Product Review

Digitally remastered and expanded deluxe two CD edition. If The Pointer Sisters shaped themselves to be a successful all-female black crossover pop band of the 80s then Kool & the Gang certainly proved to be the most enduring all-male counterpart to this. Originally formed as a jazz band in the early 60s (then adopting the Jazziacs moniker), they would reinvent themselves via funk in the 70s and once again in the 80s with relentlessly feel-good pop-soul. Continuing on from a decade-long reign on the charts, Kool & the Gang released their 16th studio LP, 1984's Emergency (R&B #3/Pop #13/UK #47), and continued their trend of unashamedly feel-good soulful pop music, resulting in a double-platinum album which would turn out to be the biggest international seller of their career. Emergency gave the band some of their biggest hits with 'Misled' (R&B #3/Pop #10/UK #28), 'Fresh' (R&B #1/Pop #9/UK #11), the gold certified ballad 'Cherish' (R&B #1/Pop #2/UK #4) and 'Emergency' (R&B #7/Pop #18/UK #50).