Live at P.J.'s

• Artist: Kool & the Gang
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1971 10
• Total Time: 46:06
• Type: Live
• Genre: Rhythm & Blues

Review

Live at P.J.'s, the third Kool & the Gang record (and second live album in a row), betters the previous Live at the Sex Machine with a committed set balancing funky workouts ("Ronnie's Groove") with more exploratory soul-jazz ("Sombrero Sam"), and occasionally trying both on the same track ("N.T."). A night-after-night schedule of concerts all over the country had given Kool & the Gang the chops to become one of the best bands of the '70s, but it also enabled them to construct tight, interesting sets (this release would've undoubtedly sounded even better had the original compilers trusted the artists themselves and reissued the show in the correct running order). The opener is a version of "N.T." (short for no title), oddly slower than it was heard on record, though the relaxed tempo allowed plenty of room for solos and stretching out. At this point, Kool & the Gang had more in common with soul-jazz units like the Crusaders than a funk band, giving nearly every member a chance to shine, but especially Dennis Thomas on flute (he has some great vocalizing on "Sombrero Sam"), Khalis Bayyan on tenor and soprano sax, and Robert "Spike" Mickens on trumpet. The only misstep is a pair of covers originally heard on Isaac Hayes' ...To Be Continued, the first a regal version of "Ike's Mood" that suddenly descends into MOR soul via a misguided attempt at "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling." Mercury's CD reissue added a great bonus track, "The Penguin." ~ John Bush, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
N.T.	Charles Smith, Kool & the Gang	Kool & the Gang	(6:31)
Ricksonata	Kool & the Gang, Ricky West	Kool & the Gang	(5:41)
Sombrero Sam	Charles Lloyd	Kool & the Gang	(6:43)
Ronnie's Groove	Khalis Bayyan, Gene Redd, Kool & the Gang	Kool & the Gang	(2:59)
Ike's Mood/You've Lost That Loving Feeling	Phil Spector, Isaac Hayes, Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil	Kool & the Gang	(10:29)
Lucky for Me	Charles Smith	Kool & the Gang	(3:06)
Dujii	Richard Westfield	Kool & the Gang	(6:02)
The Penguin [#][*]	Kool & the Gang	Kool & the Gang	(5:26)

Credits

Cleveland Brown (Liner Notes), Gene Redd (Arranger), Willie Feaster (Producer), Robert "Spike" Mickens (Trumpet), Gene Redd, Jr. (Arranger), Gene Redd (Producer), Harry Weinger (Supervisor), Robert "Kool" Bell (Group Member), Selwart Clarke (Violin), Robert "Kool" Bell (Vocals), Gary N. Mayo (Remixing), Cleveland Brown (Memorabilia), George "Funky" Brown (Drums), Harry Weinger (Research), Gene Redd, Jr. (Producer), Cleveland Brown (Photo Courtesy), Gary N. Mayo (Digital Remastering), Ronald Bell (Sax (Soprano)), Robert "Kool" Bell (Bass), George "Funky" Brown (Group Member), Willie Feaster (Staff), Ricky West (Group Member), Nina Simon (Violin), Ricky West (Piano (Electric)), Ronald Bell (Sax (Tenor)), Dennis "D.T." Thomas (Sax (Alto)), A. Scott Galloway (Research Assistant), Bill Lacey (Digital Remastering), Dennis "D.T." Thomas (Conga), Ricky West (Trombone), Dennis "D.T." Thomas (Flute), Sharon Redd (Staff), Khalis Bayyan (Sax (Soprano)), Cleveland Brown (Project Consultant), Khalis Bayyan (Sax (Tenor)), Claydes E.X. Smith (Guitar), Ronald Bell (Group Member), Gayle Dixon (Violin), Malcolm Addey (Engineer), Paul Williams & His Hucklebuckers (Reissue Supervisor), Ricky West (Tambourine), Gene Redd (Original Liner Notes), Robert "Spike" Mickens (Group Member), Howard Tucker (Project Coordinator), Robert "Spike" Mickens (Bongos), Chris Eselgroth (Package Design), Ricky West (Organ), Sharon Redd (Producer), Claydes E.X. Smith (Group Member), Winston Collymore (Violin), Nina Simone (Violin), Dennis "D.T." Thomas (Group Member), Kermit Moore (Cello)