Kool And The Gang Announce New Album 'People Just Wanna Have Fun'
Thursday, 04 May 2023
Written by Jon Stickler
Kool And The Gang have announced their 34th studio album.
Ahead of their 60th anniversary in 2024, the legendary Grammy Award-winning funk and soul band will release 'People Just Wanna Have Fun' on July 14.
News of the 15-track project, which is helmed by founding members bassist Robert "Kool" Bell and keyboardist-drummer George "Funky" Brown, follows the release of their single, Let's Party featuring Sha Sha Jones.
Other musicians on the record include co-founding horn players, Kool's brother Ronald "Khalis" Bell and Dennis "D.T." Thomas, who died in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Lead vocals on the LP are provided by Sha Sha Jones, Shawn McQuiller, Lavell Evans, Dominique Karan, Rick Marcel, Walt Anderson, and rappers Ami Miller & Ole'. Bell said in a statement:
"You’ve got the funk, you’ve got the jazzier tracks, we have a few ballads on there. Then there are songs that cross over to a pop sort of thing. We go from the '70s, the '80s, right into now. It's old school, it’s new school — we kinda captured it all here. With all our music over the years, people have had fun. So I’d say this album just about sums it all up."
Brown added: "It's all done live. Nothing was flown in. We made sure we had the ultraviolet lights and the sprays and the masks. Nobody got sick. We kept the number of people in the studio way down."
Kool And The Gang will kick off their Kool And the Gang Rock the World Tour this Friday (May 5) in Las Vegas. They also have UK dates scheduled for the summer, including two London shows, at the Indigo At The O2 in June, ahead of their headline slot at Hampton Court Palace Festival that same month.
'People Just Wanna Have Fun' tracklist:
1. Let's Party
2. Movie Star
3. People Just Wanna Have Fun
4. We Are The Party
5. V.I.P.
6. Na Na Na
7. Go Get It
8. Give Love
9. I Want It All
10. Heaven’s Gift
11. Obsession
12. The Woman In You
13. My Weakness
14. 99 Miles To JC
15. That’s What I Love About You
Kool and the Gang Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows
Fri May 05 2023 - LAS VEGAS Nevada - International Westgate Theater At Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino (USA)
Sat May 06 2023 - LAS VEGAS Nevada - International Westgate Theater At Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino (USA)
Thu May 11 2023 - HAMPTON New Hampshire - Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom (USA)
Fri May 12 2023 - WESTBURY New York - NYCB Theatre at Westbury (USA)
Sat May 13 2023 - WALLINGFORD Connecticut - Toyota Oakdale Theatre (USA)
Sun May 14 2023 - BOSTON Massachusetts - MGM Music Hall at Fenway Park (USA)
Sat May 27 2023 - SAN ANTONIO Texas - Majestic Theatre San Antonio (USA)
Thu June 01 2023 - LONDON Indigo at The O2
Sat June 03 2023 - MARGATE Dreamland
Fri June 09 2023 - LONDON Hampton Court Palace
Sun June 11 2023 - CAMBRIDGE Childerley Orchard
Fri June 30 2023 - DETROIT - Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre (USA)
Sat July 01 2023 - YOUNGSTOWN Ohio - Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre (USA)
Fri July 14 2023 - LOS ANGELES California - Hollywood Bowl (USA)
Sat July 15 2023 - LOS ANGELES California - Hollywood Bowl (USA)
Fri July 21 2023 - ATLANTIC CITY New Jersey - Mark G Etess Arena at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City - Complex (USA)
Fri July 28 2023 - PALA - Starlight Theater at Pala Casino (USA)
Sat September 16 2023 - MABLETON - Mable House Amphitheatre (USA)
Sun September 24 2023 - SARATOGA California - Mountain Winery (USA)
We don't run any advertising! Our editorial content is solely funded by lovely people like yourself using Stereoboard's listings when buying tickets for live events. To keep supporting us, next time you're looking for concert, festival, sport or theatre tickets, please search for "Stereoboard". It costs you nothing, you may find a better price than the usual outlets, and save yourself from waiting in an endless queue on Friday mornings as we list ALL available sellers!
