Love & Understanding

Love & Understanding
Love & Understanding
Studio album by Kool & the Gang
Released	March 1976
Recorded	1975
Genre	Funk
Length	41:26
Label	De-Lite
Producer	Kool and the Gang
Kool & the Gang chronology

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[1]

Love & Understanding is the seventh studio album by the funk band Kool & the Gang, released in 1976. The album had mild success. Three tracks, "Hollywood Swinging", "Summer Madness" and "Universal Sound" were recorded live at the Rainbow Theatre in London, England.

Record World said of the title track that "Kool's combination of chanting vocals, horns and electronics forms a patented style all his own."^[2]

Track listing[edit]

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Love & Understanding"	Claydes Smith, Khalis Bayyan, Kool & the Gang	7:51
2.	"Sugar"	George Brown, Kool & the Gang	5:37
3.	"Do It Right Now"	Otha Nash, Kool & the Gang	3:55
4.	"Cosmic Energy"	Smith, Bayyan, Kool & the Gang	3:11

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Hollywood Swinging" (live)	Ricky West, Kool & the Gang	5:40
2.	"Summer Madness" (live)	Alton Taylor, Robert "Spike" Mickens, Kool & the Gang	8:01
3.	"Universal Sound" (live)	Bayyan, Kool & the Gang	4:04
4.	"Come Together"	Smith, Bayyan, Kool & the Gang	2:48

Personnel[edit]

Bass, vocals – Robert "Kool" Bell
Drums, percussion, vocals – George Brown
Guitar – Claydes Smith, Kevin Bell
Piano – Ricky West
Alto saxophone – Peter Duarte
Alto saxophone, vocals, flute, congas – Dennis Thomas
Tenor saxophone – Dennis White
Tenor saxophone, alto flute, piano, vocals, ARP synthesizer – Ronald Bell
Trombone – Ray Wright
Trombone, vocals – Otha Nash
Trumpet – Spike Mickens
Trumpet, flugelhorn, vocals – Larry Gitten
Backing vocals – Don Boyce, Royal Jackson, Something Sweet, Tomorrow's Edition

Production[edit]

Arranged and Produced by Kool & the Gang
Executive Producer – Khalis Bayyan
Engineers – B. Clearwater, Harvey Goldberg and Terry Rosiello.
Mixed by Terry Rosiellio
Mastered by Earl Williams
Design – Frank Daniel
Photography – Simon De Cherpitel and Bill Peronneau

Charts[edit]

Weekly charts[edit]

Chart (1976)	Peak position
US Billboard 200^[3]	68
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[4]	9

Year-end charts[edit]

Chart (1976)	Position
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[5]	43

References[edit]

^ Hanson, Amy. "Kool & the Gang: Love & Understanding > Review" at AllMusic. Retrieved October 29, 2011.
^ "Single Picks" (PDF). Record World. February 21, 1976. p. 12. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
^ "Kool & the Gang Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
^ "Kool & the Gang Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1976". Billboard. Retrieved March 8, 2021.

This 1970s R&B/soul album-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[1] Hanson, Amy. "Kool & the Gang: Love & Understanding > Review" at AllMusic. Retrieved October 29, 2011.

[rw-2] "Single Picks" (PDF). Record World. February 21, 1976. p. 12. Retrieved 2023-03-08.

[ac_Billboard200_Kool_&_the_Gang-3] "Kool & the Gang Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 8, 2021.

[ac_BillboardRandBHipHop_Kool_&_the_Gang-4] "Kool & the Gang Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 8, 2021.

[5] "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1976". Billboard. Retrieved March 8, 2021.

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v t e Kool & the Gang
Robert "Kool" Bell Ronald Bell George Brown Robert Mickens Dennis "Dee Tee" Thomas Clifford Adams Sennie "Skip" Martin Shawn McQuiller Rodney Ellis Jirmad Gordon James "J.T." Taylor Claydes Charles Smith Rick Westfield
Studio albums	Kool and the Gang Music Is the Message Good Times Wild and Peaceful Light of Worlds Spirit of the Boogie Love & Understanding Open Sesame The Force Everybody's Dancin' Ladies' Night Celebrate! Something Special As One In the Heart Emergency Forever Sweat Unite State of Affairs Gangland The Hits: Reloaded Still Kool Kool for the Holidays Perfect Union People Just Wanna Have Fun
Live albums	Live at the Sex Machine Live at PJ's
Compilation albums	Kool Jazz Twice as Kool: The Hits of Kool & the Gang
Singles	"Let the Music Take Your Mind" "Funky Man" "Funky Stuff" "Jungle Boogie" "Hollywood Swinging" "Summer Madness" "Caribbean Festival" "Higher Plane" "Spirit of the Boogie" "Open Sesame" "Ladies' Night" "Too Hot" "Celebration" "Take My Heart (You Can Have It If You Want It)" "Steppin' Out" "Get Down on It" "Big Fun" "Joanna" "Misled" "Fresh" "Cherish" "Stone Love" "Rags to Riches" "Raindrops" "In the Hood" "No Show"
Related articles	Discography
Category