboard R&B chart, reaching No. 6 and charting for 36 weeks. It also reached No. 33 on the Pop charts, making it the band's first entry into that chart's Top 40.[6] The album spawned the band's first three Top 10 singles. "Funky Stuff" reached No. 5 R&B/No. 29 Pop. The hugely popular track "Jungle Boogie" soared to No. 2 R&B and No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, and "Hollywood Swinging" topped the Billboard Hot Soul Singles in June 1974 while reaching No. 6 Pop.[7] The latter two singles both sold over a million copies and were certified Gold by the RIAA. The album itself was also certified Gold.
Wild and Peaceful | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | September 1973 | |||
Recorded | April–May 1973 | |||
Genre | Funk, R&B | |||
Length | 37:45 | |||
Label | De-Lite | |||
Producer | Kool & the Gang | |||
Kool & the Gang chronology | ||||
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Singles from Wild and Peaceful | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [1] |
Rolling Stone | (mixed)[2] |
BBC | (favourable)[3] |
Stereo Review | (favourable)[4][5] |
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Funky Stuff" | Brown, Kool & the Gang | 3:00 |
2. | "More Funky Stuff" | Kool & the Gang | 2:50 |
3. | "Jungle Boogie" | Kool & the Gang | 3:03 |
4. | "Heaven at Once" | Bell, Kool & the Gang | 5:01 |
5. | "Hollywood Swinging" | Kool & the Gang, Westfield | 4:36 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "This Is You, This Is Me" | Brown, Kool & the Gang | 5:23 |
2. | "Life Is What You Make It" | Kool & the Gang, Thomas | 3:53 |
3. | "Wild and Peaceful" | Bayyan, Kool & the Gang | 9:26 |
Personnel
- Robert "Kool" Bell – bass, vocals
- "Funky" George Brown – drums, percussion, vocals
- Ricky West – electric piano, vocals
- Clay Smith – guitar
- Dennis "Dee Tee" Thomas – alto saxophone, flute, congas, vocals
- Ronald Bell – tenor and soprano saxophones, vocals
- Robert "Spike" Mickens – trumpet, vocals
- Additional Personnel
- Don Boyce – backing vocals (3)
- Rory Bell – backing vocals (4)
- Tomorrow’s Edition (Jerome Gourdine, Aaron Mathis and Wesley Thomas) – backing vocals (6)
Production
- Produced and Arranged by Kool & The Gang
- Engineers – Harvey Goldberg and Jeff Lesser
- Recorded at MediaSound Studios (New York, NY).
- Cover Artwork – Joseph Askew
- Album Design – Richard Askew
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United States (RIAA)[8] | Gold | 500,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
References
- Hamilton, Andrew. "Kool & the Gang: Wild and Peaceful > Review at AllMusic. Retrieved 28 October 2011.
- Gersten, Russel (11 April 1974). "Kool & the Gang: Wild and Peaceful". Rolling Stone. Straight Arrow (RS 158). ISSN 0035-791X. Archived from the original on 16 November 2007.
- Easlea, Daryl (2009). "Kool & The Gang Wild And Peaceful Review". bbc.co.uk. BBC.
- Vance, Joel (November 1974). "Kool and the Gang: Wild and Peaceful" (PDF). americanradiohistory.com. Vol. 33 no. 5. Stereo Review. p. 102.
- Vance, Joel (November 1974). "Kool and the Gang: Wild and Peaceful" (PDF). americanradiohistory.com. Vol. 33 no. 5. Stereo Review. p. 103.
- "Wild and Peaceful > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums" at AllMusic. Retrieved 28 October 2011.
- "Wild and Peaceful > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles" at AllMusic. Retrieved 28 October 2011.
- "American album certifications – Kool & The Gang – Wild & Peaceful". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH.