Light of Worlds
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Light of Worlds is the fifth studio album, and seventh album of new material by the American R&B group Kool & the Gang. Released in 1974, it was later remastered by Polygram and was a second success for the band, reaching number 16 in the R&B chart and number 63 in the pop chart. It was a landmark in the funk/jazz fusion genre of the 1970s.
Background
Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Light of Worlds is regarded as Kool & the Gang's most spiritual and sophisticated work, produced in the wake of the success of their previous album, Wild and Peaceful. While it was their seventh album of original material, the band considered Light of Worlds their ninth LP (counting two compilations), and therefore consciously chose nine songs for the album to represent the then nine planets in the Solar System. The album contains rock-inspired funk set to jazz-informed playing with afrobeat influences and a tinge of analog synthesis.
Critical reception
Script error: No such module "Unsubst".Template:Music ratings"Summer Madness" was later released as a single, with a follow-up titled "Winter Sadness" in Kool & the Gang's Spirit of the Boogie a year later. In 1991, the Hip-Hop duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince sampled elements of "Summer Madness" for their song "Summertime". A remake of "Summer Madness" was released on their 1993 album Unite titled "WKOOL/Summer".
Track listing
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Personnel
Adapted from liner notes[1]
Musicians
Kool & the Gang
- Ronald Bell – arrangements (tracks 1, 7, 9)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., piano (tracks 1, 4–7, 9)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., clavinet (tracks 1, 4, 5, 7)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., ARP synthesizer (tracks 1, 5–9)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., bass (tracks 1, 7)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., percussion (track 1)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., tenor saxophone (tracks 1–4, 7, 9)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., vocals (tracks 3–4, 6, 9)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., alto flute (track 5)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., Mellotron (tracks 6, 8–9)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., ARP 2600 (tracks 7–8)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., lead vocals (track 7)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., electric piano (track 9)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., kalimba (track 9)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Robert "Kool" Bell – bass (tracks 1–8)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., vocals (tracks 6–7)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- George "Funky" Brown – drums (all tracks)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., percussion (tracks 1, 9)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., vocals (track 6)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., kettle drums (track 9)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., gong (track 9)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Robert "Spike" Mickens – trumpet (tracks 1–3, 5, 7, 9)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., flugelhorn (track 2)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., vocals (track 6)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., arrangements (tracks 6, 8)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Claydes Charles Smith – guitar (tracks 1–8)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., vibraphone (track 4)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., percussion (track 4)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., arrangements (track 4)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., conductor (track 4)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Ricky West – piano (tracks 1–2, 7)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., lead vocals (track 2)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., arrangements (track 2)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., electric piano (tracks 5, 8)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Dennis "D.T." Thomas – alto saxophone (tracks 1–3, 7)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., clavinet (track 3)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., congas (track 3)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., percussion (tracks 3, 5)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., lead vocals (track 3)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., arrangements (track 3)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Additional musicians
- Herb Lane – vocals (track 4)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., backing vocals (track 7)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Alton Taylor – vocals (track 4)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., lead vocals (track 6)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Penni Phynjuar Saunders – vocals (tracks 3–4)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Richard Shade – backing vocals (track 7)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Kenneth Banks – backing vocals (track 7)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Al Pazant – trumpet (track 4)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Ed Pazant – oboe (track 4)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., alto saxophone (track 4)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Noel Pointer – strings (track 4)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Technical
- Producers – Kool & The Gang
- Engineers – Bob Clearmountain, Godfrey Diamond, Harvey Goldberg and Alec Head.
- Cover Design – Frank Daniel
- Liner Notes – Cleveland "Clevie" Browne
- Photography – Bernie Block, David Lartaud and Phil Willen.
Reissue
- Digital Remastering – Gary N. Mayo
- Package – Mitchell Kanner
- Liner Notes – Cleveland "Clevie" Browne
Charts
Weekly charts
| Chart (1974) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200[2] | #63 |
Singles
| Song | R&B chart[3] | Pop chart[3] |
|---|---|---|
| "Higher Plane" | No.1 | No.37 |
| "Rhyme Tyme People" | No.3 | No.63 |
| "Summer Madness" | No.36 | No.35 |
Certifications
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Notes
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References
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