You'd think this would be an easy choice; the 80's output of Kool & The Gang doesn't bode well for a victory lap, but earlier albums like Light of Worlds and Wild & Peaceful are strong contenders. Even the disco-bandwagon-hopping of Ladies Night could be a lot worse. Earth Wind & Fire seem to have the spirits of the world on their side.

This song should determine how everyone votes on this.

I admit I don't have extensive knowledge of either of these bands' entire catalogs, but "Funky Stuff", "Hollywood Swingin'", "Jungle Boogie", "Get Down On It", etc... versus what, "September"?

I gotta go with K&tG on this one.

Seems to me that EW&F pussed out a lot more than K&tG ever did.

Colonel Panic wrote:versus what, "September"?

Let's Groove

Boogie Wonderland

Fantasy

After The Love Has Gone

In The Stone

Fuck it, I even like System Of Survival.

Seems to me that EW&F pussed out a lot more than K&tG ever did.

Here's Maurice White, battling an alien robot (and winning):






'September' is one of favourite songs, and whenever I feel down, 'Boogie Wonderland' picks me up. That said, so do 'Celebrate', 'Jungle Boogie' and 'Ladies Night'. I haven't checked out enough of Kool And The Gang's albums and I have a feeling there would be enough in there to sway it.

So, Kool And The Gang.

EDIT: Oh, yeah, and that one chord guitar solo in 'Funky Stuff' pushes it further in Kool's direction. The lyrics too: "Can't get enough/ Of that funky stuff/ woah woah woah woah woah woah woah/ yeah". Not crap.

Christopher J. McGarvey wrote:This song should determine how everyone votes on this.

Oh shit. Party up in here!

Colonel Panic wrote:I admit I don't have extensive knowledge of either of these bands' entire catalogs, but "Funky Stuff", "Hollywood Swingin'", "Jungle Boogie", "Get Down On It", etc... versus what, "September"?

I gotta go with K&tG on this one.

Seems to me that EW&F pussed out a lot more than K&tG ever did.

"September," and "Fantasy," and "Serpentine Fire," and "On Your Face," and "That's The Way Of The World," and "Shining Star," and "Imagination," and "All About Love," and "Sing A Song," and more. EW&F never had a chance to go as mainstream as K&TG did. I'll even fess up to liking a couple of radio-friendly-dated K&TG cuts like "Fresh," and "Cherish," because I'm down like that.

daniel robert chapman wrote:Boogie Wonderland


After The Love Has Gone

Oh man, I forgot about these two. "After The Love Is Gone" is real nice. Never heard that "System Of Survival" song. hahaha. Funny. "September" is also one of my favorite songs. Never will it get old.

H-GM wrote: radio-friendly-dated K&TG cuts like "Fresh,"

Fresh is fucking amazing, but I always forget it's K&TG. The verses! That little guitar sound, the electro-Cure bassline - so laid back, but so tense and edgy!

Wait, what about Head to the Sky and Last Days and Time and the soundtrack to Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song? What about Open Our Eyes? These albums all show a much different side of Earth Wind and Fire from "September." They were a really different, interesting, cool band.

Nobody mentioned "Reasons" either. What about fucking"Reasons"?

I mean, I love Kool and the Gang...but Earth Wind and Fire by a country mile.

daniel robert chapman wrote:Fresh is fucking amazing, but I always forget it's K&TG. The verses! That little guitar sound, the electro-Cure bassline - so laid back, but so tense and edgy!

I love this song. Listening to it again while taking note of your apt description is making me hear it in a different way, or, just paying more attention to it, taking into account other music that I've heard since then. It sounds like a mainstream darkwave anthem or something. Good song!

longdivi wrote:Wait, what about Head to the Sky and Last Days and Time and the soundtrack to Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song?

I think EW&F just performed the music to Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song; Melvin Van Peebles was the composer. But, yeah, all top-notch!

This thread is excellent. Im so going to be pulling out some records that havent seen the light of day for a while when I get home tonight.

Oh, and even considering my great love for a lot of that early Kool and the Gang, stuff, I gotta go with Earth Wind and Fire. So good.