Perfect Union

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]

Perfect Union
A graphic of a tree with multi-colored hands instead of leaves
Studio album by
Kool & the Gang
ReleasedAugust 20, 2021 (2021-08-20)
GenreDisco, funk
Length36:12
LanguageEnglish
LabelOmnivore
ProducerRonald 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)

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
  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
  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

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 Year Peak
Switzerland (Hitparade)[5] 2021 47

See also

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. "Kool & the Gang: Perfect Union" (in Swiss High German). Hitparade. August 9, 2021. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
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