Perfect Union

Perfect Union
Studio album by Kool & the Gang
Released	August 20, 2021 (2021-08-20)
Genre	Disco, funk
Length	36:12
Label	Omnivore
Producer	Ronald Bell, with several co-producers on select tracks
Kool & the Gang chronology
Kool for the Holidays (2012) Perfect Union (2021) People Just Wanna Have Fun (2023)

Perfect Union is a 2021 studio album by American disco and funk band Kool & the Gang. The album was the first new music from the group in over a decade[1] and was last to feature founding member Ronald Bell before his death.[2]

Reception

Editors at AllMusic rated this album 2.5 out of 5 stars, with critic Mark Deming writing that the band's music suffered from the loss of Ronald Bell, but also writing that "the interplay among the musicians is lively".[3]

Singles

"Sexy" peaked at No. 16 on the US Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart in October 2016.[4]

Track listing

1. "Pursuit of Happiness" (Walter Anderson, Robert "Kool" Bell, Ronald Bell, Celina Gray, Balewa Muhammad, Jahqae Muhammad, Keith Murray, and Dennis "Dee Tee" Thomas) – 5:13 [5]
2. "The Weekend" (Anderson, Ronald Bell, B. Muhammad, and J. Muhammad) – 3:08
3. "Leave It on the Dance Floor" (Anderson, Ronald Bell, and Gabriele Falanga) – 3:18
4. "High" (Anderson and Ronald Bell) – 4:46
5. "Sexy (Where’d You Get Yours)" (Anderson, Ronald Bell, and Alessandro Calemme) – 2:48
6. "All to Myself" (Anderson, Ronald Bell, and Calemme) – 3:34
7. "R.O.Y.A.L.T.Y." (Kool & the Gang mix) (Anderson, Shaun Bass, Hakim Bell, Ronald Bell, and Hamza Lee) – 3:11
8. "Hold On" (Anderson, Robert "Kool" Bell, and Ronald Bell) – 3:35[5]
9. "Good Time" (Anderson, Bass, H. Bell, Ronald Bell, Akene Dunkley, and Saint) – 3:21
10. "Pursuit of Happiness" (rap version) (Walter, Robert "Kool" Bell, Ronald Bell, Gray, B. Muhammad, J. Muhammad, Murray, and Thomas) – 3:18

Personnel

Kool & the Gang

• Robert "Kool" Bell – bass guitar, drums, electric guitar, keyboard, tenor saxophone, backing vocals
• Ronald Bell – mixing, production, executive production
• George "Funky" Brown – percussion
• Timothy Horton – drums, percussion
• Shawn McQuiller – vocals
• Michael Ray – trumpet, vocals
• Dennis "Dee Tee" Thomas – alto saxophone

Additional personnel

• Eddie Allen – trumpet
• Greg Allen – project assistance
• Walt Anderson – vocals, vocal arrangement, production on "Sexy (Where'd You Get Yours)"
• Shaun Bass – bass guitar
• Amir Bayyan – electric guitar
• Royal Bayyan – electric guitar
• Hakim Bell – production on "R.O.Y.A.L.T.Y." (Kool & the Gang Mix)
• Ravi Best – trumpet
• Audrey Bilger – project assistance
• Mark Bowers – electric guitar
• Jermaine Bryson – trombone
• Alessandro Calemme – bass guitar, electric guitar, keyboards, organ, production on "All to Myself" and "Sexy (Where'd You Get Yours)"
• Dutch Cramblitt – project assistance
• Akene Dunkley – guitar, keyboards, production on "Good Time"
• Lavell Evans – backing vocals
• Chris Gehringer – mastering
• Joy Graves – project assistance
• Gabri Hell – production on "Leave It On the Dancefloor"
• Steve Lavell – vocals
• Diego Leanza – bass guitar, electric guitar
• Hamza Lee – production on "R.O.Y.A.L.T.Y." (Kool & the Gang Mix)
• Lee Lodyga – project assistance
• Balewa Muhammad – vocals
• Rashad Muhammad – engineering, mixing
• Keith Murray – rapping on "Pursuit of Happiness" (rap version)
• Cheryl Pawelski – project assistance
• Jacqueline Reilly – backing vocals
• Brad Rosenberger – project assistance
• Saint – guitar, keyboards, production
• Mark Smith – production on "Good Time"
• Robert Stringer – trombone
• Kendal Stubbs – engineering, mixing

Charts

Chart performance for Perfect Union

Chart (2021)	Peak position
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[6]	47

References

1. Blistein, Jon (July 6, 2021). "Kool & the Gang Preview New Album 'Perfect Union' With 'Pursuit of Happiness'". Music. Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
2. Daniel, Christopher A. (August 20, 2021). "50 Years Later, Kool & The Gang Are Still Celebrating The "Pursuit Of Happiness" On New Album 'Perfect Union'". News. Grammy Awards. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
3. Deming, Mark (n.d.). "Kool & the Gang – Perfect Union". AllMusic. RhythmOne. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
4. "Kool & the Gang Chart History (Adult R&B Songs)". Billboard. n.d. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
5. Blistein, Jon (July 6, 2021). "Kool & the Gang Preview New Album 'Perfect Union' With 'Pursuit of Happiness'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
6. "Kool & the Gang: Perfect Union" (in Swiss High German). Hitparade. August 9, 2021. Retrieved July 31, 2023.

External links

• Perfect Union at MusicBrainz (list of releases)
• Review from mxdwn
• Review from Soultracks