Kool & the Gang announce first studio album in a decade

Back in 2012, I reviewed Kool & the Gang, when it opened for the Van Halen reunion tour and the guys really brought the party onstage. Now the veteran funk/pop band - whose vocals are handled by Shawn McQuiller, Walt Anderson and Lavell Evans - will release a new album, Perfect Union, August 20 on Omnivore Recordings via Ru-Jac Records (the first new recording on the historic R&B label).

The two-time Grammy® Award-winning group’s new project was produced by the late Ronald Khalis Bell, Kool’s brother, who passed away in 2020. The album, a CD and digital release, contains 10 tracks including the new single, the rap version of “Pursuit of Happiness,” and “Sexy (Where’d You Get Yours),” which hit #16 on the Adult R&B charts. The band is currently embarking on a worldwide tour.

Perfect Union is Kool & the Gang’s first album since 2011 and their first with Omnivore. Their famous long run in the music industry has produced iconic songs such as “Celebration,” “Ladies Night,” “Get Down On it,” “Jungle Boogie,” “Summer Madness,” and “Open Sesame,” which have earned them two Grammy® Awards, seven American Music Awards, 25 Top Ten R&B hits, nine Top Ten Pop hits and 31 gold and platinum albums.

In a Conqueroo press release, Kool expounds upon the background of the album: “My brother, Khalis, wrote the single ‘Pursuit of Happiness’ around the time of Obama’s second campaign for President. That was such an inspirational time and the hook and music just bolted out of him. That time period was a pretty creative period for him and all of us. Now that he has passed, that name, Perfect Union makes even more sense to me. It’s about us. He used to say we were the koolective genius of a band called Kool & the Gang. We came together as kids and it’s been a perfect union. He knew that.”

Track listing:

1. Pursuit Of Happiness
2. The Weekend
3. Leave It On The Dance Floor
4. High
5. Sexy (Where’d You Get Yours)
6. All To Myself
7. R.O.Y.A.L.T.Y. (Kool & The Gang Mix)
8. Hold On
9. Good Time
10. Pursuit Of Happiness (Rap Version)

Pre-order link: www.omnivorerecordings.com/shop/perfect-union