Open Sesame (Kool & the Gang song)

"Open Sesame" is a song recorded by Kool & the Gang for their 1976 eponymous studio album.[1] The song, issued as a single in 1976 by De-Lite Records, reached No. 6 on the US Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart and No. 13 on the US Billboard Disco Action chart.[2][3]

"Open Sesame"
Single by Kool & the Gang
from the album Open Sesame
B-side"Open Sesame – Part 2 (Groove with the Genie)"
Released1976 (1976)
GenreFunk
Length3:43
LabelDe-Lite
Songwriter(s)Robert "Kool" Bell, Ronald Bell, George "Funky" Brown, Claydes Smith, Dennis "D.T." Thomas
Producer(s)Kool & the Gang
Kool & the Gang singles chronology
"Universal Sound"
(1976)		 "Open Sesame"
(1976)		 "Super Band"
(1977)

Compendium

"Open Sesame" was produced by K.G productions along with Mr. Vee productions. Also known as "Open Sesame Part 1", the tune interpolated Sol Bloom's "The Streets of Cairo" and was written by Robert "Kool" Bell, Ronald Bell, George "Funky" Brown, Claydes Smith, and Dennis "D.T." Thomas. The single's B-side was "Open Sesame – Part 2 (Groove with the Genie)". The song first appeared on the group's 1976 studio album Open Sesame, and was subsequently included on the soundtrack to the 1977 feature film Saturday Night Fever.[1][4][5]

Critical reception

Stephen M. Deusner of Pitchfork wrote "'Open Sesame' doesn't rank among Kool & the Gang's absolute best cuts, but its silly vocals and breakneck horns are nevertheless impressive."[6] Tyler Golsen of Far Out also declared "'Open Sesame' is a solid addition to the disco canon from some of the masters of the genre."[7]

Legacy

"Open Sesame" has been sampled on "L.A., L.A." by Capone-N-Noreaga featuring Tragedy Khadafi and Mobb Deep from the duo's 1997 studio album The War Report. The Beastie Boys sampled "Open Sesame" on "Shazam!" featuring Mix Master Mike from the group's 2004 studio album To the 5 Boroughs.[8][9]

Personnel
  • Khalis Bayyan – alto flute, clavinet, keyboards, percussion, tenor saxophone, vocals
  • Robert "Kool" Bell – bass guitar, percussion, vocals
  • George Brown – drums, percussion
  • Robert Spike Mickens – flugelhorn, percussion, trumpet
  • Claydes Smith – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, percussion
  • Dennis "D.T." Thomas – alto saxophone, congas, flute, vocals
  • Donald Boyce – Genie voice
  • Khalif Bryant – vibraphone
  • Ellouise Daughn – harp
  • Larry Gittens – flugelhorn, trumpet
  • Otha Nash – percussion, trombone, valve trombone, vocals
  • Ricky West – vocals
  • Something Sweet – backing vocals
  • Producer – Kool & the Gang
  • Co-producer – George Brown
  • Recording engineers – Terry Rosiello, Nils Salminen
  • Mixing engineer – Terry Rosiello
  • Mastering engineer – Nimitr Sarikananda
  • Arrangements – Khalis Bayyan, Kool & the Gang

Charts
Chart (1975) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100[10] 55
US Billboard Hot Soul Singles[2] 6
US Billboard Disco Action[3] 13

References
  1. Kool and the Gang - Open Sesame. De-Lite Records. 1976.
  2. "Kool & the Gang Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  3. "Kool & the Gang Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  4. Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack. RSO Records. 1977.
  5. "Kool & the Gang – Open Sesame". Genius.com. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  6. M. Deusner, Stephen (July 13, 2007). "Saturday Night Fever - Various Artists". Pitchfork.
  7. Golsen, Tyler (November 16, 2022). "Ranking all the songs on the 'Saturday Night Fever' soundtrack". Far Out. p. 62. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  8. "Beastie Boys (Ft. Mix Master Mike) – Shazam!". Genius.com. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  9. "Capone-N-Noreaga (Ft. Mobb Deep & Tragedy Khadafi) – L.A., L.A." Genius.com. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  10. "Kool the Gang Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
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