Ladies' Night (album) explained

Ladies' Night
Type:Studio album
Artist:Kool & the Gang
Cover:Kool_and_the_Gang_Ladies_Night.jpg
Caption:Standard artwork
Released:September 6, 1979
Recorded:1978–1979
Genre:
  • Disco
  • R&B
  • synth-funk[1]
Length:34:05
Label:De-Lite
Producer:Eumir Deodato
Prev Title:Everybody's Dancin'
Prev Year:1978
Next Title:Celebrate!
Next Year:1980

Ladies' Night is the eleventh studio album by the American band Kool & the Gang, released in 1979. The album became their first major success especially after the release of the title track, the U.S. #8 "Ladies' Night," and the U.S. #5 follow-up "Too Hot" which both became Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. The album brought a return to the mainstream after a lull in success from 1976-1978. Ladies' Night reached number one on the U.S. R&B chart. Additionally, all the cuts from the album reached number five on the disco chart.[2]

With Ladies' Night, Kool & the Gang made their funk style more mainstream by incorporating some pop and light R&B into the sound. The result was that this album was not only popular during the 1970s black-oriented funk era where the band started, but also during the more popular and diverse disco era. Ladies' Night became their first Platinum album.[3] It also marked the debut of lead vocalist James "J.T." Taylor.

Critical reception

The Bay State Banner noted the "lighter sound, one that places the once prominent horns in the background and depends on softer, more implied rhythms but wisely emphasizes the boogie ethic."[4]

Personnel

Musical

Technical

Charts

Singles

Year Title Chart Peak
position
1979Ladies' NightUS Billboard R&B<ref name=singles>1
US Billboard Hot 1008
UK Singles Chart[6] 9
1980"Too Hot"US Billboard R&B<ref name=singles/>3
US Billboard Hot 1005
UK Singles Chart23
1980Hangin' OutUS Billboard R&B<ref name=singles/>36
UK Singles Chart52

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tom . Breihan . The Number Ones: Kool & The Gang’s "Celebration". . April 20, 2020 . On Ladies’ Night, Kool & The Gang found the smoothly funky synth-funk sound that would take them into the ’80s.. July 15, 2023.
  2. Book: Whitburn, Joel . Joel Whitburn . Joel Whitburn's hot dance/disco, 1974-2003 . Record Research Inc . Menomonee Falls, Wis . 2004 . 978-0-89820-156-7 . 148.
  3. News: Kool & the Gang. January 19, 2016. Billboard. October 9, 1982. Lynne Segall.
  4. News: Wynn . Ron . Shades of Blue . Bay State Banner . 2 . 1 Nov 1979 . 19.
  5. Web site: Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1980. Billboard. March 7, 2021.
  6. Web site: Kool & the Gang - Full Official Chart History. Official Charts Company. Official Charts Company. 19 January 2016.