Kool and The Gang - Live at P.J.’s

Title

1. N.T.
2. Ricksonata
3. Sombrero Sam
4. Ronnie’s Groove
5. Ike’s Mood
6. You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling
7. Lucky for Me
8. Dujii

Make it funky! On “Live At P.J.’s,” Kool and the Gang do exactly that — and much more: this electrifying concert album, which was decades ahead of the soul-jazz revival and showcased the band’s infectious energy, demonstrates what groove truly means. Throughout their career, the group refused to be confined to a single style and dazzled with virtuosity. None other than the Godfather of Soul himself, James Brown, said about “Live At P.J.’s”: “Don’t play this in the car while driving. The groove is so funky you’ll have an accident.” The album opener “N.T.” (“No Title”) features one of the most famous drum breaks in history, sampled by Public Enemy, N.W.A, Nas, Q-Tip, and many other prominent hip-hop artists.

It is remarkable that the 1971 release “Live At P.J.’s” is the band’s second consecutive live album, considering the group had released only one studio album up to that point — a bold strategy that ignored conventions while reflecting an ensemble determined to set its own rules. As the final album of Kool and the Gang’s jazz-oriented era and the last before their commercial radio breakthrough, “Live At P.J.’s” delights with tropical excursions (“Ricksonata”), romantic textures (an inspired interpretation of the pop evergreen “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling”), and Latin-flavored tracks (“Sombrero Sam,” a cover of saxophone legend Charles Lloyd).

Lovingly mastered from the original tapes at MoFi’s California studio and pressed at Fidelity Record Pressing on 180-gram vinyl (33 RPM), this LP presents the classic in audiophile reference quality for the first time. With spectacular dynamics and detail, this collectible reissue honors every note Kool and the Gang captured on that Saturday evening in late May 1971, during a concert that began at 10:45 p.m. local time. Although later enhanced with studio strings, the core of “Live At P.J.’s” remains what the septet actually performed on stage. Strictly limited to 2,000 numbered copies, the MFSL LP is housed in a Stoughton Printing jacket and features the iconic album artwork.

Musicians

Robert “Kool” Bell: bass guitar
Ronald Bell: tenor and soprano saxophone
George Brown: drums
Robert “Spike” Mickens: trumpet, bongos
Dennis Thomas: alto saxophone, flute, congas
Claydes Smith: guitar
Ricky West: electric piano, organ, tambourine

Additional studio strings: Selwart Clark (violin), Gayle Dixon (violin), Nina Simon (violin), Winston Collymore (violin), Warren La Fredo (viola), Kermit Moore (cello)