Kool & The Gang – As One : まわるよレコード ACE WAX COLLECTORZ

Kool & The Gang – As One

Robert "Kool" Bell, the "Kool" of Kool & The Gang, was born in Ohio in 1950, and today is his birthday.

The selected album is their 1982 release As One (known in Japan by the subtitle “Ai de HI, Koi de HO”), which marked the band’s entry into their second golden era after bringing in Eumir Deodato as their producer in the 1980s. They first topped the charts with the 1980 single "Celebration" and out of five albums released from Celebrate! (1980) to Emergency (1986), four went platinum.

However, As One is the only one among them that settled for a gold disc. Their work from this second golden era was well-received not only in the U.S. but also in the U.K. The track "Big Fun" (A2) reached No. 14 in the U.K., while the reggae-influenced "Let's Go Dancin' (Ooh La, La, La)" (B1) climbed to No. 7 on the U.S. R&B charts and reached No. 6 on the U.K. singles chart.

The mellow title track (A3), which features Robert "Spike" Mickens’ trumpet, subtly recalls their sound from the 70s. The song "Hi De Hi, Hi De Ho" (A4), composed by his brother Ronald Bell, has a Chic-like vibe and was sampled by Lady Gaga in her unreleased 2008 track "Take You Out" Personally, I find the standout track of the album to be the refreshing AOR soul tune "Think It Over" (B3).

The album includes a total of seven impressive tracks!

クール・アンド・ザ・ギャングのクールことロバート"クール"ベルは1950年オハイオ生まれで本日が誕生日。

ピックした一枚は、80年代に入りプロデューサーにエウミール・デオダートを迎えたことによって第二黄金期に突入した(80年リリースシングル「Celebration」で初めてトップ・チャートインし、同年リリースアルバム「Celebrate!」～「Something Special」「As One」「In the Heart」86年「Emergency」まで5作品のうち4枚はプラチナ・ディスクを獲得)彼らの82年リリース作で、前述5作の中で唯一ゴールド・ディスクに甘んじた「アズ・ワン」(邦題サブタイトル〜愛でHI、恋でHO〜)

第二黄金期作品は本国はもとよりイギリスでも評価され、A2「Big Fun」はイギリスで14位、REGGAEフィーリングのB1「Let's Go Dancin' (Ooh La, La, La)」は本国R&Bチャートで7位、英シングル・チャート最高6位を記録しています。

ロバート・ミケンズ(Robert "Spike" Mickens)のトランペットが70年代の彼らをほんのり思い起こさせるメロウのA3タイトル曲、シックにも似たフィーリングでレディ・ガガも2008年に「Take You Out」(アンリリース)でサンプリングした弟ロナルド・ベル作のA4「Hi De Hi, Hi De Ho」, 個人的に本作の白眉に挙げたい爽やかなAORソウル好曲のB3「Think It Over」等、流石の全7曲を収録！

Kool & The Gang – As One　'82 De-Lite

A1. Street Kids
A2. Big Fun

A3. As One
A4. Hi De Hi, Hi De Ho

B1. Let's Go Dancin' (Ooh La, La, La)
B2. Pretty Baby
B3. Think It Over

Credit;

Alto Saxophone – Steve Greenfield

Alto Saxophone, Keyboards – Curtis Williams

Bass, Backing Vocals – Robert "Kool" Bell

Drums, Backing Vocals – George Brown

Engineer – Cliff Hodsdon

Engineer [Assistant] – Barbara Ivone, Nelson Ayres

Engineer, Mixed By – Jim Bonnefond

Guitar – Charles Smith