Something Special (Kool & the Gang album)

Something Special is the thirteenth studio album by American band Kool & the Gang, released in 1981. It was the group's third consecutive Platinum-certified album.

Something Special
Studio album by
Kool & the Gang
ReleasedSeptember 24, 1981
Recorded1980-1981 at House of Music, West Orange, New Jersey
Overdubs at Kendun Recorders, Los Angeles, California and Secret Sound Studios, New York City, New York
GenrePost-disco, urban, funk, R&B
Length36:18
LabelDe-Lite Records
ProducerEumir Deodato
Kool & the Gang chronology
Celebrate!
(1980)		 Something Special
(1981)		 As One
(1982)
Singles from Something Special
  1. "Steppin' Out"
    Released: September 1981
  2. "Take My Heart (You Can Have It If You Want It)"
    Released: October 1981
  3. "Get Down On It"
    Released: November 24, 1981

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic [1]

It continued the level of success that the band's previous two albums brought, contained several hit singles including: "Take My Heart" went to No. 1 on the R&B chart and No. 17 on the Pop chart. "Get Down On It" reached No. 4 on the R&B chart and No. 10 on the Pop chart. In addition, "Steppin' Out" ended up at No. 12 on the R&B chart and No. 89 on the Pop chart.[2] In the UK, the album reached #10,[3] becoming their first hit album there and most successful studio album of all, largely due to the success of the "Get Down On It" single.

"Stand Up and Sing" was featured in 1982's The Pirate Movie.

Track listing
Side 1
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Steppin' Out"James "J.T." Taylor, Ronald Bell, Kool & the Gang4:51
2."Good Time Tonight"Taylor, Bell, Kool & the Gang4:59
3."Take My Heart"Claydes Smith, George Brown, Taylor, Kool & the Gang4:01
4."Be My Lady"Bell, Kool & the Gang4:14
Side 2
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Get Down on It"Taylor, Bell, Kool & the Gang4:58
2."Pass It On"Brown, Taylor, Kool & the Gang4:34
3."Stand Up and Sing"Taylor, Bell, Kool & the Gang4:35
4."No Show"Brown, Taylor, Bell, Kool & the Gang4:25
CD reissue bonus track[4]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
9."Stop!"Bell, Kool & the Gang3:22

Personnel
  • Bass, backing vocals – Robert "Kool" Bell
  • Lead guitar – Charles Smith
  • Saxophone, keyboards, backing vocals – Ronald Bell
  • Drums, backing vocals – George Brown
  • Lead and backing vocals – James "J.T." Taylor
  • Alto saxophone – Dennis Thomas
  • Alto saxophone, flute, backing vocals – Steve Greenfield
  • Trombone – Clifford Adams
  • Trumpet, backing vocals – Michael Ray, Robert Mickens
  • Keyboards – Brian Jackson
  • Keyboards – Eumir Deodato
  • Additional percussion – Jimmy Maelen
  • Additional handclaps – Platinum Hook
  • Backing vocals – Clifford Adams, Cynthia Huggins, Joan Motley, Kelly Barretto
Production
  • Engineer – Jim Bonnefond
  • Assistant engineers – Bobby Scott Cohen, Cliff Hodson, Joe DeAngelis, Julian Robertson
  • Overdubs engineers – Bob "Ziggy" Winard, Mallory Earl
  • Mixed by – Eumir Deodato, Jim Bonnefond, Gabe Vigorito
  • Mastered by – Tom Coyne, Stephan Galfas (Assistant)
  • Producer – Eumir Deodato
  • Associate producer – Kool & The Gang

Charts
Chart (1981) Peak
position
Billboard Pop Albums[5] 12
Billboard Top Soul Albums[5] 1
UK Albums Chart[3] 10

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[6] Platinum 1,000,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

See also
  • List of number-one R&B albums of 1981 (U.S.)

References
  1. Lytle, Craig. Kool and the Gang: Something Special > Review at AllMusic. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
  2. Kool & The Gang > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles at AllMusic. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
  3. "Something Special". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 October 2011.
  4. Kool & The Gang – Something Special CD remastered reissue at Discogs
  5. Kool & the Gang > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums at AllMusic. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
  6. "American album certifications – Kool & The Gang – Something Special". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH. 
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